The Paul Kane Blues had the No. 1 high school women’s basketball team in the province pinned against the ropes but couldn’t land the knockout punch in Wednesday’s loss.
Down by 11 points late in the third quarter, the Jasper Place Rebels were on the verge of their first defeat of the metro Edmonton division one season before mounting a 13-1 run to overtake the Blues with under six minutes to play.
“We tried but we just couldn’t seem to finish it,” said captain Allie Hunder of the Blues after the 55-51 defeat at Paul Kane.
The last league game before the playoffs marked the second time the Blues have succumbed to the Rebels this year.
“We have really improved since the first time we played them in our tournament and we can only improve even more as the season goes on,” said Hunder of the 64-41 loss in the final of the Paul Kane Classic last month.
The Rebels are 9-0 in division one and the Blues are seeded third in the playoff round of eight after finishing tied for third with the Archbishop MacDonald Marauders at 6-3.
“We definitely would like to see them again and try and get that win,” Hunder said.
The Rebels are the top team in the 4A provincial rankings for the second ranking period and the Blues moved up one position to fifth.
The Blues are also 19-9 overall after the pushing the Rebels to the brink of defeat.
“We’re on a pretty good roll and we’re all excited to go to provincials and show 4A what we can do,” Hunder said of the March 16 to 18 championship tournament in Lethbridge.
The first half between the Blues and the defending division one champions was a tight tussle with very few point runs by both teams. Quarter scores were 15-13 and 27-25 for the Rebels and in the second half the Blues outscored the Rebels 18-10 to lead by six with the last 10-minute period to go.
“It was a really hard fought game on both sides,” Hunder said. “We played better than when we played them the last time. We were able to keep it really close, which is very good for us. We were shooting well, our defence was better and we worked better on our press break to break them down in the front half.”
The Rebels climbed back into contention after Deanna Missins’ basket for the Blues with 1:16 left in the third quarter made it 43-32.
After a free throw by Alesha Stanley of the Blues to start the last quarter, the Rebels replied with eight unanswered points and the go-ahead basket with 5:40 remaining put the visitors ahead 45-44.
It was 51-45 when Stanley deposited an offensive rebound with under two minutes to go and Rebels answered with two free throws and a basket to lead by eight with 1:17 to play.
Hunder closed out the scoring with a free throw for the team’s 48th point and with 47.7 ticks on the clock drained her second three-pointer of the match and the team’s fourth.
The loss was similar in nature to last week’s 56-55 heartbreaker against the Panthers at Paul Kane and second place up for grabs in the standings. The Panthers wired the game-winning points with a dramatic three-ball with 22 seconds remaining after the Blues strung together eights point in a row to lead by two.
“The Spruce Grove loss was tougher. We were one point away from winning that one,” Hunder said of the team’s solid performance against the No. 6-ranked 4A Panthers. “In both games we really could’ve took the lead and finished strong but we just couldn’t seem to finish.”
Hunder tossed in a team-high 12 points and Stanley registered eight against the Rebels.
Missins and Jenae John proved solid minutes off the bench while chipping in with six points apiece and Ella Stanley scored six as well.
Haily Weaver of the Rebels led all scorers with 16 points.
Makenna Ledgister added 10 and Sydney Fedick had eight for last year’s 15-0 division one champions and at provincials the Rebels were silver medallists with no Grade 12s and eight Grade 11s on their 12-player roster. This year’s lineup features eight Grade 12s and four Grade 11s.
Hunder, 17, is the only Grade 12 on the Blues and the third-year senior team guard was honoured for her contributions during Wednesday’s halftime ceremony.
“What makes Allie special is her leadership and her off-court impact. Allie is one of the most respected leaders that the coaches have ever been involved with. She leads by example and takes care of all of teammates,” said head coach Rick Stanley during his ceremony. “She is never negative. You will never find her pessimistic and is always full of laughter and that is what you get from Allie Hunder. She lifts the spirits of all players and coaches involved. She is a humorous individual who laughs before she cries.
“It’s a sad time for the Blues as we lose this fine gifted student athlete, however she has graced us with her leadership and passes the torch to the next era.
“Allie has made her mark at PK and gives the program the necessary qualities to take the next step forward and for that young lady we are certainly grateful for what you have accomplished. Paul Kane will truly miss you and we are your number one fan.”
Hunder fed off the ceremony by popping in a three-pointer to kick-off the second half.
“To see the recognition that I got, it was very emotional,” said the recent signee of the NAIT Ooks in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference. “These girls and these coaches are my family and to have them honour me means so much.”
However, inquiring minds want to know why Hunder always wears one red shoe and one blue shoe while hooping it up.
“They’re supposed to be fire and ice,” she said of the colourful kickers. “Everyone asks if I’ve lost one of each pair, but nope, I just love them.”
Monday the Blues host the O’Leary Spartans (5-4) at 5 p.m. in the quarter-finals. O’Leary handed the Blues their first loss in league play, 66-64 Dec. 14.
The semifinals are Wednesday and the final is 5 p.m. Saturday at Jasper Place.
