The 2016 Canada Basketball Girl’s Nationals have been rolling along at The University of Regina with the pool play wrapping up and the playoff matches in the books. Semi-finals for both ages are July 29 at 6:00 and 8:15pm.

U17

The semi-finals are set with Saskatchewan playing Quebec and Ontario playing Manitoba.

In the 8:15 matchup between Saskatchewan and Quebec, Sask is led by Emily Dewey who statistically has been the top player thus far in the tournament.  Dewey a 6-1 forward playing in her hometown has put up stellar numbers at 22.7pts on 62.2% shooting to go along with 14.7 boards per game. Dewey shows a high bball IQ by reading and reacting to D to create gaps and easy scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.

The spotlight for this Saskatchewan team is not shone on Dewey alone. They possess talent throughout their roster but their damage is done in the trenches with 6-0 Forward Lauryn Prokop (11.3pts), 6-2 Forward Maceala Crone (9.0pts) and guard Ella Johnson (9.0) chipping in from the perimeter.

Saskatchewan will meet Quebec in the second semi-final this evening who are led by 5-10 Guard Roxane Makolo 12.7pts and 5-3 Guard Sarah Te-Biasu 12.0pts.

As it is with every Canadian Nationals, Team Ontario has been the top team to this point and is the favourite in the U17 bracket. 

Ontario has utilized its depth of talent throughout but has been led by 5-8 Guard Shaina Pellington with 18.6 points per game.

Ontario will battle Manitoba who started the tournament slow with losses to Saskatchewan and British Columbia but got the right win defeating Alberta 58-50 to advance to the semi’s. Manitoba will be led by 5-5 guard Raizel Guinto who has slashed her way to a team leading 12.6pts with strong support from 5-6 shooter Robyn Boulanger at 10.3pts.

U15 Girls

In the U15 semi-finals Manitoba plays Quebec at 6:00pm and Ontario plays British Columbia at 8:15pm. 

Quebec’s point leaders have been 5-9 Donna Ntambue 14.6pts and 5-6 guard Lisa Tesson 9.6pts with a balance throughout the remaining roster and the focus being team D holding opponents to just over 46pts per game. Manitoba who gained entry to the semi-finals with a last second made FG for the 62-60 W over Nova Scotia, will be lead by their top player 5-8 guard Anna Kernaghan 9.7pts.

As we turn to Ontario’s match up with British Columbia at 8:15pm we match two 3-0 teams that have been very stingy defensively.

BC has held opponents to 33.6pts/game with Ontario holding their opponents to 39.3 pts/game. This will be a great match up as both teams work and compete at a very high level (this may be the best game at the U15 level in the tourney).

6’0 Forward Deanna Tuchscherer 11.3pts for BC and 5-8 Guard Ahriahna Grizzle 9.6pts Ontario will lead the balanced offensive attacks of both defensive minded teams.