The EJ Dunn Girls Basketball team started their Spring Break and capped off their season by winning the Port Alberni Middle School Championships, hosted at ADSS.
The format was a single day playoff tournament, which pitted the girls against the EJ Dunn Boys team in the opening round, before the girls advanced to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the EJ Dunn Girls faced the Haahuupayak Girls squad, who went undefeated in regular season play. It was a spirited contest, with the outcome in doubt until the final seconds of regulation.
Prevailing in the semi-finals led the Dunn girls to face a Haahuupayak Boys squad in the finals. The Haahuupayak Boys entered the finals fresh from their own semi-final battle versus AW Neill.
The championship match proved an even greater nail-biter, ultimately decided by three points in the girls’ favour.
What makes this story even more extraordinary? The EJ Dunn girls entered the tournament as a true Cinderella team, facing three consecutive tournament opponents that they were unable to defeat during the regular season.
The 10-game regular season was organized by EJ Dunn Boys coach, Craig Brooks, and featured six teams from four schools.
Outstanding players on defence, for this championship squad, were Dianna Sorensen, Mary Napachee, Catherine Joe-Thompson, Arrianna Ward, Kionna Little, and Sydney Chase. Offensively the team saw contributions from Gerrelyn Barney, Cadence Fraser, and Chelsea Joe-Thompson. The Match MVPs were Babae Williams, Shawna Williams, and Diana Sorensen. Tournament MVP, Chantal Tate, dazzled the crowd by raining three-point shots.
Brooks received help from both Neelam Parmer and Mike Roberts from ADSS, in running the play-off tournament.