Payton photo
Sam Watt, of the Trailblazers, passes to a teammate during the Junior boys gold-medal game against the Grizzlies last Thursday night at DCVI. Helping to defend for the Grizzlies is Adam DeNeve (4). Grizzlies won 19-18. There were six games played altogether.
St. Marys Minor Basketball Association wound up their 2012-13 season with their Championship Night at DCVI last Thursday, March 7.
A big crowd was on hand to see who would be crowned champions. There were also a series of three bronze-medal consolation games.
The Junior boys game featured the thriller of the night as the shorthanded Grizzlies squad had to manage with only four players (no subs).
Guard Craig Weselan and Owen Wrigley scored some key baskets for the Grizzlies, who found their second wind late and then hung on for a narrow 19-18 decision over the determined Trailblazers, who got a solid effort from Ian Waugh in the losing effort.
The Intermediate boys final looked close on paper, but the superior size and strength of Matt Wrigley and Jake Bukich proved too much to handle for the Yellowjacket team.
The ‘Jackets gave all they could, but couldn’t find the basket despite some impressive efforts by point guard Mitch Watt, whose three-pointer made things a little interesting in the second half.
In the girls final, the absence of all-star Abbey Thorup proved to be the story of the night. While the speedy point guard stayed home in sick bay, the Pandas gave all they could, but fell short to an impressive Thunderbird team, which was firing on all cylinders on this night.
In a gesture of sportsmanship before the game, the T-Birds agreed to allow the Pandas to draft a replacement player to replace Thorup. Jensen Dundas dawned the purple jersey for the first time this season, and combined with Grace Hutton and Savannah Clifford to provide a sporting battle, but the fast-break frenzy of the T-Birds was too much to handle.
Stacey Shackleton impressed the crowd with six points, while Maia Moore and Jessica Findlay broke the game wide open down the stretch with some key buckets.
Volunteers thanked
All in all, it was a great night — and a great season. The league owes a big debt of gratitude to the volunteer coaches and referees who made it all happen this season.
Thanks to MacKenzie Gotts, Jacara Droog, Ashlyn Maxwell, Nicole Boonstra, Nicole Marriott, Cassie Fenz, Mark Azzano, Brock Jeffrey, Sam Hutton, Sam Thorup, Hayden Moore, Ethan Van Klooster, Shawn O’Connor, Justin Benner, Greg Swan, Peter Black, Jake Triemstra, Kyle Fennema, Emma Watt, Jake Watt and Corey Fulop. (Please accept the convener’s apologies for any missed names).
