The Lord Dorchester Beavers, at OFSAA A senior girls basketball. (photo / courtesy LDSS)
Saturday, November 26, 2016
By Rob J. Ross
TIMMINS, Ont. - Lord Dorchester is returning home as OFSAA A senior girls basketball consolation champions.
The Beavers defeatd the Nicholson Crusaders, from Belleville, 43-16, in the consolation final, to finish with a 4-1 record, at the provincial high school tournament.
Katie Beaudry, the Beavers’ top scorer at OFSAA, matched the entire Crusader output, with 16 points. Megan Beaudry dumped in 14 points and Emma Mutsaers, chipped in with six.
“Amazing,” expressed guard Megan Dunn. "We all cried happy tears at the end. Us seniors were very emotional.”
Dorchester finishes the season on a three game win streak, including their consolation quarter-final and semi-final victories.
The lone setback was a 38-33 loss to the Carleton Place Bears, in round two, that bumped the Beavers from the championship side.
Over the five games, Katie Beaudry poured in 87 points.
“The team is on cloud nine with their success,” Dorchester coach Jess Coulas said. “All very proud of their showing and accomplishments over the past three months.”
Overall, the Beavers went 22-1, along the way winning the WOSSAA A title and finishing first in the Thames Valley Regional East Division.
“It was the group effort that made the wins special, contributions from all players, important contributions,” Coulas said. “Group of five Grade 12’s showed veteran leadership.”
Coulas added, he couldn’t be more happy for the progression of skill, by Mutsaers and Kali Dayman, since Grade 10.
“Their calm and preparedness was an excellent support, to the smothering defensive efforts of Dunn and the talented all-around play, of the Beaudry twins.”
First year seniors, starting centre Kristen Bisschop and guard Victoria Quance , logged significant minutes and provided slick passing, timely scoring and defensive rebounding, added Coulas, while shooting guard Ashley Jones, added spark and hustle off the bench.
The Beavers opened the three day 18-team event, trouncing University of Toronto school, 60-21.
The Beaudry sisters, of Katie and Megan, combined for 39 points, Katie with 20. Kristen Bisschop, added 10 points and Dunn, six.
That loss to Carleton Place was tough to handle.
“We all took it really hard and cried in disappointment,” Dunn said. “We all took time to ourselves. Then we picked ourselves up and relaxed. We stayed relaxed and had fun to keep calm for the next game.”
Dorchester proceeded to eliminate Queen Elizabeth DHS, from Sioux Lookout, 55-18, in the consolation quarter-finals and Hamilton District, 47-30, in the semi-finals. Katie scored 18 and 21 points, respectively, while Megan Beaudry, had 11 against Hamilton.
“We stayed positive (and) refocused on new goal of winning three straight and bringing home the consolation prize,” Coulas said.
E.S. Jean Vanier, from Welland, repeated as OFSAA champions, edging the tournament host, O’Gorman High, 51-45. Jean Vanier trailed 17-5 after one quarter, led by a point, at half-time, fell behind by two after three quarters, before laying down a 19-12 fourth quarter.
LoEllen Park, out of Sudbury, won the bronze medal, defeating Lajeunesse, from Windsor, 47-19.
It is the first time in 22 years, Lord Dorchester has been to OFSAA girls’ basketball. Oddly enough, in 1994, OFSAA was also held in Timmins. The Beavers brought home a bronze medal. Brockville St. Mary Catholic high school on the gold medal.
That roster featured current LDSS teacher Kerri Lehouillier (Farquhar, at the time), as well as Mandy Beck, Cheryl Dance, Sarah Harris and Anne MacPherson. Dance was the scorer, with 65 points over five games. Randy Reid was the head coach.
That was the third year, of Dorchester’s three consecutive trips to OFSAA.