Sixteen teams chasing The Golden Ball
For the past two decades, the week leading up to Thanksgiving has been a festival of high school girls basketball in Niagara.
This year is no exception with 16 of the top teams in Niagara chasing The Golden Ball trophy, emblematic of winning the First BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament. The tournament will use the exact same format as its predecessor and it too will use profits from the event to fund bursaries for participants in the tournament.
“What makes this tournament different from all the others in the region is the wall-to-wall coverage that makes the players media sensations for a week,” tournament chair Jill Stiefelmeyer said. “BP Sports Niagara is the only media outlet in Niagara capable of providing that coverage, making this partnership a perfect match.”
Bernie Puchalski, who operates BPSN along with Bill Potrecz, is delighted to be involved in the tournament.
“This event is the perfect way to celebrate a number of recent milestones for BPSN,” he said. “We recently went over 1 million page views, 250,000 users and 2,000 stories and the first two milestones are directly related to the high school coverage on our website.”
Heading into the tournament, the top-seeded Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs are the prohibitive favourites to hoist the championship trophy in the event’s first year. Eden, Denis Morris and E.L. Crossley are among the higher-seeded teams looking to rain on the Bulldogs’ parade.
Barring the closing of schools because of labour unrest, the tournament kicks off Tuesday afternoon at Denis Morris, Governor Simcoe, Sir Winston Churchill and Eden. Championship night will be held Friday at Governor Simcoe with the consolation final scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the championship set for 7 p.m.
The First BPSN Girls Basketball Tournament has been made possible thanks to the generous support of: Tora Inc: Niagara Rangers; No Limit Performance: St. Catharines Rebels in recognition of all their volunteers who make the organization a success; Niagara Falls Red Raiders; Alltech Automotive; Niagara District Referees Association; Brock University women’s basketball program; Pelham Panthers; Alison’s Sports Awards and Promotions; and, the Niagara College women’s basketball program.
Below are summaries of the teams competing in the tournament:
A.N. MYER MARAUDERS
Last season’s senior record: 18-20.
Last season’s junior record: 14-7.
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returning players: Fs Molly Taylor, Naomi Shad and Ava Coulee.
Key newcomers: Fs Vienna Vercesi and Sam Bergman; Gs Jorja Allen and Vannesa Dabramo.
Strengths: Inside game; mobile forwards; transition.
Weakness: Youth in the backcourt.
BLESSED TRINITY THUNDER
Last season’s senior record: 6-1 in NCAA regular season action,
Last season’s junior record: 1-4 in NCAA regular season play.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: F/C Madison O’Brien; G Ella Muraca; F Katrina Shields.
Key newcomers: G Madison Smukavic.
Strengths: Shooting; pushing the ball; defence.
Weakness: Lacking height.
CENTENNIAL COUGARS
Last season’s senior record: 2-10.
Last season’s junior record: 10-4.
Key returning players: Gs Emily Campbell, Jessica Acaster, Ella Thompson and Sarah Stayzer.
Key newcomers: Gs Jayda Rodrigue and Eden Vince.
Strengths: Quickness; running the floor.
Weaknesses: Lack of big presence defensively in the key.
DENIS MORRIS REDS
Last season’s senior record: 4-3 in NCAA regular season action.
Last season’s junior record: 1-4 in NCAA regular season play.
Number of returning players: Eight.
Key returning players: PG Lexxus Bell, F Jordyn Britton.
Key newcomers: F Trinity Learmond; G Bianca Sestili.
Strengths: Teamwork; experience.
EDEN FLYERS
Last season’s senior record: 20-3.
Last season’s junior record: 15-5.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: PG Avery Cushing; Fs Madalyn Weinert and Erika Rouse; G Julia McNeaney.
Key newcomers: Gs Morgan Cushing and Isabel Neufeld.
Strengths: Commitment to practice; working hard on improving defence.
Weakness: Rebounding.
E.L CROSSLEY CYCLONE
Last season’s senior record: 5-4 in NRHSAA regular season.
Number of returning players: 10.
Key returning players: Sydney Grummett, Tess Puchalski, Alison O’Connor, Emma Kulik and Leah Mcintee.
Key newcomers: Kaitlyn Brophy, Sydney Piekny and Grace Sodtke.
Strength: Hardworking.
Weakness: Youth.
GOVERNOR SIMCOE REDCOATS
Last season’s senior record: 4-2 in NRHSAA regular season.
Number of returning players: Nine.
Key returning players: G/F Allison Addy; C Alicia Reid; F Jennika McIntosh; G Mia Friesen.
Key newcomers: G Jamie Addy; F Emma Fugard.
Strengths: Speed; outside shooting; defence.
Weaknesses: Turnovers; Inexperience; lack of depth.
GREATER FORT ERIE GRYPHONS
Last season’s senior record: 9-0 in NRHSAA regular season.
Last season’s junior record: 4-2 in NRHSAA regular season.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Gs Megan Louws, Julianne Bowles and Kailee Barrett; F Candice Goulding.
Key newcomers: Gs Hannah Bourdon and Riley Hutton; F Justine Veltman.
Strengths: Quickness; defence.
Weaknesses: Lack of size; shooting.
GRIMSBY EAGLES
Last season’s senior record: 2-4 in NRHSAA regular season.
Last season’s junior record: 2-5 in NRHSAA regular season.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Madelyn Strongitharm, Maddy Reed, Emma Tracey and Sarah Wade.
Key newcomers: Maddy Estabrooks, Grace Nelles and Aria Heil.
Strengths: Positive attitudes; grit; determination.
Weakness: Communication.
HOLY CROSS RAIDERS
Last season’s senior record: 2-5.
Last season’s junior record: 5-1.
Number of returning players: One.
Key returning players: Maddie Caughill.
Key newcomers: Caleigh Cunningham and Logan Brown.
Strengths: Youth; hustle and determination on defence.
Weaknesses: Generating scoring chances; making good decisions; protecting the ball.
JEAN VANIER LYNX
Last season’s senior record: 12-13
Last season’s junior record: 4-13
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: PG Alyssa Arcand; Fs Corynn Parker and Isabelle Sinclair.
Key newcomer: PG Andrea Hebert.
Strength: Size; experience; ballhandling
Weakness: Depth.
SAINT FRANCIS PHOENIX
Last season’s senior record: 15-8.
Last season’s junior record: 16-10
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returning players: PG Rachel Bufalino; G Katie Rankin.
Key newcomers: Gs Anna D’Arrigo and Megan McLaughlin; F Abby Gooder.
Strengths: Hustle; teamwork; defence.
Weaknesses: Inexperience; size; shooting.
SAINT MICHAEL MUSTANGS
Last season’s senior record: 7-9.
Last season’s junior record: 2-7.
Number of returning players: Two.
Key returning players: Fs Lauren Manlow and Holli Bernard.
Key newcomers: G Zylyn Leyritana and F Amanda Riva.
Strengths: Young; energetic.
Weakness: Inexperience playing at the senior level.
SAINT PAUL PATRIOTS
Last season’s senior record: 0-7 in NCAA league play.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Livia Piccirillo, Julia Garisto and Julia Savoie.
Strengths: Quick team that likes to defend; balanced scoring.
Weaknesses: Youth and inexperience lack of size inside; rebounding.
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
Last season’s senior record: 5-1 in NRHSAA regular season.
Last season’s junior record: 7-0 in NRHSAA regular season.
Key players: Ally Sentance, Kaley DeMont, Olivia Krieger and Kennedy Millin.
Strengths: Deep, talented team with size and speed; lots of returning players and experience.
Weaknesses: Injuries and youth.
SMITHVLLE CHRISTIAN STORM
Last season’s senior record: 3-3 in NRHSAA regular season.
Last season’s junior record: 5-2 in NRHSAA regular season.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: G Esther DeHaan, Julia Thies, Sophia Bezemer and Emily Vanstaalden
Strength: Hardworking.
Weakness: Lack of practice (no club players).
