Phoenix advance to SOSSA
It was impossible not to notice Sydney Chavez on the court for the St. Francis Phoenix Friday.
The diminutive guard was either scoring, shooting or scrapping for the ball, something she loves to do.
“I have bruises all over my knees,” Chavez smiled. “I’m always all over the floor running around. You want to ball, you have to go for it.”
Chavez’s 11 points helped pace the Phoenix to a 43-35 victory over the Lakeshore Gators in the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association senior girls basketball AA zone 2 final in Port Colborne.
Chavez, a 17-year-old, Grade 12 student, joined the Phoenix last year from Holy Trinity in Oakville when her family moved to St. Catharines.
“It’s my senior year. I love this team. This is amazing, unreal, especially since last year we weren’t able to take the trophy home,” she said. “Winning with this team, the team work, showing up to practices, honestly, it was amazing.
“We didn’t give up. We were persevering and we really, really, really, wanted to win.”
St. Francis coach Rachel Bufalino loves Chavez’s grittiness.
“Syd has been a huge component of this team,” said Bufalino, who is aided by Ava Hitchcock and Andria Lucchetta. “At first she was quiet and shy and didn’t want to assert herself in that dominant position. Throughout the season she’s really started coming out of her shell.
“We rely on Syd so much. She’s been great.”
The Phoenix finished the regular season with a 4-3 record and now advance to the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association AA playoffs Nov. 16 at Holy Cross.
“Honestly, I am so proud of these girls,” Bufalino said. “The last time we played Lakeshore it really got into our heads and we got down on ourselves. The big asset we have with these girls is to never give up, fight to the last eight minutes of the fourth quarter, and that’s exactly what they did.
“We could not be more proud.”
Chavez can’t wait for SOSSA.
“It’s unreal, the energy will be unmatched,” Chavez said. “We’re ready to fight, we’re ready to win SOSSA and go to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations).”
The Gators, who did not have a senior team last season, also finished 4-3.
“It’s my first time coaching and there were a lot of expectations at the beginning of the season,” head coach Shyian McFarland said. “A lot of them didn’t think we were going to get here but they really bought into the system and structure and our overall team culture and what we were trying to build as a team.
“We set a goal from the beginning. To come this far, I’m extremely proud of the girls. They put in a lot of effort and dedication. It’s not our outcome, but I couldn’t be happier.”
STATS PACK
Phoenix 43 Gators 35
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: St. Francis guard Sydney Chavez with 11 points.
St. Francis Phoenix: Chavez 11; Alysha Kryzanowski 12; Kyla Plyipiw 10.
Lakeshore Catholic Gators: Addison Thornton 13; Regan Cassan 9; Ava Thornton 6.
Up next: The Phoenix advance to SOSSA AA Thursday at Holy Cross.
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