Nov. 5: Ridley roundup
Harriers
This past Saturday the Harriers cross-country running team made the trek up to Sudbury for the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) championships.
The top athletes from across the province qualified through a rigorous series of local and regional races. Over 1,500 athletes took part in the six races and the level of competition was intense, with many of Canada’s top nationally ranked junior athletes in attendance.
In the morning, the course was covered with over a foot of snow from the previous day’s snowfall. The course, held at the Kivi Conservation area, offered a challenging mix of rolling terrain, hills, and single-track trails. The course conditions gradually deteriorated throughout the day from warming temperatures and the races held earlier, with the snow-covered ground gradually turning into a challenging mix of slush and knee-deep mud. It was true cross-country running in its purest form.
Despite the challenges that were ahead on the course the Ridley athletes remained composed and fully embraced the challenge.
Chloe Winterbottom started the day off for the team in the junior girls race at noon. She held her position throughout the five-kilometre race and used her strong finishing kick, which she has developed throughout the season, to pass several girls towards the finish line. She finished the race as one of the top CISAA athletes and placed strongly in a very competitive field of 253 athletes.
Kennedy Stock, in her third and final year as an OFSAA qualifier, closed out her final high-school XC race on a high-note placing in the top half of the 263 girls that competed in the senior girls race. Stock positioned herself well throughout the race, like a seasoned veteran, and gradually worked her way up through the field over the two loops of the six-kilometre race course.
The leadership and enthusiasm that Kennedy has shown throughout the season has been instrumental to the success of the Harriers this year. Kennedy has a bright athletic career ahead of her as she looks ahead to competing in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) next year.
All Harriers team members are to be commended for their reliance, hard work, and dedication to excellence displayed throughout the season.
With the end of the fall XC season, athletes now eagerly await the spring and the start of the track season.
First Girls Basketball
Freshman Tiger Zoey Snider dented the Gator rim for a career-high 32 points to lead the sixth-seeded Ridley First Girls hoops team to a 64-60 upset overtime victory over No. 3 Havergal College in the quarter-final round of the CISAA Tournament.
Playing before a standing room only Gator Athletic Centre crowd of green and gold supporters Ridley and Havergal battled all over the court for four quarters and were deadlocked at 55-55 at the end of regulation. The Tigers scored the first seven points of overtime and held Havergal to just two field goals (2-for-8).
“Our girls played with a lot of heart today in what was a very physical game. They stuck together and really answered the call,” Ridley assistant coach N.A. Ronald said. “We brought defensive intensity on every Havergal possession from the opening tip, moved the ball extremely well against their press and did an excellent job of keeping the ball out of the post. That’s what we needed to come away with the victory against a talented Havergal team on their home floor.”
Mia Kidd (10), Mikayla Itemuagbor (8), Abigail Davidson (8), Hassait Hilawe (4) and Mowa Alabi (2) rounded out the scoring.
Ridley advances to the Final Four Tournament at Crestwood Preparatory School versus the No. 2 seeded Villanova College Knights in one of two semifinal games.
Prep Girls Hockey
Prep Girls Hockey participated in the Buffalo Inferno Tournament where they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Mississauga Hurricanes in the U19 championship final.
The final was a back-and-forth battle that saw Mississauga leading 2-1 until the final minute when they scored two empty net goals.
Giles scored for Ridley.
Ridley began the tournament with a 1-1 tie versus Meijer. Luisa Welcke scored for the Tigers.
Following a 5-0 lost to the Mississauga Hurricanes, Ridley topped Walpole Express 4-1. Luisa Welcke (2), Brooklyn Clark (1), Emma Penner (1).
Ridley defeated the Boston Shamrocks 6-1. Lilli Welcke (3), Luisa Welcke (2), Rachel Wing (1) before topping Meijer 2-1 in a shootout as Emma Penner and Lilli Welcke scored. Brooke Loranger made 31 saves in net for the win.
The Tigers were down several players but showed true grit and determination.
Up next: JWHL matchup vs. North American Hockey Academy on Friday at 10 a.m.
Prep Boys Basketball
Prep Boys Basketball dropped a 77-37 decision to Putnam Science Academy at Nassau, Bahamas.
The Tigers also dropped an 84-74 decision to International Sport Academy in Nassau.
Johnny Avgousti (21) and Peter Moses (20) paced Ridley on offence.
The lead changed back and forth and was a three-point game up until the final two minutes.
Cormac McMahon netted 22 and Dylan Kalambay 18.
Prep Boys Hockey
Prep Boys Hockey participated in the Midwest Prep Hockey League Kickoff Tournament in Burlington, VT.
The Tigers went 4-0 with wins over Gilmour Academy (4-3), Lake Forest Academy (4-3), St Francis (2-1 in a shootout) and Shady Side Academy (8-3) to improve to 16-4-1-1 overall.
Nick Athanasakos led the way with three goals while Carter Giles, Spencer Desveaux, Ethan Marois, and Sam Chrisitano each had two.
Brandon White picked up three of the four wins in goal while Tony Theodoropoulos picked up the other.
“Leaving Burlington with all eight possible points is a great way to start the regular season,” head coach Mike McCourt said. “We got production up and down the lineup, and were solid both defensively and in net.
“The MPHL is extremely competitive this year, and we still have a long way to go, but this was definitely a solid way to begin the season.”
Up next: Next weekend in Detroit for games against Little Caesars U18 and Compuware U18.
First Boys Soccer
Ridley travelled to Oakville to play against fourth-place Appleby College in a CISAA quarter-final. It was a game befitting the occasion of fall playoff soccer. Against the run of play, Appleby opened the scoring mid-way through the first half on a well-taken cross from a free kick. Ridley pressed on with a series of chances, but the home side remained stout in defence. The Tigers carried the play to Appleby in the driving rain, and were rewarded for their efforts with an equalizing headed goal from Tatenda Mafa in the dying minutes of the game. Overtime ensued, and almost immediately Joel Andinda gave the Tigers the lead. Shortly afterwards, Mackenzie Kemp-Griffin added another as Ridley took a commanding 3-1 that they would not relinquish. In the second 15 minutes of overtime, Joel Andinda added another, before Alex Vera closed out the scoring as Ridley ran out resounding 5-1 winners.
First Boys Soccer dropped a 3-0 decision to No. 1 seed Crescent in a Canadian Independent Schools Athletic Association semifinal match playoff. The Tigers would fall early on to two quick Crescent goals. Ridley would respond well holding out to half time under intense Crescent pressure. The Tigers would enter into the second flying with numerous chances early on to pull a goal back but it was not to be their day. Crescent would add a third late in the second half as the Tigers pushed for a goal.
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