Six strong carries Rams to OFSAA

   Verbruggan pours in 25 in a 50-31 defeat of Parkside in WOSSAA AA final

  November 12, 2025

By Rob J. Ross

STRATFORD, Ont. -  They have become the six strong.

Now those half dozen St. Joseph's Rams are heading to OFSAA, after capturing the Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (WOSSAA) AA senior girls basketball title November 12 at St. Mike's secondary school.

Annalise Verbruggan poured in 25 points, to lead the Rams over their cross town rivals, Parkside Stampeders, 50-31, in the gold medal final.

"It's crazy to go from a 11 person team to a six person team and still manage to work together to accomplish an amazing thing. It's just incredible," said Verbruggan, one of four players only in grade 10. "We all worked hard. Our effort and our defence. We wanted it so bad, to prove that we can do it with just the six of us and make it for the ones who are injured."

Due to season ending injuries to five players, the Rams went in to the post season with just their five starters and one spare. The senior squad couldn't even bring any players up from junior, because that team was on their way to the WOSSAA final.

Rams coach Dave Fox wasn't expecting the team to do as well and certainly not OFSAA, when players started dropping like flies

"No and we struggled at first when we started losing players," Fox said. "The we changed the mindset to six strong. From then on, it was about going out and playing our game. The girls played smart, stayed out of foul trouble and finished a lot better."

St. Joe's finished tied for second spot in the Thames Valley South-East division.

The WOSSAA final was a rematch of the South-East final, after , Parkside upended host St. Mike's Warriors, 40-29, while St. Joe's dropped London John Paul II Jaguars, 67-29.

The Rams built a nine point lead over the Stampeders by half-time, at 26-17, and maintained the advantage throughout the second half.

"Everybody hit the score sheet today," Fox said. "That's been a key. All six contributing on the score sheet. A total team effort because it has to be."

Ella Ambrose had eight points for the Rams, Keilah Centen, five, Alexa Clarke, four and Allie Johnson, two.

Captain Melissa Gillies, the most senior player with the Rams being in Grade 11, only had two points, but shined making it difficult on the Stampeders' offence.

"She's a defensive artist," Fox said of Gillies. "I know I can count on her to do all kinds of things, even though it's not a ton of points. Some games I get a ton of points from her too."

In a way the group repeated as WOSSAA champs, taking the junior title a year ago. All but Gillies could have played junior again this year.

"We're very close as a team," Gillies said. "We work together really well and we know what each other is going to do. Everyone's super creative. We don't always have a set offence, but we get it done. We really talk about rebounding and defence, because that leads to offence."

Feels great to get to go to OFSAA."

OFSAA is November 20-22 in Belleville.

For the provincial high school tournament, the Rams will be bringing a few players from the junior team.

"I'd put my six up against anybody right now," said Fox. "But it's nice to have the option to get a breath here and there a little bit more when you're playing multiple games."

St. Joe's returns to OFSAA for the first time since 2012, when the Rams beat St. Mike's in the WOSSAA final.

Mazy McClure led Parkside with eight points.

Host St. Mike's took the bronze medal, defeating London John Paul II (JP2), 48-20.

 

Junior

At junior WOSSAA, Woodstock Collegiate captured the crown, defeating St. Joe's, 62-26.

Rams' Jaylin Campbell and Alyssa Luyks, both had eight points and Mackenzie Burgess, seven.

Reese Crown dropped a game high 18 points for WCI, while Natalie Sutherland had 10.

Host Listowel grabbed the bronze medal, downing John Paul II, 39-19.

In the junior semifinals, the Rams defeated Listowel 55-16, with Luyks and Campbell, scoring 16 and 15 points, respectively.

WCI dunked JP2, 58-8.

 

Around the court

At the 1A level, St. Marys DCI is heading to OFSAA, after defeating Mgr Brueyere, 39-27, in the WOSSAA final. Wingham Madill won the junior crown, downing Strathroy Holy Cross, 47-37.

At AAA, London Lucas got by Laurier, 54-48, in the senior final, while CCH dropped Aquinas, 60-25, in the junior game.

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