Major Atom Wildcats Claim Gold at Provincial Championships

March Madness was alive and well throughout the March 23-25 weekend for the Chatham-Kent Wildcats Major Atom Girls Basketball team as they played in the Ontario Cup in Aurora, Ontario.

The team was ranked 15th in the province and placed in Division 2 as the 7th seed for the weekend. Division 2 included teams ranked 9th -16th in the Province. The girls played three hard fought games in the Round Robin. They had a disappointing 1 point loss in their opening game against 3rd seed South York Silver Knights 37-36 on Friday night. This game was followed up by an absolutely outstanding 43-37 win over the 2nd seed Caledon Cougars and a 37-25 win versus 6th seed Ottawa Shooting Stars on Saturday. During all three games the team displayed great team defence and exhibited remarkable resiliency to overcome setbacks. The wins gave the Wildcats first place in their pool and a birth in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday.

The intense play and great team defence that carried the Wildcats in the round robin continued into Sunday’s final versus the undefeated Barrie Royals. An enthusiastic crowd of supporters for both the Royals and Wildcats energized the gym. The Wildcats imposed their will on the Royals and took a 15 point lead into halftime. In the second half the girls played smart basketball and cruised to a 44-32 victory. Leading scorers for the weekend were Megan Beselaere and Aliyah Isaac with all players providing a swarming “Cat Attack Defence”.

This Championship was the second time in three years that this group of girls have won a Gold Medal in Division 2 at Provincials. The win places the Wildcats 9th amongst all Major Atom teams in Ontario.

Pictured Above: Front Row – Campbell Phaneuf, Avery Krouse. Back Row – Coach Murray Hunt, Aliyah Isaac, Kaydance Krone-Moore, Cassandra Newcombe, Olivia Bugros, Madison Fink, Bridget Hunt, Olivia Corbin, Sawyer North, Megan Beselaere, Quinn Stoner, Coach Tracey Goosney.