Sports

Bruins oust Saints in quarters

FRANCIS CRESCIA/TOWN CRIER
BEARING DOWN: Karmealia Turner turns on the afterburners on way to drain a hard-fought deuce during senior girls basketball quarter-finals. The Bruins won handily over C.W. Jefferys Saints 60-25 to book their spot in the semis against Emery Eagles.

Easy win pits Don Mills against Emery

The test begins for Don Mills Bruins as their 60-25 victory over C.W. Jefferys Lady Saints Oct. 28 was only the start of a tough playoff road to the North Region finals.

That was the sentiment expressed by girls basketball coach Mel Stein after the Bruins’ lopsided tilt.

“Now the difficulty starts: Emery, Downsview,” he said. “Apparently Downsview is third or fourth ranked in the province.”

The Bruins hope their team’s depth will provide a cycle of fresh legs for the big games. Karmealia Turner, Marina Momeilovic, Kiana Kalnins and Pamela Thomas are part of that physical presence.

Victoria Salis added direction at point guard, assisting on many of the baskets by Turner and Kalnins.

Still, Stine said his charges need to come together when it comes to the defence: too many gaps were exploited during the first half, with the score 26-13.

“We have to learn to help out on defence,” he said.

With the walloping, Saints coach Steve Morrison admitted he was out-coached on the court.

“We have some girls that play a little bit but their girls are well-coached,” he said.

That’s not to say Rita Kvyezvi and Chenel Blake did not elevate their team. As Blake directed traffic while on the attack, Kvyezvi notched 11 points and crashed the boards.

Though the Lady Saints’ season is over, there’s hope for next year as there is talent in the system.

“Most of the girls are returning and we’ve got a lot of young girls at the school, so we’ll be real good for next year,” Morrison said.

Even if Don Mills is ousted by the Eagles Nov. 2, or Downsview thereafter, there’s optimism for the 2011 season too.

“That’s the beauty of it all, we’ve got 11 girls who are in grade 9 and 10. So we lose five grade 12s,” Stine said.

Until then, vindication for a past tournament loss will suffice.

“I hope we get by Emery because they are well-coached,” he said. “We’re lucky we have the home-court advantage.

“They beat us last time so maybe a bit of redemption is due.”

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