Special to the Sydenham Current
With the first games of the U16 Airhawks season upon them, they struck gold.
This team has been practicing since early December with no game play until this weekend and things paid off.
This team consists of players from six high schools across Chatham-Kent and Lambton County.
Most teams have played any where between 10-20 games in the season already but Wallaceburg has chosen to start there games later hoping to peak at the right time with a condensed schedule with more practice than games.
There first game of the weekend was against London CYO and the going was tough.
The Airhawks not only battled CYO on the floor they also battled themselves.
Wallaceburg had 28 team fouls in the game with two girls fouling out and three others at four, but managed to stay close but lost 54-47.
Pacing the way offensively for the game was Kayla Nogueira with 14.
In there second game of the tournament they faced another London CYO team.
In this game the girls started trusting each other a little more since half the team has never played together.
The first half of the game was back and forth with London leading 23-22 at half.
Wallaceburg then started finding another stride on defence and with that came offense.
The Airhawks held London to 16 points in the second half and won the game 50-39.
Leading the way for the game was Elliot Cowan 16 and Kayla Nogueira 12.
For there third game the Airhawks played the host London Ramblers for first in pool play and the right to go to the gold medal game.
Once again the Airhawks in just there third game of the year had struggles but there skill pulled this game out in the end.
The Airhawks won this game 55-46.
Leading the way was Marissa Beselaere with 17.
For the gold medal game a rivalry was reborn as the Wallaceburg Airhawks played the Chatham Wildcats.
All of these girls have either played against or with one another in high school or club ball.
This game was a great a battle from tip off to the final whistle with no one wanting to give an inch.
With quarter scores of 11-10 Wallaceburg, 25-21 Chatham at half, 38-32 Wallaceburg at the end of the 3rd and Wallaceburg holding on to win 52-47 to win the gold.
Leading the way to gold offensively was Elliot Cowan 21 and Julia Veenstra 11.
* Photo: Left to right, bottom row: Elliot Cowan, Capreese Freeman, Kayla Nogueira, Marissa Beselaere, Victoria Byrne, Donna Kucera (coach). Left to right, top row: Rick Freeman (coach), Logan Cormier, Lauren Harding, Julia Veenstra, Bill Rhodes (coach), Katie Forgie, Sara Turner, Avah Tsaprailis, Jeff Byrne (coach).
