By Jeff D'Andrea

Crusaders win bronze at P.A. Hoopla

Mar 24, 2018 | 8:25 PM

On Friday night after their 5A Girls semifinals defeat to the Aden Bowman Bears, Carlton Crusaders forward Mackenzie Emmerson said she wanted her final game in her high school basketball career to be a victory and a Hoopla medal.

She got her wish on Saturday afternoon, as her Crusaders defeated the Centennial Chargers from Saskatoon 81-67 at École St. Mary to win bronze.

As she walked out to do her postgame interviews, Crusaders head coach Jenn Ferguson was still wiping tears from her face after giving her final postgame speech to her players of the season. For Emmerson, Payton Izsak and Nyariak Monyrew, it was their last high school basketball game of their careers.

“I’m so proud of them, it’s a really tough game to play in,” Ferguson said. “Composure was critical today and they did a really good job. That’s a really tough team, physical and they battle hard for rebounds and they obviously got a couple of exceptional players. We just kept finding ways to answer back. I think we got a little bit in their heads and worked them over that way. It affected the outcome of the game, most definitely.”

The Crusaders entered the fourth quarter with a 55-44 lead, but the Chargers started the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run to pull within three points.

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But the Crusaders were able to deal with the pressure, in large part to two baskets from Taryn Izsak in transition. Then with 5:30 left in the game, Payton Izsak drew an offensive foul on Chargers guard Kaitlin Jockims who fouled out of the game. Jockims was a focal point of the Chargers offence, and losing her was a killing blow late for the Chargers.

“I think [Jockims] lost her composure with the tight defence we were playing on her,” Ferguson said, after assigning guard Taryn Izsak to shadow Jockims. “She was doing some trash talking on the court, so I think for our girls that felt really good to know that working together, they made that play happen. It was a turning point for sure.”

Payton Izsak led the Crusaders in scoring with 26 points in the game. Courtney Primeau had 20 for the Chargers.

In the 5A Girls gold medal game, the LeBoldus Golden Suns from Regina defeated the Aden Bowman Bears 63-47.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW