Mustangs prove their mettle at OFSAA senior girls basketball tourney
F.E. Madill has solidified itself as one of the top small-school programs in southwestern Ontario.
In F.E. Madill’s final game at the OFSAA ‘A’ senior girls basketball championship Saturday in Kincardine, Raelyn Pennington appeared to leave it all on the floor.
The Mustangs standout had 23 points and lifted her No. 8-seed team from Wingham, Ont., to within a hair’s breadth of victory in their consolation semifinal.
In the end, they fell short with a 53-49 overtime loss to Smithville Catholic. But the Mustangs also solidified their position as one of the top small-school programs in southwestern Ontario.
On Saturday, F.E. Madill jumped out to a quick lead (12-9) in the first quarter and trailed by only one point (26-25) at halftime. Smithville pulled ahead and led 37-30 after the third.
The fourth quarter was a mighty battle, knotted 45-45 at the buzzer, and Smithville simply edged out the Mustangs 8-4 in the extra frame.
Up to this point, the Mustangs hadn’t played in a close playoff game.
They steamrolled their competition at the WOSSAA regional championship on Nov. 16, defeating Lord Dorchester Secondary School 45-18 in the gold medal game.
And while OFSAA competition was notably tougher, they still held their own.
Pennington had 12 points in the team’s OFSAA tournament opener, a 41-31 loss to University of Toronto Schools (a Grades 7 to 12 institution affiliated with U of T) on Nov. 24.
Abigail Peel led the Mustangs with 11 points in a tough 57-42 loss to No. 3 seed Woodland Christian on Nov. 25.
She matched that performance with 11 points in a 39-33 win over No. 11 seed Sainte Trinité Catholic Secondary School, setting up the semifinal nailbiter that ultimately ended their season.
F.E. Madill was also the top ‘A’ school in the 10-team Huron-Perth league, which includes three ‘AA’ schools (Stratford St. Michael, St. Anne’s of Clinton, and Listowel District Secondary School), and one ‘AAA’ school (Stratford District S.S.).
The Mustangs finished with an 8-1 regular-season record, good for second place in Huron-Perth standings. St. Mike’s took first place with a perfect 9-0 record.
Goderich (fourth place, 6-3), South Huron (seventh place, 3-6), St. Anne’s (eighth place, 2-7) and Central Huron (10th place, 1-8) also represented Huron County this season.
In the Huron-Perth playoffs, F.E. Madill scorched South Huron 41-7 and Goderich defeated Mitchell 42-32 in their respective quarterfinals.
Then, Goderich fell 68-22 to St. Mike’s and F.E. Madill defeated Stratford District Secondary School 33-25 in the semis.
In the Huron-Perth championship game, the Mustangs fell 46-33 to St. Mike’s, the eventual ‘AA’ gold medal winner at WOSSAA.
On the junior girls side, only two Huron County teams competed in the five-team Huron-Perth league this season.
The F.E. Madill juniors finished in fourth place with a 3-4 record, followed by fifth-place St. Anne’s, with an 0-7 record.
The junior Mustangs fell 37-25 to St. Mike’s in the first round of Huron-Perth playoffs.
Exeter Hawks stop Aylmer Spitfires in 8-0 romp
Riley Thayer might eventually look back on his five-point night (two goals, three assists) as a highlight of his Jr. C career.
He might also see it as a predictable outcome when the Exeter Hawks — a likely championship contender — ran into the last-place Aylmer Spitfires Friday in Exeter.
Hawks forward Carter Bowerman added two goals and two assists in the victory, while Sam Dupuis, Chadd Langlands, Chaseton Sieling and Jack Robinson scored one goal apiece.
Hawks goalie Thomas Brintnell had a 20-save shutout in his first victory of the season.
Other Jr. C scores:
Nov. 27: Goderich Flyers lose 6-3 to Walkerton Capitals
Nov. 26: Wingham Ironmen defeat Mitchell Hawks (4-1), Goderich Flyers lose to Kincardine Bulldogs (9-3)
Nov. 25: Wingham Ironmen lose to Hanover Barons (1-0)