Charlottetown Rural Raiders guard Ashley Plaggenhoef, right, knocks the ball away form Three Oaks Axewomen guard Georgie McKenna Tuesday during the Prince Edward Island School Athletic Association senior AAA girls’ basketball final at UPEI.
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Seventy seconds sealed Three Oaks Senior High’s fate as the Charlottetown Rural Raiders rolled off nine straight points to open the second half.
Survived because of the Axewomen’s spirited and desperate comeback in the fourth quarter that cut the lead to 53-49 with 2:17 left in the game.
But clutch play by Lexi MacInnis and Lauren Reid kept Rural’s lead intact and earned it the title. Last season, Rural upset highly favoured Colonel Gray for the crown.
So what it’s like to be a two-time champion? MacInnis now knows.
“It feels pretty good. They put up a really good fight. Both are (as sweet),” said MacInnis, who finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks and was named tournament MVP.
Nikki Arsenault was the biggest reason Three Oaks hung around in the first half. The senior guard had 17 points and seven boards and keyed an 8-4 run, which brought the Axewomen to a 28-20 halftime deficit.
Then the 9-0 run to start the third and it looked like Rural was cruising for a big win.
But TOSH fought back with a stingy, turnover-inducing defence, timely scoring and cancelled the lead.
Then it was Rural’s turn to hang on. MacInnis credited her squad’s defending, much of it from Sydney Whitlock, who held Arsenault to five second-half points.
“We had to pick up our energy and started to play strong defence. Just had to buckle down.”
Reid finished with 11 points while Brynn Essery had eight points.
Arsenault drained a game-high 22 points to go along with seven boards. TOSH’s Callie MacDonald chipped in 14 points and five rebounds.
Bronze
Colonels 57, Wolverines 53
Francis Alvarez had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Colonel Gray Colonels to a 57-53 win over the Westisle Wolverines in bronze medal game.
Strain hit a three-pointer with nine seconds to play as part of her 13-point, eight-rebound game. Rylee Connolly chipped in nine points in the victory.
Rickilee McLeod and Hannah Hackett each had 11 points to pace the Wolverines. Madison MacKinnon added nine rebounds, six points and six blocks while Gemma Shea scored eight points.
The Wolverines led 25-21 at the half. Alvarez put the Colonels ahead for the first time with 6:18 left in third quarter, which ended 42-40 for Westisle.
Awards
A look at the award winners from the Prince Edward Island School Athletic Association senior AAA girls’ basketball tournament.
All-stars
Madison MacKinnon, Westisle.
Sam Strain, Colonel Gray.
Ashley Plaggenhoef, Charlottetown Rural.
CallieMacDonald, Three Oaks.
Nikki Arsenault, Three Oaks.
MVP – Lexi MacInnis, Charlottetown Rural.
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Francis Alvarez had 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Colonel Gray Colonels to a 57-53 win over the Westisle Wolverines in the Prince Edward Island School Athletic Association senior AAA girls’ bronze medal basketball game.
Sam Strain hit a three-pointer with nine seconds to play as part of her 13-point, eight-rebound game Tuesday at UPEI. Rylee Connolly chipped in nine points in the victory.
Rickilee McLeod and Hannah Hackett each had 11 points to pace the Wolverines. Madison MacKinnon added nine rebounds, six points and six blocks while Gemma Shea scored eight points.
The Wolverines led 25-21 at the half, on the strength of strong full-court pressure.
Alvarez put the Colonels ahead for the first time with 6:18 left in third quarter, which ended 42-40 for Westisle.
Colonels wing Ruby Sharp tied the game at 48 with 4:45 to play. With 1:05 left score the Colonels went ahead on a hoop by Jacqueline McQuaid off an offensive rebound.
