Dakota, Maples come out on top at provincials

This time, the Dakota Lancers got the last laugh.

One year after being denied a historic four-peat at the hands of the Vincent Massey Trojans, a revamped Lancers squad returned with another chance to win it all, against the same opponent at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Monday, and made good on their opportunity, earning a 78-73 triumph over the Trojans to capture the AAAA girls’ provincial basketball championship.

Later in the evening, the Maples Marauders defeated the Dakota Lancers 115-106 in overtime to win the boys’ provincial title.

The Dakota girls finished with a 30-2 record overall to capture their fourth title in the last five seasons.

“We’ve had such a season that’s been so up and down, and to pull it off all together, it’s just amazing,” said forward Emilie McLean, who was named the provincial tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

The Lancers received their usual production from McLean — a ho-hum 19-point, 23-rebound double-double — but beyond the No. 1-ranked player in the province, Dakota was led to glory by another potential rising star in Grade 10 guard Quinn Kelly.

Kelly, named a tournament all-star, poured in a game-high 25 points, including 14 points in the first half, in an outstanding performance.

“This environment and this game has been something that I’ve kind of dreamed of,” said Kelly, who also grabbed five rebounds. “I’ve watched it happen before when I haven’t been on the team, and I kind of just hope that I can continue to keep improving and use this game as another step to keep getting better.”

Kelly, who is the primary ball-handler for the Lancers, played the entire game, and when it came time to ice the game on free throws, it was the 5-7 guard who delivered the dagger.

“It’s a pressure that I feel really grateful to get to have and to get to hold, and I think I’m still learning how to handle it and how to navigate it, and I have such great people behind me who are helping me learn how to do that,” she said. So I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to do it for our team.”

The Trojans led 23-19 after a fast-paced opening quarter, but the Lancers — who lost Grade 11 guard Yasmeen Fagbemi to an injury in the second frame — bounced back to take a 44-40 lead into halftime. The Lancers built on their lead out of the break, but the resilient Trojans stayed within striking distance and eventually tied the game at 56-56.

Kelly drew a critical foul at the end of the third quarter and converted on two of her three free throw attempts to give Dakota a 62-58 lead after three quarters.

“Hard work. I think it’s genetic in her family,” Lancers head coach Eric Sung said of Kelly. “She loves the game. I’m speechless. She played phenomenal. She was great for us today, but it’s what happens when you work hard, and you fall in love with something.”

Lancers guard Peyton Kyllo chipped in with 11 points (all in the second half), and Madison Rach had eight.

Uloma Isinguzo had an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double in the response for Massey, while Emma Yard supplied 16 points and Ese Imiefo had 14.

“We talked about being fearless,” said Sung. “We talked about just chipping away and hoping that eventually they’ll break. And you know what? It paid off. They had some grit. They had resiliency. Our season was injuries nonstop, we were down and out, and they never gave up.”

Emma Elliot of the Jeanne-Sauvé Olympiens received the Players’ Choice Award. Kelly, Isinguzo, Imiefo, Arabella DeGrano (Sisler) and Kiley Schettler (Garden City) were named to the provincial all-star team.

 

Maples 115 Dakota 106

Veer Brar felt he had something to prove.

The Marauders’ Grade 10 sensation played like a man on a mission en route to a 36-point performance that helped deliver Maples its first AAAA provincial championship in program history.

Brar, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, was voted the No. 7 player in the Free Press’ coaches poll of the top 10 high school players in the province earlier this month. He went off in a contest that included No. 1 Daniel Rom on the other side.

“Ranked seventh is obviously a blessing, but I feel like I’m always No. 1,” said Brar, who was named the junior varsity MVP while helping Maples to its first JV provincial title last year. “So when I came in this game, I’ve beaten everyone ahead of me so far, and the last one (Churchill) was that No. 1 seed, so coming in, I wanted to show that I’m No. 1.”

“I was born playing basketball,” Brar added. “I’m used to this. I love to play in this (environment).”

The 6-3 guard, who is still just 15 years old, dealt with cramps throughout the contest and was ailing up and down the court for most of the second half, but continued to produce.

“Incredible talent, incredible competitor,” said Marauders head coach Scott Kirkpatrick. “Incredibly savvy and understands the moment. Every time we’re in these tougher games, he plays his best games.”

Maples led 24-20 after a first quarter in which Brar supplied 10 points. Dakota punched back in the second frame, however, and led 54-48 at halftime. Both sides traded blows in the third frame and, fittingly, ended the period tied at 74-74, setting the stage for an epic fourth quarter.

Lancers guard Lucas Martin Pujante banked a tough runner to tie the game at 101-101 as regulation time expired, but Maples was ultimately too much at both ends of the floor in the bonus period for Dakota — now the provincial runner-ups for the second year in a row — to manage.

Maples forced two shot-clock violations and held Dakota’s high-powered offence to just five points in the five-minute overtime session.

“It’s hard to put into words how big of a group project the last 15 years has been at the school with the kids,” said Kirkpatrick, who has been the program’s head coach since 2010. “It’s been in the works for a long time, and there are so many kids that were part of this that you don’t see on the court today that have helped these kids, supported these kids… it’s no one-person thing. It’s been amazing to be part of.”

Thaddeus Mabilangan chipped in 18 points for the Marauders while Andrey Yamborko supplied 17 more. Surkhab Gill had 14 off the bench.

Brady Penner led the Lancers’ offensive effort with 25 points, while Rom had 23.

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