submitted by Serge Froment
The Morinville Senior Girls basketball team entered the weekend with a 7-2 record and looking to win last weekend’s tournament at Louis St. Laurent school in Edmonton. This was the girls’ third tournament of the year.
The first game against Holy Trinity of Edmonton was a very tight game against a very quick team. The final score of 53-50 was indicative of the seesaw battle the game became. Hannah Froment poured in 19 points including four three-pointers while Larissa VanBrabant ripped down 16 rebounds, and Shayla Kachnic won Player of the Game with intense defence and incredible hustle.
The semi-final was against a heated rival and last year’s silver medal team from provincials – St. Joes of Edmonton. This game ended with a 56-46 victory but was the sloppiest game of the weekend for the Morinville Wolves. Sharp shooting again by Hannah Froment with 16 points, Jen Neilsen disrupted the guards with six steals and Suzanne Van Brabant with 13 points won game MVP. Strong team play helped seal the victory.
The final, played late Saturday afternoon, turned out to be against the Wetaskiwin Sabres, a heated rivalry that has developed as the Wolves have met them several times in the last three years and most recently in provincials last year. This game was tied many times as the coaches used every available time out to take advantage of both rests for players and to plan a strategy for the next play. It all came down to the last 10.9 seconds with the game tied at 51. The Wolves inbounded the ball, reversed it back to an open shooter, Hannah Froment, who drained a three. The crowed erupted with a deafening scream but the girls remained ready and Suzanne VanBrabant intercepted the inbounds pass to add two more points. Final score 56-51. Suzanne VanBrabant was awarded game MVP with 19 points and nine steals while Hannah Froment earned tournament MVP with 50 points, 13 threes and solid defence in three games.
This tournament win was important to the MCHS Wolves as the first rankings come out on Monday, Jan. 18. The higher the ranking, the weaker the opponent in the first round of provincials should the team be fortunate enough to represent our zone for a third straight year.
An incredibly exciting weekend and a team effort that will help solidify the team for the important games ahead.
The MCHS Wolves host their own tournament Jan. 29 and 30.
