Welland grabs gold in Ontario Cup D1 tilt

The top-seeded Welland Warriors were playing like they were carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

They were tight, nervous, missing two injured starters and tossing up more air balls than buckets.

They soon found themselves trailing 15-2 in the Ontario Cup U16 major midget Division 1 girls’ basketball championship match Sunday at Longfields-Davidson High School in Barrhaven.

But coach Dave Picton called a timeout, reminded his troops they were the best team in the draw and told them to “just relax.”

Victoria Cubelic promptly took command of the boards on both ends of the floor. The defence stiffened. Jamira Rousseau and Madelyn Picton began aggressively attacking off the dribble. The Warriors bridged the half with a 20-3 run and eventually stormed to an easy 55-37 win over second-seeded Stoney Creek Newman Youth Basketball.

“Challenges help us pick ourselves up,” said Cubelic. “They get us into the pressure better. They help us recover and then we work together as a team.”

Madelyn Picton and Rousseau each scored 14. Cubelic added 12. Melissa Tougher led Stoney Creek with seven points, while Renata Durici added six.

Eighth-seeded MarkhamUnionville defeated the seventhseeded Kingston Impact 56-45 in a bronze-medal match that featured a remarkable 22 jump balls, plenty of turnovers and half-court traps.

“Our coach has been working on us to play defence very hard, staying low, getting in front and not fouling,” said Markham’s Isaling Alexandra, who scored 14 points. Bridget Lynagh and Tina Tsarvankor each added 10.

Aaliyah Edwards led Kingston with 18, while Raphaella Toussant added 10.

Fifth-seeded Hamilton Transway captured fifth by edging the third-seeded Sudbury Jam 38-33 as Grace Mahler scored 19, while sixth-seeded London Gold Medal took seventh by dumping the fourth-seeded Nepean Basketball Blue Devils 51-40. Callie O’Grady led Nepean with eight points. Taylor Lamoureux added six with three players — Rae Bradley, Teresa Donato and Lily Fox — each adding five.

Ottawa-area squads captured five medals in the Ontario Cup’s seven lower divisions. Ottawa South took gold in Division 6 by pounding the Ancaster Magic 4933, while Almonte-based Naismith Basketball captured gold in Division 7 by clubbing Stratford Basketball 41-22. Nepean Basketball #2 captured bronze in Division 5 by dusting the Orangeville Hawks 48-23.

In Division 8, Kemptville took silver after losing the final 45-35 to Penetanguishene, while the Ottawa Shooting Stars rolled London CYO 32-12 to capture bronze.