NOTRE DAME GRABS TRIB TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP
Lakeshore Catholic nailed nine three-pointers and scored 56 points in all to win its second Tribune Girls Basketball Tournament consolation championship and first since 2011.
Isabella Favero, who led all players with 16 points, and KeriLynn Jones, 11, reached double digits in scoring for the Gators in the 56-41, whistle-to-whistle victory over the Saint Michael Mustangs.
Lakeshore had hoped to advance on the championship on the bracket but a loss to defending champion Jean Vanier in the opening round knocked the Gators out of contention for the gold medal.
As far as Favero is concerned, the bronze is more than consolation prize and taking the B title is an accomplishment in itself.
“Definitely, this is what we came to do,” the Grade 12 student after playing in her last Tribune Tournament.
“We always had a goal, either the consolation championship or the championship.”
She said threes are a part of Lakeshore’s offensive arsenal.
“The outside shooting is our game and we have a post, too, but this tournament we came to show everybody we’re a shooting team, too,” Favero said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the girls who hit the threes from outside.”
She praised the Mustangs for their “awesome” play despite having only two substitutes on the bench.
“I couldn’t ask for a better match to play in the finals.”
Along with the bronze medal, the Gators, 1-2 in league play, can take a lot of positives from their 3-1 record at the tournament.
“We were hoping to be on the other side,” co-coach Leanne Bizley said. “We felt this was a year for us to make a good push, but we had some good games on this side and we’re very proud of what we accomplished.
“When we’re on, I think we can compete with anybody.”
Lakeshore is looking forward to playing a lot more basketball. Over the next two weeks the Gators will be competing at tournaments at A.N. Myer and Port Colborne High School. As well they have five games remaining in the regular season.
“We really think we’re at a good point in the season and we’re ready to go forward,” Bizley said. “We’re just hitting our stride at this point.”
Several seniors on the Saint Michael Mustangs had work commitments Saturday night limiting the team to two substitutes on the bench.
Though running into foul trouble was a concern given the lack of substitutes, the Mustangs weren’t reined in by their head coach in Saturday night’s game.
“We have to play the way we play,” Ron Bobyk said. “If you start worrying about foul trouble then you’re in trouble.
“So we had two subs. I tried to keep them fresh, try to stretch a couple of girls as long as I could and that’s all we can ask for.”
He praised his players for not using the lack of reserves as an excuse to go through the motions.
“I consider that fact the girls kept it as close for as long as they did commendable to the effort the girls put in,” Bobyk said. “They didn’t give up, they really didn’t give up.
“The best thing I can take out of this tournament is the determination that these girls have.”
Julie Manlow, honoured as Saint Michael’s player of the game after scoring a team-high 15 points, was proud of the team’s performance on the court.
“We were missing a few of our key players, but our juniors stepped up,” the Grade 11 student said. “We did pretty well for what we had to tonight.”
Also scoring in double digits for the Mustangs Saturday night’s bronze medal game at Jean Vanier in Welland were Lauren Carter, 12, and Ailyah Glace, 10.
Lakeshore advanced to the bronze medal game with victories over Port Colborne, 44-26, and Governor Simcoe, 49-20, after losing to overall defending champion Jean Vanier, 43-25, in the qualifying round.
Saint Michael rebounded from a loss to Eden, 53-50, by eliminating Saint Paul, 48-29, and Grimsby, 61-36.
Lakeshore improved its record in consolation finals at the south Niagara high school showcase to 2-0.
It was the Mustangs’ first appearance in the bronze-medal game.
Lakeshore was making its sixth appearance in either a championship or consolation final. The Gators are 1-2 in gold medal games; 1-1 when the B title is on the line.
Saint Michael advanced to the final night of the tournament for the first time.