The Wallaceburg Tartans senior girls basketball team are provincial champions.
The #1 ranked Tartans won a thrilling gold medal game 53-52 over the #2 ranked Dundas Valley Secondary School Gryphons on Saturday, November 24 at the OFSAA ‘AA’ girl’s basketball championships held in London, Ontario.
It was a nail biting, back-and-forth contest between the top two seeded teams in the tournament.
Dundas held a 15-14 lead after the first quarter, with the Tartans coming back for a 29-25 lead heading into halftime.
Dundas Valley trimmed the Tartans lead in the third, with Wallaceburg heading into the final frame with a 36-34 lead.
In the end, it was Wallaceburg holding on to a 53-52 lead when the final buzzer sounded.
Keanha Riley was the leading scorer for the Tartans in the gold medal game, with Legacie Blackbird capturing the Pride, Hustle, Determination Award.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, Wallaceburg defeated Mother Teresa in the semi-final game by a score of 46-28 to earn their spot in the final. Megan McCarter was the high scorer and the Pride, Hustle, Determination Award recipient for the Tartans in the semi’s.
On Friday evening, Wallaceburg topped ESC Theriault 69-47 in their quarter-final game. Riley was the Tartans top scorer and Pride, Hustle, Determination Award recipient.
In their second game of the tournament, the Tartans defeated J.M. Denison 63-8 and they opened the provincial championship with a 52-15 win over Hammarskjold.
Social media was buzzing after the Tartans captured their provincial banner:
Our #girlsAAbasketball Gold Medal Winner @wdsstartans @ofsaabasketball @OFSAA pic.twitter.com/L6jHf28VIH
— OFSAA Basketball (@ofsaabasketball) 25 November 2018
What a finish!!! the @wdsstartans are the #girlsAAbasketball Gold Medalist for @ofsaabasketball . Amazing game!!! Shout out to @DundasSecSchool for an amazing final!!!
— OFSAA Basketball (@ofsaabasketball) 25 November 2018
CONGRATS @wdsstartans!! What a game! OFSAA Girls AA Basketball Champs!
— Brian DeWagner (@BrianDeWagner) 25 November 2018
Wallaceburg Tartans senior girls basketball team OFSAA ‘AA’ champs winning a nailbiter 53-52 over Dundas Valley #instantclassic #ofsaa #girlsaabasketball
— Dave Gough (@courier_dave) 25 November 2018
First OFSAA gold medal for a @wdsstartans team since 1995 girls volleyball team. Wallaceburg Tartans win a thriller at OFSAA ‘AA girls basketball’ final in London 53-52
— Dave Gough (@courier_dave) 25 November 2018
Watch for more coverage on the Tartans win on the Sydenham Current.
