Wallaceburg Airhawks Win Bronze at Hamilton Tourney
Back row (l to r) – Coach Jeff Byrne, Anique Daley, Rachel House, Mariah Tanner, Sami Rhodes, Coach Bill Rhoads, Lindsay Elliott, Sarah MacLachlan Front Row (l to R) – Alicia Baertson, Megan North, Natalie Squazzin, Emily Pepper, Tamara Gamble, Absent from photo – Kala Riley, Haley Sarapnickas, Coach Tom Moynihan
The Wallaceburg Major Midget Airhawks took their game to Hamilton on the weekend winning bronze in the tournament. They worked through the pool play until they met the Cambridge Centaurs. Cambridge brought a one player attack that picked apart the Wallaceburg Airhawks defence.
This forced a semi-final evening matchup with the #1 seed – Hamilton Blessed Sacrament Yellow Jackets. The Wallaceburg Airhawks spotted the Jackets a 15 point lead at the end of the first quarter but came back to outscore the Jackets in each of the last three quarters, however, it was not enough to win.
The Bronze Medal game was a rematch between the Wallaceburg Airhawks and the Gloucester Wolverines. This game was a blowout which allowed the Airhawks to use a lot of players and practice different offensive and defensive plays. The Wallaceburg Airhawks won the Bronze Medal Game 43 -25.
The Airhawks next tournament is the Ontario Basketball Association Provincial Championships in Ottawa. The Airhawks are looking forward to a repeat meeting with Blessed Sacrament in Ottawa.
The Wallaceburg Airhawks are grade 9 and 10 players featuring players from six different Chatham-Kent high schools.
Blessed Sacrament Hamilton Tournament Summary
Wallaceburg Airhawks 63 Guelph Pheonix 44
Top scorers: Emily Pepper 13, Mariah Tanner 10, Rachel House 10
Wallaceburg Airhawks 41 Gloucester Wolverines 39
Top Scorers: Emily Pepper 8, Mariah Tanner 7
Wallaceburg Airhawks 32 Cambridge 39
Top Scorers: Ratchel House 7, Mariah Tanner 7
Wallaceburg 31, Blessed Sacrament #2 43
Top Scorers: Emily Pepper 11, Mariah Tanner 6
Wallaceburg Airhawks 43, Gloucester Wolverines 25 – Bronze Medal Game
Top Scorers: Emily Pepper 12pts, Mariah Tanner 12pts, Sami Rhodes, Tamara Gamble, Lindsay Elliott all with 5 pts