Cyclones blow away Cougars
When it comes to shooting, Tess Puchalski loves to pass and defend.
The 16-year-old, Grade 11 student is a strong defender blessed with plus speed and is also a solid ball distributor.
Puchalski’s usual talents in those areas were on display Tuesday, but she also found her range from the floor, firing in 15 points to pace the E.L. Crossley Cyclones past the Centennial Cougars 61-36 in a Niagara Regional High School Athletic Association senior girls playoff basketball game at Crossley.
The Cyclones now travel to Greater Fort Erie to take on the Gryphons in the senior AA final Thursday at 3:15. The winner will be declared the Zone 3 NRHSAA champion and advance to play the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association Zone 3 representative for a spot in the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association semifinals.
“I definitely struggle with being an offensive player, but I just have to find my spots,” Puchalski said. “I am a good shooter. It just takes me awhile to figure out what I can do until I can do it.”
Puchalski, who netted a pair of three-pointers in the first quarter, thinks of her offence as a bonus.
“I’m very comfortable playing defence and I love passing. I’m definitely more of a team player. I don’t turn up on the scoresheet as much, but I’m totally comfortable with being the defender, passer and assist person.”
Crossley head coach Aaron Belding appreciated Puchalski’s offensive contributions.
“For her to step up and give me eight or 10 points is awesome,” Belding said. “For our team, it’s important.”
Puchalski won a Basketball Ontario Division 1 championship with the Niagara Rangers three years ago, where she was a defensive stalwart and distributor. She played with the Niagara JUEL Prep team last season before joining the Niagara Rangers under-19 squad this fall.
She said she would gladly let someone else shine in the offensive spotlight while she does her thing.
“I enjoy how my team plays and how I play, and if you don’t show up on the scoresheet, that’s fine. There’s other things that show up,” she said.
She admitted being a top-notch defender can be a difficult assignment.
“It is a lot of discipline and work and you definitely need a lot of passion to get to the player. You just have to throw yourself out there.”
Ten Crossley players hit the scoresheet Tuesday, which put a smile on Belding’s face.
“I like to see my scoring distributed amongst all my players,” he said. “I don’t want to see one player with 20 points because everyone has an off night and if I rely on one person for 20 points and they have an off night, we’re in trouble.
“With having three or four players good for 10 points, it makes it very easy to compete. When we’re getting contributions from everybody, it just makes it way easier.”
Belding said the Cyclones were concerned about defence coming into the game.
“Our defence drives our offence so we have to have a good defensive performance to get the turnovers to get to offence running and going.”
The Cougars were missing injured Tess Rowland, Jessica Acaster and Brenna Ferrara.
Stats Pack
Cyclones 61 Cougars 36
Johnny Rocco’s/Mick and Angelo’s Star of the Game: Crossley guard Tess Puchalski with 15 points.
E.L. Crossley Cylcones: Puchalski 15; Emily Bonisteel 13; Makenna Belding 6; Martha Lirio 6; Sydney Grummett 6; Emma Kulik 5; Taryn Mitchell 4; Anika Fontilus 3; Allison O’Connor 2; Leah McIntee 1.
Centennial Cougars: Destiny Paquin 8; Sarah Stayzer 8; Emily Campbell 8; Emily Babyak 4; Amelie Marais 3; Ella Thompson 3; Danielle Larocque 2.
By the quarter: Crossley led 19-13 after one quarter, 33-24 at the half and 47-29 after three quarters.
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