Athletics
Spartans News
SG Basketball @ MacLeod: History Remade
The Stanstead Spartans added another page to the history books this past weekend at the Macleod Provincials this past weekend, held at Howard S. Billings High School in Chateauguay. Here's how:
Round-Robin Game #1 vs Massey-Vanier Regional High School
Not a great start to the tournament. Defensively we did not disrupt Massey much at all in the first half. We produced very few deflections and steals and rotated slowly enough to allow countless open jumpers from the perimeter. Without steals on defense, our offense bogged down and became too dependent on jump shots, jump shots that weren’t even close. All this made for a slow-paced game with no fast breaks, just the tempo the Vikings wanted. In fact, if not for Mackenzy’s free throw shooting (6 for 6 for the game!) and Emily hitting a three just before half, the halftime score would have been much closer than 23-11 for us.
Not a great start to the tournament. Defensively we did not disrupt Massey much at all in the first half. We produced very few deflections and steals and rotated slowly enough to allow countless open jumpers from the perimeter. Without steals on defense, our offense bogged down and became too dependent on jump shots, jump shots that weren’t even close. All this made for a slow-paced game with no fast breaks, just the tempo the Vikings wanted. In fact, if not for Mackenzy’s free throw shooting (6 for 6 for the game!) and Emily hitting a three just before half, the halftime score would have been much closer than 23-11 for us.
But the Red & White woke up in the 3rd quarter, spurred by Player Of The Game Alex Smith coming off the bench to lift her team on offense (8 pts on only 7 shots) AND on defense (3 deflections and a steal). In fact, with Alex providing the spark, your Spartans clamped down and allowed 0 points for the entire third quarter. 14-0 run, 37-11 lead going into the fourth, and the outcome was basically decided. Final score 40-20, and we had taken our first step to defending our 2017 MacLeod Championship.
Round-Robin Game #2 vs Centennial Regional High School
Apparently we learned a lesson from the first game, as the girls came out flying in this one, with countless deflections and steals and run-outs and fast breaks and sweet finishes (especially Rina) at top speed. When the dust cleared we had opened the game on a dominating, frenzied 15-2 run, and you could see it take the fight out of our opponents. With slumped shoulders and bewildered expressions the Chargers put up little resistance the rest of the game. Another fast-paced 13-0 run in the second quarter, a 34-10 halftime lead, a final score of 46-22, a 2-0 round-robin record, and Stanstead had (probably) punched their ticket to the Finals.
Apparently we learned a lesson from the first game, as the girls came out flying in this one, with countless deflections and steals and run-outs and fast breaks and sweet finishes (especially Rina) at top speed. When the dust cleared we had opened the game on a dominating, frenzied 15-2 run, and you could see it take the fight out of our opponents. With slumped shoulders and bewildered expressions the Chargers put up little resistance the rest of the game. Another fast-paced 13-0 run in the second quarter, a 34-10 halftime lead, a final score of 46-22, a 2-0 round-robin record, and Stanstead had (probably) punched their ticket to the Finals.
Round-robin Game #3 vs Notre-Dame-des-Lourdes
Very rarely has one Spartan had to put the team on her back this season. We are blessed with so many great basketball players that our success is almost always a product of intelligent team play, unselfishness, inspired vision and passing, and girls working together to succeed. But this game against NDL (the team we beat last year in the finals) was different. Our defense was okay, but offensively we were horrendous. Atrocious. U-G-L-Y. For the entire first half it was as if we’d never seen a man defense before. We couldn’t complete a pass. Or drive. Or catch. Or make the simplest decision. It was a hot mess of unforced turnovers – 12 in the 1st half alone! After 7 minutes the score was 5-2. For NDL. It was the worst we’d played all year.
Very rarely has one Spartan had to put the team on her back this season. We are blessed with so many great basketball players that our success is almost always a product of intelligent team play, unselfishness, inspired vision and passing, and girls working together to succeed. But this game against NDL (the team we beat last year in the finals) was different. Our defense was okay, but offensively we were horrendous. Atrocious. U-G-L-Y. For the entire first half it was as if we’d never seen a man defense before. We couldn’t complete a pass. Or drive. Or catch. Or make the simplest decision. It was a hot mess of unforced turnovers – 12 in the 1st half alone! After 7 minutes the score was 5-2. For NDL. It was the worst we’d played all year.
But Player Of The Game Mackenzy St-Pierre single-handedly kept us in the game. Four times in a row she fought for a defensive rebound, dribbled for daylight, went coast to coast, and finished with a ridiculous euro-step finger-roll. Four. Times. In a row. Eight points. And on top of that she went 4 for 4 from the line. Thanks to this herculean second quarter effort, we made it to halftime with a 24-13 lead. And in the third quarter, for whatever reason, your Spartans became your Spartans again, and rolled from there. Guard penetration, finishing inside, transition buckets, post moves, inbound plays, ball movement. Wherever it all went, it all returned in the third quarter, and sparked a 19-4 run that iced the game. 52-24 final score, and we had earned a berth in the MacLeod Finals for the second straight year.
Macleod Finals vs Massey-Vanier Regional High School
The 4-team round-robin format of this year’s tourney meant we had to play MVR again. I hate playing a team twice in the same tournament. It’s always a psychological advantage to the team that lost the first time. They’re hungry for revenge, while the winner can’t help but be complacent.
The 4-team round-robin format of this year’s tourney meant we had to play MVR again. I hate playing a team twice in the same tournament. It’s always a psychological advantage to the team that lost the first time. They’re hungry for revenge, while the winner can’t help but be complacent.
But colour me impressed, as the girls had their best warmup of the tournament and came out with serious intensity. The defense was aggressive and active, Kenz and Player Of The Game Emily Willis (4 threes!) were on fire, we were running, we were rebounding, we were doing it all. In the most important game of the season, we had brought our best.
However, Massey refused to fold. No matter how good our defense was, no matter how many turnovers we forced, they kept hitting contested shot after contested shot. It was impressive. It was remarkable. And it was scary. It started to feel like we had to make a steal every defensive possession, because if we let them shoot, it was going in. Proof? At halftime we had 5 defensive rebounds and had allowed one offensive rebound. That means the Vikings had missed 6 shots the entire first half! That, friends and neighbours, is crazy.
But ultimately MVR’s hot shooting could not overcome a Stanstead team at the top of their game. In one game-deciding 8 minute stretch that spanned the second and third quarters, your Spartans went on an absurd 28-2 run, turning a 15-13 nail-biter into a 43-15 rout. And although Massey never gave up and outscored us 16-11 the rest of the way, it was never in doubt after that dominant run. A 54-31 final score, and Stanstead College had captured the MacLeod Provincial Championship for the second time in the history of the tournament. Congrats, ladies! History made. Again.
Reflections and Highlights
- While lacking the drama of the 2017 championship, this year’s performance is notable for its dominance. Despite playing inconsistently, the average margin of victory was an astonishing 24 pts.
- Speaking of dominance, The Streak now stands at 29 games. The previous best consecutive wins streak was 20 by the Megan Lill-led 2001-2002 team.
- Against NDL Maya was whistled for a foul on a collision in the key (and suffered a concussion). For the record, that was not a foul, it was a great defensive play that showed off Maya’s quickness and athletic instincts.
- The intelligence on this team continues to inspire me. During the first game, MVR switched to a 1-3-1 zone. Before I could open my mouth from the bench, the players had already recognized it and set up accordingly. Then Rina zipped it to Kenz down low who immediately found Alex on the other low block for a textbook two points, all without a timeout or even a word from the coaches.
- Another example of high basketball IQ; Chloe realizing (before the coaches do) that she has a mismatch on a shorter player, and suggesting in a timeout that she play low post to exploit it. Twenty seconds later Rosy feeds her in the post, spin, baby hook, 2 pts.
Some Tournament Statistics (all stats courtesy of Hayley Wolfe)
Steals: Rina (13), Kenz (12), Emily (7) Assists: Rina (15), Chloe (12), Emily (7)
Points: Kenz (54), Emily (46), Alyssa (31) Rebounds: Chloe (29), Kenz (26), Alyssa (18)
Deflections: 49 for the team (nice!) Team Free Throw Shooting: 30 for 45 (not too shabby!)
Points: Kenz (54), Emily (46), Alyssa (31) Rebounds: Chloe (29), Kenz (26), Alyssa (18)
Deflections: 49 for the team (nice!) Team Free Throw Shooting: 30 for 45 (not too shabby!)
Some random tournament highlights/memories
- M.K. scoring that tough bucket on the inside against NDL with her parents watching.
- Rosy hitting consecutive jump shots vs NDL.
- Chloe finding M.K. on a perfect lo-hi pass, then M.K. returning the favor with a hi-lo pass to Chloe.
- Our last High School Musical team singalong, “Gotta Go My Own Way” on the bus ride down.
- Chloe, Rina and Kenz hugging together, in tears, after The Finals. I love it when players care.
One game left… the season’s almost over.
– Coach Van Dyke
Overall Record: 36 wins 4 losses
RSEQ League Play: 8 wins 2 losses
ETIAC League Play: 4 wins 0 losses
Points for per game: 45.1 Points allowed per game: 22.9
CAIS Silver Medalists
Stanstead Invitational Tournament CHAMPIONS
MIS Tournament CHAMPIONS
BCS Invitational CHAMPIONS
BAILLY Small Schools Provincial CHAMPIONS
ETIAC Regular Season CHAMPIONS
MACLEOD Provincial CHAMPIONS
RSEQ League Play: 8 wins 2 losses
ETIAC League Play: 4 wins 0 losses
Points for per game: 45.1 Points allowed per game: 22.9
CAIS Silver Medalists
Stanstead Invitational Tournament CHAMPIONS
MIS Tournament CHAMPIONS
BCS Invitational CHAMPIONS
BAILLY Small Schools Provincial CHAMPIONS
ETIAC Regular Season CHAMPIONS
MACLEOD Provincial CHAMPIONS
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