Niagara Juel Prep and Academy teams lead league
The Niagara Juel girls basketball team fell to 4-6 in league play last weekend in North York, falling 56-40 to Simcoe Muskoka and 68-63 to the GTA Lady Blues.
Because of cancelations, Niagara hadn’t played in four weeks. Head coach Si Khounvuseth described the weekend as frustrating.
“We did a lot of good things but continue to struggle with finishing. We are creating and generating very good opportunities but just can’t seem to make shots,” he said. “Defensively, we continue to get better and are getting closer to how we need to defend consistently. It’s halfway through the year and we have enough to know the players and how we need to play. Players are starting to understand their roles and they will need to continue to work hard and get better.”
In the loss to Muskoka, Niagara led 17-15 after one quarter but trailed 30-21 at the half and 46-35 after three quarters.
Leading the way for Niagara against Simcoe Muskoka were: Reese Bolibruck (West Niagara) with 11 points; Ava Briggs (Notre Dame) with six points; and, Shorleigh Burrows (Eden) and Emma Vendittelli (A.N. Myer) with five points each.
Versus the Lady Blues, Niagara led 26-15 after one quarter, trailed 38-35 at the half and led 49-45 after three quarters.
Top performers for Niagara were: Kate DeVries (Eden) with 14 points and six rebounds; Vendittelli with nine points; Burrows and Lita Sutor (Blessed Trinity) with eight points; Bolibruck with seven points; and Grace MacDonald (St. John Henry Newman) and Shania Hintenberger (Lakeshore Catholic) with six points.
JUEL PREP
The first-place Niagara Juel Prep squad pushed its record 10-1 in league play last weekend in North York with a pair of wins.
Niagara defeated Simcoe Muskoka 86-45 and the GTA Lady Blues 87-38.
“The girls had two great games this weekend. They continue to develop as a team and are becoming more confident in our systems,” Niagara head coach Chris Moscato said. “They showed great hustle all weekend and as we enter the back half of the season, the team is well aware of the work we need to do.”
Niagara built quarter leads of 23-13, 49-20 and 67-31 record the win over Simcoe Muskoka.
Playing well for Niagara were: Camilla Moscato (Notre Dame) with 21 points and six rebounds; Ava Walker (A.N. Myer) with 12 points; Rylan White (Bishop Tonnos) with eight points and six rebounds; Jaylen Stienstra (Blessed Trinity) with eight points and five rebounds; and, Lyla Rodrique (Centennial) and Addison Torigian (Sir Winston Churchill) with eight points each.
Against the Lady Blues, Niagara roared out to quarter leads of 26-7, 49-16 and 68-27.
Leading the way for Niagara were: Kate Kolbinson (Port Colborne) with 17 points and eight boards; Moscato with 15 points and five rebounds; Walker with 12 points; Talia Hultink (Smithville Christian) with eight points and 10 rebounds; Elizabeth Cook (A.N. Myer) with eight points; and, Brooklyn Turner (Blessed Trinity) with seven points.
JUEL ACADEMY
Niagara’s first-place Juel Academy team also improved to 10-1 in league play with a pair of triumphs in North York.
Niagara defeated the Tri-County Soldiers 57-31 and the Sudbury Jam 34-30.
“Our girls had a great weekend. We continued to learn a lot about who we are as a group, both as players and people,” Niagara head coach Charles Kissi said. “I am happy for them that they continue to persevere through the ups and downs of a long season with smiles on their faces.”
Playing the Soldiers, Niagara built quarter leads of 16-7, 23-20 and 37-32.
Leading the way for Niagara were: Makayla Scott-Bush with 22 points and 10 rebounds; Evie Haine with 14 points; Gabrielle Kissi with eight points; and Milena Lucchetta with five points.
Against Sudbury, Niagara built quarter leads of 10-6, 21-8 and 25-23.
Performing well for Niagara were: Scott-Bush with 20 points and 12 rebounds; and, Lucchetta and Tessa Bailey with four points apiece.
