The St. Albert Skyhawks proved their No. 1 ranking in 4A provincial high school women’s basketball wasn’t a fluke at the St. Mary’s Saints Senior Classic in Calgary.
The second tournament victory in a row for the Skyhawks was Saturday’s 80-67 final against the Cardston Cougars.
Down 40-39 at halftime, the Skyhawks cranked it up late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to push the lead to 20 points.
Kamryn DeKlerk, the tournament MVP, was in foul trouble in the first half but pulled off a seven-point scoring run during the second-half surge to help put the game away.
DeKlerk, a Grade 11 guard, finished with 17 points, while Teá DeMong piled up 24 and Annacy Palmer notched 20.
The 2018 metro Edmonton division one champions and 4A provincial bronze medallists advanced to the final with wins of 91-40 against William Aberhart Orange of Calgary and 83-48 against the Raymond Comets.
DeMong, the tournament MVP at the Paul Kane Invitational last month for the victorious Skyhawks, netted 21 points and Palmer added 15 against William Aberhart, while Morgan Harris sank 15 and DeKlerk had 13 against Raymond, ranked seventh in 4A.
Cardston and William Aberhart are 4A honourable mentions.
The Skyhawks are 18-5 overall, including a 7-0 mark in league play, after Monday’s 88-37 thrashing of the host Strathcona Lords (4-3), a 4A honourable mention.
Tonight the Skyhawks welcome the Salisbury Sabres (4-1), ranked 10th in 4A, at 6:30 p.m.
The Skyhawks are hosting a tournament next weekend.
