Home-court hoops advantage
Jean Vanier hoping to win fifth OFSAA girls basketball title as host team
As the host team, the Jean Vanier Lynx knew they would receive an automatic bye into the 2019 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) girls A basketball championships.
But, heading into the 2019 season, the four-time OFSAA champions wanted to earn their spot.
To do that, the Lynx had to win the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) championship, and last week the team did just that, defeating Guido de Brès Christian High School from Hamilton with a dominating 52-24 performance.
After a season marred by injuries and inconsistencies, the Lynx will now go into OFSAA on top.
“They’re playing well together as a team,” said Vanier head coach Tara Poulin.
“They still have a lot of progress to do if they’re going to win a medal (at OFSAA), which is our goal,” Poulin added.
“Our goal is to make it to Saturday,” she said.
Early in the season, Vanier lost one of its top players, Corrynn Parker, to an ankle fracture, but the team has come together in Parker’s absence.
“They’ve been knocked down a lot in the last three, four years with injuries, with ups and downs in their season,” Poulin said. “They’re coming together now, and they are finally coming out with some bigger wins.”
Moving forward, the Lynx will rely heavily on point guard Andrea Herbert — who is returning to the team after a one-year absence — and Vanier senior player Isabelle Sinclair.
“A lot is going to fall on their shoulders, and they’re going to have to be able to handle that and strive forward for their team.” TARA POULIN JEAN VANIER SENIOR GIRLS BASKETBALL HEAD COACH
“A lot is going to fall on their shoulders, and they’re going to have to be able to handle that and strive forward for their team,” Poulin said.
To win a medal, Poulin seeks consistency from a team she said on any given day can beat the best in the province, or lose to the worst. “These girls have to come in, stay out of foul trouble, get back on defence, box out — all those little things we’ve been harping on all year. If we can do those little things and stay disciplined, I really feel strongly that we can do something at OFSAA.”
Vanier has participated in OFSAA six times, winning gold in 2011, ’12, ’15 and ’16, and earning the silver medal in ’17.
This time they will have the chance to play on their home court, in a gym decorated with Lynx championship banners. Assistant coach Tricia Poulin acknowledged the extra pressure that may put on the team, but said it will be on her to keep them calm. “We have a few girls in Grade 12, so this is their last basketball games wearing that JV uniform,” she said. “I think we all just want to leave this season and this tournament saying to ourselves: this is all we had, we gave it and we’re proud of the outcome.”
Third-seeded Vanier opens the tournament on its home court at 9 a.m. today against No. 9 seed London Christian.
The top seed is O’Gorman, the two-time defending champions from Timmins.
Schedule information is posted on the OFSAA website at ofsaa.on.ca/girls-basketball.