ALGONQUIN WINS 34TH ANNUAL STING CLASSIC

TORONTO - In a tournament which draws some of the top teams in the country, it was only fitting that two of the country's best squared off in the Sting Classic championship. The championship game saw the No. 7-ranked Algonquin Thunder knock off the sixth-ranked Vanier Cheetahs in a closely contested battle from start to finish, 63-58. Jesa Rada (Algonquin) and Emily Prevost (Vanier) were named players of the game in the championship for their respective teams.

Earlier in the day, the Humber Hawks defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 65-46 to claim the consolation final. Aleena Domingo led the Hawks with 18 points.

Tournament MVP - Abeer Farhat, Algonquin

Tournament All-Star - Maria Suriani, Humber
Tournament All-Star - Frederique Potvin, Vanier
Tournament All-Star - Zineb Selham, Vanier
Tournament All-Star - Abeer Farhat, Algonquin
Tournament All-Star - Sandre Bascoe, Algonquin

Day 2

Game 1 - Fanshawe Falcons 61, Sheridan Bruins 44
In the opening game on Day 2 of the Sting Classic, Sheridan hung with Fanshawe for the first quarter before the Falcons balanced attack took control of the game. Eight Falcons made a field goal in the first half to lead 35-23. In the second half, the Falcons had seven players score, while Haevan Durrant tried her best to keep the Bruins close. In the end, Durrant's 17 points weren't enough as the Bruins fell 61-44. Felicia Mazerolle (14) and Natasha Amo (13) paced Fanshawe while Durrant was the only Bruin in double figures. Fanshawe's Janine DeLeon (7 PTS) and Sheridan's Dainique Campbell (7 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST) were named players of the game.

Game 2 - Humber Hawks 57, Seneca Sting 47
With only seven players dressed, the host Seneca Sting were unable to keep pace with Humber in the second consolation semifinal. The Hawks took a 33-27 lead into the half thanks to eight points by Chioma Oriuwa. Seneca played a strong third quarter to tie the game at 43 going into the final quarter. Depth became an issue and the fresh Hawks were able to hold Seneca to just four points for a 10-point win. Oriuwa scored 12 points while adding seven rebounds and three steals in being named player of the game for Humber. Paige Smith and Ashley Nurse each scored 10 points for Seneca. Nurse, Seneca's player of the game, also contributed seven rebounds and four steals.

Game 3 - Algonquin Thunder 65, George Brown Huskies 46
The Algonquin Thunder came out with a fast-paced attack which created a number of match-up problems for George Brown in the Sting Classic semifinal. The Thunder exploded for 24 points in the opening quarter for a quick 11-point lead. Rada and Stacey Poapst each scored eight in the quarter for the Thunder. The Huskies were able to slow down Algonquin in the second, but couldn't find secondary scoring. Shan Wilson paced the Huskies with 12 points at the half.  The Thunder defensive game stymied the Huskies in the second half, holding them to just 21 points over the final two quarters for a 19-point win. Poapst finished the game with 16 points for the Thunder while Rada added 14. Wilson led the Huskies with 17 points. Sandre Bascoe (11 PTS, 9 REB, 1 STL) was the Thunder's player of the game. Melissa Vilar (8 PTS, 1 BLK, 2 STL) was named player of the game for George Brown.

Game 4 - Vanier Cheetahs 50, Algoma Thunderbirds 45
The Vanier Cheetahs entered the Sting Classic as the No. 6 team in the country. Some early jitters in the Sting Classic semifinal saw them trail by seven at the end of the first quarter, but they quickly settled down in the second. The Cheetahs held Algoma to just six points in the second quarter to take a 30-26 lead into the half. A low-scoring second half saw Vanier outscore the Thunderbirds 20-19 for a five-point win. Prevost and Frederique Potvin each had 12 points for Vanier with Zineb Selham (5 PTS, 6 REB) being named the player of the game for the Cheetahs. The Thunderbirds were led by Corina Bruni's 13 points and seven rebounds. Amanda Orr (6 PTS, 2 REB) was named the Thunderbirds player of the game.

Game 5 - Humber Hawks 65, Fanshawe Falcons 46
Fanshawe controlled the action in the first and fourth quarters, but the play of the Humber Hawks in the middle two quarters is what decided the consolation final at the 34th annual Sting Classic.  The Falcons jumped out to a four-point lead at the end of one quarter, but scored a meager 14 points of the next two quarters. On the other side, Humber caught fire offensively, scoring 41 points during that time to take a 23 point lead into the final quarter. Fanshawe outscored the Hawks 13-9 in the fourth, but still fell by 19. Humber was led by player of the game Domingo (18 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST) who had a game-high 18 points. Fanshawe player of the game went to Maddy Edwards (12 PTS).

Game 6 - Algonquin Thunder 63, Vanier Cheetahs 58
Anytime two of the Top 10 teams in Canada meet up, the fans will be treated to excellent basketball. Saturday night was no different as the Algonquin Thunder (seventh ranked) claimed the 34th annual Sting Classic over the sixth-ranked Vanier Cheetahs 63-58. Vanier looked poised for the championship early as their full-court press caused a number of issues for the Thunder.  At the end of the first, Algonquin regrouped and quickly erased the Cheetahs four-point advantage. At the half, Algonquin led 32-30 after Vanier's Caren-Carissa Tapia hit a near midcourt, buzzer-beater three-pointer as time expired. In the third, Algonquin's Rada and Bascoe took control, giving the Thunder an 11-point lead midway through the quarter. Vanier responded in the fourth quarter, closing the lead to three points early, but could not get any closer than five points in the final five minutes. Bascoe had 18 points for the Thunder along with teammate and tournament MVP Abeer Farhat's 16 points. Prevost had 15 points for the Cheetahs. Algonquin's Rada (12 PTS, 3 REB, 3 STL) and Vanier's Prevost (15 PTS, 5 REB, 3 BLK, 2 STL) were named players of the game.

Day 1

On Day 1 of the 34th annual women's basketball Sting Classic, the intensity was high, the games were competitive and the student-athletes representing their schools were able to get back in action after a lengthy holiday break.

Four games were played on Day 1 with eight teams competing for the tournament championship.

Game 1 - George Brown Huskies 66, Sheridan Bruins 58
Sheridan came flying out of the game early as they led by as many as 11 over George Brown.  Trailing by seven at the half, the Huskies outscored the Bruins 27-12 in the third quarter. The explosive quarter was aided by 12 points from Wilson, who shot 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the quarter. Wilson led the Huskies with 18 points while Sheridan's Shylanda Saunders scored a game-high 21 points. Wilson (18 PTS, 5 REB) was named George Brown's player of the game while Paige Holdsworth (6 PTS) took the nod for Sheridan.

Game 2 - Algonquin Thunder 59, Fanshawe Falcons 52
The defending OCAA champions struggled early as they trailed Fanshawe by one at the end of the first. Algonquin was led by Poapst who scored nine of the Thunder's 11 points in the opening quarter. Algonquin found their range in the second quarter as they outscored the Falcons 23-9. The Falcons looked to pull off an upset as they entered the fourth trailing 50-35. In the final quarter, Fanshawe closed the lead to seven, but were unable to overcome the enormous deficit. Farhat (16 PTS, 5 REB, 3 STL) was Algonquin's player of the game while Mazerolle (10 PTS, 3 AST, 7 STL) was the top player for Fanshawe.

Game 3 - Vanier Cheetahs 54, Humber Hawks 43
The country's sixth-ranked team battled the Humber Hawks in a defensive battle. The Cheetahs held the Hawks to single digit points in the first two quarters to take a 20-18 lead into the half.  Vanier's depth began to show in the second half as they outscored Humber 34-25 in the half for an 11-point victory. Potvin had a game-high 19 points for Vanier along with nine apiece from Prevost and Selham. Brenda Carachure led the Hawks with nine points with Maria Suriani and Mary Asare each chipping in eight. Players of the game were Catharine Desbien (4 PTS, 6 REB, 5 STL) for Vanier and Carachure (9 PTS, 4 REB) for the Hawks.

Game 4 - Algoma Thunderbirds 62, Seneca Sting 39
The host Sting jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, showing signs of a potential upset, but Algoma would have none of it. The Thunderbirds scored nine consecutive points en route to taking a 33-16 lead into the half. Seneca was unable to stop Bruni, who had 18 points in the half. Algoma outscored the Sting 20-8 in the third to take a 25-point lead into the final quarter. Bruni led Algoma with 24 points while Laura Cooper chipped in 10. Smith was the long Sting in double figures with 12 points. Bruni (24 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST, 5 STL) and Smith (12 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST) were named players of the game for their respective teams.

Source: Seneca College