Silver lining for Cyclone at OFSAA
The E.L. Crossley Cyclone brought home silver from the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) senior girls AA basketball championships. Photos: WARREN LUCIANI.
The E.L. Crossley Cyclone have no regrets coming home with a silver medal from the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) AA girls basketball championships in North Bay after dropping a 59-33 decision to Hammarskjold Secondary School of Thunder Bay in the gold medal game.
“It was a great run and when we went in at halftime after the first half we recognized that team was just better,” Crossley coach Aaron Belding said. “So it wasn’t that we didn’t appreciate it. We recognized that the team was just better.
“We are very proud of the team that won the silver medal.”
It was originally believed to be the first OFSAA silver for a Crossley girls basketball team but some homework proved otherwise.
“I had a couple of moms with me and they went digging back and they found that back in the 90s they had won a couple of silver, a couple of bronze, and I think even back in the 70s they won a couple of silver,” Belding said.
Addison Falardeau paced the Cyclone in the final with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. Amelia Siolkowsky had eight points, seven steals, one assist and two blocks while Katie Luciani added five points, four rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks and Leah Waslovich five points, two steals, two rebounds and an assist.
“All the girls were there, they were all able to contribute and make it an all-around great team effort,” Belding said.
The seventh-seeded Cyclone won four straight games to advance to the gold medal game.
“The mindset was that we wanted to win a medal,” he said. “We followed the same game plan that we have all season with being consistent, working the press, working the offence, communication and help on defence.”
The Cyclone built momentum with each victory, beginning with a 61-24 win over Anderson CVI of Whitby.
“After we got into the game and our girls were playing very well, we felt confident,” Belding said. “We went and recorded so we were able to watch the game of the next team to see how they played. We broke it down, developed our game and (knew) we just have to follow the plan that we’ve been working with all season and execute. And it was very good for the girls because they could see how the season’s preparation is now coming into play at OFSAA, when it really counts.”
In the opener, Falardeau paced Crossley with 23 points while Leah Waslovich had 11 points, Claire Piekny six points and Katie Luciani five.
Waslovich had 19 points, Luciani 11, Piekny and Falardeau nine each in a 60-33 win over St. Teresa (Belleville).
The Cyclone then defeated No. 2 seed Great Lakes of Sarnia 45-40 as Falardeau had 13, Amelia Siolkowsky and Waslovich nine each and Luciani eight.
That win put the Cyclone into the semifinal versus the No. 1 seed and defending champion Kings Christian College from Oakville which Crossley took 53-35 after roaring out to a 17-0 lead.
Waslovich had 19, Luciani 14 and Falardeau 10.
Members of the winning team are: Sarah Birrell, Teaghan Brown, Nadia Casella, Julia Colangelo, Addie Falardeau, Lydia Jeffery, Katie Luciani, Claire Piekny, Amelia Siolkowsky, Helena Siolkowsky, Leah Waselovich, Elle Zavitz, Taylor Wilton, Hollie van Niekerk.
Only Brown, Zavitz, Amelia Siolkowsky and Piekny will be lost to graduation.
Belding was assisted by Ryan Petro and Nicole Birrell.
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