Coach Kayla Hoffer and her senior girls Cyclones played a nearly perfect season yet fell 10.7 seconds short of victory in the league regular season final.
The Notre Dame Cougars and Innisfail Cyclones played the Central Alberta Sports Association (CASA) league final at the Innisfail Middle School gymnasium on Feb. 26 in a thrilling game that went down to the final seconds.
During all four quarters the teams traded leads with no one team ahead by more than five points at any given time. The Cougars and Cyclones both played an aggressive offence that relied on speed and disciplined play, which resulted in breakaways and clean give-and-goes. Defensively, a tight woman-to-woman defence from both teams created offensive opportunities that kept the lead see-sawing back and forth.
Grade 12 team member Sydney Daines played an aggressive game for the Cyclones that saw her downcourt breakaways in and around Cougar traffic creating offensive opportunities. While not always successful, her pressure allowed the team to either score or take ball time away from the speedy Cougars.
The score was tied 60 to 60 with 2:11 left in the game as the Cougars took a run at the clock against a tough full court press.
Quickly running off a steal, the Cougars Ayzhel Tultog nailed a layup to take the lead. An Innisfail free throw made the game 62-61, and the game blew open then. Two baskets and a free throw by the Cougars put pressure on the Cyclones front five to make up the difference. A Sydney Daines layup, a free throw, and a basket by Jaycee Halerewich tied the game at 67-67 with 36 seconds left in the game.
With 10.7 seconds left, Krisha Hernaez sunk a free throw to win the game 68-67.
“This was a tough loss,” said Hoffer. “We beat the same team at the Notre Dame tournament which we won last week by 20 points. This week, it did not happen.”
Hoffer noted her team was made up of 12 players, two of which are in Grade 12, Sydney Daines and Shaelynn Houchin. She added that both have been offered places in the Shooting Stars Invitational in Calgary and are looking to join the Red Deer College Kings and Olds College teams next season respectively.
“My girls love to play basketball and this game was a good example of their heart, right to the last second,” said Hoffer. “It was a heartbreaker.”
The team finished the season with a 6-2 record, losing to the Notre Dame Cougars and Lindsay Thurber Raiders.
The Innisfail Cyclones boys' team, who play in the junior varsity league, also lost to the Notre Dame Cougars by a score of 58-55. The squad posted an 8-1 record over the regular season.
In other basketball action, the Innisfail Junior Cyclones girls defeated the Spruce View Vikings 56-16 to earn their way into the Central Western Alberta Junior High School Athletic Association playoffs. The Innisfail Middle School gymnasium saw four games last week with the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Bears, Innisfail Mustangs, and Elnora Eagles playing each other. In boys action, the St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Bears topped the Innisfail Mustangs 76-14 and the Elnora Eagles defeated the Innisfail Mustang's 48-20. The St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Bears girls' squad beat the Innisfail Mustangs 26-14. The Mustangs also lost to the Elnora Eagles 20-16.
