Sting Advance to OCAA Championship

The Seneca Sting advanced to the OCAA Championship with a 66063 win over the Redeemer Royals in the OCAA Crossovers.

With a birth into the OCAA Championship on the line, both teams showed some early jitters as well as the high emotion of the game in the opening quarter. The Royals scored the game's first four points before the Sting strung together eleven straight points. The teams exchanced baskets with the home squad leading 18-17. The Royals would score the final seven points of the quarter to lead the OCAA East Division's number two seed.

Scoring slowed in the second quarter as defence picked up, leading to a number of shot clock violations and turnovers. Mikayla Blackburn ended the first half by making a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Royals a 37-32 lead.

The Royals continued to frustrate the Sting, holding a 42-32. The Sting defence forced the Royals into a shot clock violation energizing the home team. Shenice Stubbs would then elevate her game to an elite level, leading a Sting charge. From the 7:01 mark to the two minute-mark, Stubbs made back-to-back baskets, grabbed rebounds which led to a pair of three-pointers by Taylor Allicock, forced a jump ball, drew a charge which would have led to a three-point opportunity and blocked a Royals' shot. Despite Stubbs' best efforts, the Sting trailed the Royals 52-46 entering the fourth quarter.

Sarah Givens opened the scoring in the fourth quarter, converting a three-point play following a foul just seconds into the quarter. With 8:55 remaining in the quarter, Givens hit a three-pointer to tie the game, energizing the team and the home crowd. Seconds later, Kelly Mcilroy gave the Sting their first lead since the opening quarter, hitting a three-pointer. The Sting would score the fourteen consecutive points to lead 60-52 before the Royals' first basket nearly halfway through the quarter. The Royals battled back, but a missed three point attempt with less than 5 seconds remaining ended the game.

Allicock led the Sting with 17 points to go along with 3 assists and 4 steals. Brianna-mae Clough added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Givens finished her home career with 10 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. Stubbs had 8 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals.

The Royals were topped by Jessica Bosma who scored 17 points and had 14 rebounds. Tobie Brinkman added 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals.