The Princess Margaret Mustangs swept their way to winning Mustang Mania.
The senior girls’ basketball team accomplished the feat when they defeated the Okanagan Mission Huskies, an honorable mention in the provincial rankings, 70-44. Megan Admussen-Blair was the Mustangs’ top scorer with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Danielle Ruocco and Riley Terbasket added 13 points each, while Taylor Corrie chipped in nine, Kenzie Haberstock and Shinaaz Johal, had eight points each. Haberstock also collected nine rebounds, while Johal had seven.
“Some of the things that we really focused on in practice have been running our offence with various options,” said Mustangs coach Dave Killick, adding they had a balanced attack as other players stepped up.
The Mustangs opened with a 60-34 win over Nechako Valley (ranked No. 2 in the north) from Vanderhoof. The Mustangs, ranked eighth, had four players hit double digits in scoring with Admussen-Blair leading the way with 18 points, Ruocco, 17, Corrie, 11 and Terbasket, 10. Corrie led with 13 boards, while Admussen-Blair had 11.
In their second game against the Sa-Hali Sabres from Kamloops, the Mustangs knocked down 11 three-pointers to cruise to a 69-40 victory. Jasper Pankratz was the offensive star making a trio of shots from long distance in the second half while Haberstock had a strong performance with 11 points and 11 boards. Ruocco had 16 points while Corrie knocked down 11. Johal had a strong performance pulling down 10 boards.
Killick said their defence was very good, especially Jaquelyn Ford, who took a charge at a key point against the Huskies. The Mustangs post players have worked hard in practice and it has resulted in added offensive punch from Haley Lehr, Haberstock and Johal.
The Mustangs also placed more focus on their fitness level and have outscored the opposition 54-34 in the final quarter this season.
Up next for the Mustangs is the Kelowna Best of the West tournament where they will face the Salmon Arm Jewel, seventh-ranked Vernon Secondary Panthers and Saskatchewan’s Sheldon-Williams Collegiate.
