Lynx still in medal contention
For a soccer player, Alyssa Arcand more than holds her own on the basketball court.
The 17-year-old Grade 12 student is a top-notch soccer player who suits up for Niagara International FC and has hopes of garnering a scholarship south of the border.
For now, Arcand is concentrating on the hardwood where she is a key piece of the puzzle for the Jean Vanier Lynx.
Arcand poured in 10 points — including a clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter — and played her usual solid game without the ball as the Lynx topped the Villanona College Knights of King City 45-36 Friday in a quarter-final game at the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Associations A championships at Vanier.
The No. 3 Lynx advance to a semifinal Saturday at 11 a.m. against No. 2 seed E.J. Lajeunesse of Windsor. The winner will advance to the gold-medal game at 7 p.m. The loser plays for the bronze medal at 5 p.m.
Arcand admitted she and her teammates were well aware it was a do-or-die game.
“I was thinking about it all the time,” she said. “We were watching replays (video) of them and thinking about all the possibilities that could happen.
“We wanted to make it to Saturday no matter what because it’s our home tournament, the first we’re hosting OFSAA here.”
Lynx coach Tara Poulin loves what Arcand brings to the court.
“We count on her very much on defensively to take their best point guard,” she said. “She’s very good. Kim (Brinker) and her are two of our top defensive players.
“Those role players, we are always able to count on them.”
Poulin also appreciates Arcand’s calmness.
“Nothing fazes her. In her four years, she’s always been our most consistent. We can always count on her to show up. She had nerves in the first quarter, and then she started to come around.”
Poulin felt the difference came down to preparation.
“We did game tape for over an hour watching this team because a lot of people were in the girls’ heads that this was the team to beat — they shouldn’t have been ranked sixth, they have six club players — so they were psyched out.
“We wanted to prove to them and get them as prepared as possible. We put so much emphasis on game tape and seeing where their tendencies were and who their best players were.”
Poulin is also a big proponent of defence.
“I feel every girl stepped up to what their responsibilities were,” she said. “If we don’t play good team defence, we’re not going to win this.
“We didn’t shoot great — our go-to players didn’t score — so credit to everyone that if you play defence, you can win.”
Earlier Friday, the Lynx topped Sainte-Trinité of Oakville 51-24 behind 18 points by Isabelle Sinclair and 14 by Andrea Hebert.
STATS PACK
Lynx 45 Knights 36
Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s/Cracker Jacks Player of the Game: Vanier guard Alyssa Arcand with 10 points and solid defence.
For the Jean Vanier Lynx: Arcand 10; Isabelle Sinclair 14; Andrea Hebert 13.
For the Villavona Knights: Bianca Vescio 16.
Up next: Vanier plays No. 2 seed E.J. Lajeunesse of Windsor Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner advances to the gold medal game at 7 p.m. The loser plays for the bronze medal at 5 p.m.
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