The first round of basketball playoffs showed it’s going to be a tough road. Senior girls’ basketball teams were challenged this past weekend at North Island championships.
The Dover Bay Dolphins senior AAA girls were able to win the North Island title at the tournament, held at Courtenay’s G.P. Vanier Secondary School. Dover hadn’t been able to beat the host Towhees in four prior meetings this season, but turned that around in the Island final, winning 70-57
Cara Dunlop scored 22 in the final, with Madeline Hart scoring 20.
Meanwhile, senior AA North Islands were held at Kwalikum Secondary School and the Wellington Wildcats placed fourth, not enough for an automatic berth in Islands, but enough to earn a play-in game.
The Wildcats lost by five to the host Kondors in Saturday’s third-place game.
“It was an intense game and both teams wanted it. No one was willing to give up anything,” said Nicole McRae, coach of the Wildcats. “We were working hard; they were working hard.”
Mccalli Franklin was Welly’s top scorer with 17 points in that game.
Wellington tipped off the tourney with a 57-43 win over the Nanaimo District Islanders. Wellington’s Olivia Mjaalanad scored a game-high 30 points and Natasha Jensen scored 19 for NDSS.
Wellington then fell 63-55 to the eventual-champion Ballenas Whalers, with Mjaaland scoring 33, and blew out Timberline 46-15, with Mjaaland scoring 20.
The NDSS girls finished fifth at North Islands and are eliminated from playoffs.
Wellington’s play-in game against Brentwood takes place Monday (Feb. 15) at 5 p.m. at Ladysmith Secondary School.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
