Some lockdown-D helped St. Mary’s Auroras to a tournament title in Milk River over the weekend.
“The girls had a really good weekend. It was a weekend where the defence led to success,” said Terence Hochstein, head coach of the St. Mary’s Auroras girls basketball team. “Our unsung heroes made the difference. There are two girls that hardly scored at all, but Shania Casson and Kendal Marose played tough ‘D.’ Our whole philosophy on the weekend was make the stop and the offence happens and it started through them. The whole team played really good defence.”
The Auroras upended Catholic Central JV Cougars 57-53 in the championship game. While it was the junior varsity team for Catholic Central, there was nothing junior about their size.
“They were a huge, big team. Five-foot-11, five-foot-11, six feet, they were big girls and good players,” said Hochstein. “Again, it was our defence. You get girls that big you have to stop them first.”
Chalsea Kerner hit for 17 points and Carly Perry added 16. Jen Wilson had 14 points and Heather Knibb chipped in eight.
Auroras opened its tournament run with a 62-46 victory over Kainai Lady Warriors. Kerner had 27 points and Perry added 14. Wilson had 12 points and Knibb scored 10.
“Like the whole weekend, we had five, six, seven girls on the scoresheet every game which makes a difference,” said Hochstein.
Auroras reached the championship final by dispatching McCoy JV in a dominating 54-23 win.
“McCoy is a good team, but they are young and they struggled and it snowballed,” said Hochstein.
Kerner had 17 points and Perry poured in 15. Wilson added 14 points in the contest.
“The kids played well playing as a team. The Grade 10s had quite a few moments with quite a few minutes on the floor filling roles. The junior girls are still playing spot play, but they are getting better all the time and contributing,” said Hochstein.
St. Mary’s Auroras host Senator Gershaw Gators today at 6 p.m. with the St. Mary’s Celtics boys basketball team to follow at 8 p.m.