Special from www.sheridanbruins.com

HISTORY MADE AS LADY BRUINS CLAIM OCAA TITLE

WELLAND, ONT. Four years ago the Sheridan Bruins didn't even have a women's basketball team in the OCAA. Now, after dethroning the two-time defending champions from Seneca with a 74-58 victory, they have ascended to top of the mountain and secured their place in history as Ontario Champions.

"It was great. We had a great start and came out with some serious intensity," head coach Shane Bascoe said. "This was three, long years in the making, but we're champions now and that's what we do it for."

After being named the OCAA Player of the Year, a first-team OCAA All-Star and becoming the first female basketball player in the distinguished history of Sheridan basketball to be named an All-Canadian, Hali Burns added to her trophy case by being named the tournament MVP.

"This feels amazing because it's my first championship ever and I'm glad it was with the Bruins," she said.

Nakia Arthur led the club in scoring with 19 points, while Jeralyn Espiritu, Sarah Moxley, and Burns were also in double figures with 11 points apiece.

The Lady Bruins took a 40-24 lead - along with a lot of momentum - into the dressing room at halftime and hoped to put Seneca away early in the second half.

But the defending champions showed a lot of heart and used a lethal full-court trap to force turnovers and claw their way back into the contest. Their increased defensive intensity allowed them to chip away at their deficit - cutting it to 10 points - but were unable to get into single digits and the celebration for the double blue began.

The team will now have 10 days before departing for Truro, Nova Scotia and the CCAA National Championship. Bascoe says they'll enjoy the victory for a couple days, but then it's back to work to prepare for their first ever nationals appearance.

"We'll take some time to let it all soak in and then find out who we'll face in the first round at nationals and get back to work," he said. "We'll just take it one game at a time like we always do."

Blue notes: It is the eighth time in the 40 year history of the OCAA that one school has produced the men's and women's champion in the same year, but the first time in Sheridan history. In addition to Burns' MVP award, Jeralyn Espiritu was named to the tournament All-Star team. Through the first two rounds of the tournament, the top ranked Sting and second ranked Bruins held their opponents to the exact same amount (34 in the quarter-final and 45 in the semi-final) of points. A key factor in the outcome was three-point shooting. The Lady Bruins hit seven, Seneca did not make a three-point shot. It is the 20th win in a row for the team. Their last loss came four months ago in their OCAA opener on Halloween night against Fanshawe.