Division I basketball might well be somewhat more finely-tuned in terms of pure on-court skills in Sudbury, but when it comes to the drama and excitement of championship encounters on Saturday, they couldn’t hold a candle to the Senior Division II gold medal girls game.

Where the Horizon Aigles (Junior – Division I) and Lo-Ellen Park Knights (Senior – Division II) both won comfortably in the triple-header that was hosted at the Ben Avery Gymnasium, the St Charles College Cardinals – Macdonald-Cartier Panthères senior girls Division II affair went right down to the final buzzer.

Spurred on by a remarkable 25-point performance from multi-sport standout Bryn Hobson, St Charles staked claim to their first SDSSAA Girls Basketball banner ever (in either division), holding on for a 33-30 victory over ESMC.

Despite accounting for more than 75% of her team’s offensive production and leading all players in this game in steals (9), assists (3) and field goal attempts (23), Hobson is still not about to be lured away from her love of the “Beautiful Game”, first and foremost.

“I think of basketball more for fun, instead of a career, which soccer is,” said Hobson. “Basketball is more of a hobby for school.”

A 6-0 record in regular season play that included a 31-21 triumph over the Panthères meant little early as the Cards fell behind from the opening tip of the ball, spotting Macdonald-Cartier a 7-0 run to open the game and forcing head coach Rick Aube to keep his troops focused.

“He was making sure all of our heads are up,” said Hobson. “Our heads get down really fast. We were down 7-0 and we thought we were done for. Once we had our heads up, we are able to come back like we did there.”

Kaydan Francoeur chipped in with a pair of baskets for SCC while Naomi Burrows (13 pts), Berenice Kouassi (6), Hannah Burton (4) and Marquise Castonguay (4) handled the bulk of the scoring in a losing cause.

Rounding out the gold medal winning lineup were Makayla Tuttle, Nina Aube, Angel Ijomah, Hannah O'Bonsawin, Kalina Lavoie, Juanita Abajingin, Paige McPhee, Antonia Bountouris, Emma Belli and Ava Desbiens.

The Lo-Ellen Park Knights senior made it five straight SDSSAA crowns and seven of the past eight, overcoming a relatively quiet start but taking advantage of a Horizon team that struggled far more than usual in a shooting capacity as the Knights downed the Aigles, 44-19.

“We’re big on communication and we all had to have the same energy,” noted Lo-Ellen sparkplug and offensive catalyst Aurora Circelli (13 pts). “If one of us is down, then it messes up the whole team.”

Secondary scoring was clearly more evident in this contest as Maggie Tripodi also hit double digits for the winners with ten points, with captain Tiana Thai adding eight, more than offsetting the one-two Horizon punch of Sophie Montgomery (7) and Arianne Lamontagne (6).

“There’s a time to shoot and a time to pass – and I like to do both,” said Circelli. “If I am open, I’m shooting. If there is someone else open, I’ll pass. It’s nice to get the whole team going.”

Ryleigh Gainer, McKenna Mende, Charlotte Bertrand, Hannah Skrobot, Paige Dawson and Gia Rocca comprise the remainder of the Lo-Ellen squad that stands to return the majority of their young team again in 2025.

The Horizon juniors opened the festivities at L.U. by capping off a perfect season on a local level, outscoring the Champlain Requins 30-8 as Sophie Roy led the attack with 16 points. Still, it was an aggressive Aigles defensive performance that produced no less than 31 steals which opened the door for the offense.

With ten steals to her credit, Sophie Lachance understands far better than most how to defend with intensity. “I try and keep some space between me and their player so then I don’t foul by reaching in,” explained the grade nine student and graduate of Ecole Jean-Paul II. “I keep a little bit of space but not enough space for them to shoot on me.”

Other contributors to a second straight junior banner for the Aigles included Taryn Lavigne, Chloe Carrier, Evie Drozdowsky, Alexa Goulard, Makenna Messier, Jillian Martin, Asyah Dockery, Aviahna Cocchiola, Reese Waltenbury and Mya Sauve.

NOSSA champiosnhips are set for this weekend with action in Val Caron (Horizon - "A"), Sault Ste Marie (Korah - St Mary's - "AA/AAA") and Blind River (W.C. Eaket - "B").