Battle of the Dogs: OKM Huskies get W Over Churchill Bulldogs

Okanagan Mission Huskies vs. Churchill Bulldogs (Girls)

December 10, 2022

Churchill is coming off a loss against Mulgrave yesterday and are looking to take third place in this year’s tournament, but OKM stands in their way. Churchill placed second in last year’s tournament after a finals’ loss to Walnut Grove, who will again be competing in this year’s final. Pre-season rankings have OKM ranked #8 and Churchill ranked #10 in 4A, so this should be a great battle of the dog mascots: OKM Huskies vs. Churchill Bulldogs. 

Kanani Coon, OKM’s standout, is back today after missing yesterday’s game, and she opens up scoring for the Huskies with a three pointer. Huskies set up in a full-court press, and although Churchill gets it across the line, Huskies steal it from Churchill’s guard. They can’t capitalize on it though. Coon picks up her first foul sending Churchill’s Stephanie H. to the line, but she goes 0-2. OKM’s cheering section may have distracted her as sounds reminiscent of cats and dogs came from the bleachers.  This didn’t phase Churchill as they hit a 3 to take this low-scoring battle to 7-5 for OKM. OKM continues to press and goes on a 11-3 run thanks to a three pointer from Maya Andruchow. With just over one minute left in the quarter, Churchill’s Emily Z. gets fouled beyond the three and goes 2-for-3 from the line. A nice high-low connection between Churchill’s Emily Z. and Louise D. give them another 2, but OKM’s Payton Friesen returns with a three. At the end of the first quarter, OKM Huskies lead Churchill Bulldogs 25-15. 

Q2: Churchill opens up scoring in the second quarter with Louise D. hitting a three pointer. A beautiful drive by Churchills Emily Z., against good defense, results in a lay-up. The very next possession, Emily Z. hits a baseline three to bring this game to a 3-point game. With just over 6 minutes left in the half, we have a tie game thanks to Stephanie H’s free throws, despite the sounds of a dolphin coming from the bleachers during her shots. OKM suffers a few turnovers on back-to-back possessions which keeps this game tied. OKM’s guard, Presley Hopf, is a tenacious defender and has been working hard over the last few days to keep her opponents at bay including Churchill’s guard Emily Z. Hopf heads to the line with just under 2 minutes to go, putting OKM up 3 points. At the end of the first half, OKM leads Churchill 38-35. 

Halftime Fact: Churchill Bulldog’s coach, Coach Dykstra, coached Quinn Keast on the Provincial U15 team where they won the Western Canada Summer Games. Coach Dykstra: “Quinn was a major reason for our success.”

Q3: The second half gets underway with a three from Churchill to tie up the game but Asia Borg hits one of her own after a nice offensive rebound and pass from Kanani Coon. On the next two possessions, Coon heads to the line both times and goes 4-for-4. Churchill will battle back for 2 baskets and with 5 minutes to go in the third, OKM leads 46-44. After an OKM turnover, Churchill’s Gwen O. heads to the line and sinks one of two free throws. Churchill’s Louise D. gets the hoop and the harm and Churchill takes over the lead with 4 minutes to go in the quarter. OKM’s Coach Faust is actively asking her players to box out after a few offensive rebounds from Churchill. The Bulldogs are now putting pressure on the Huskies in their backcourt. At the end of the third, the game is tied at 54!

Q4: A steal from OKM’s Ayla Mulleny, results in a breakaway basket, but is nullified by a Churchill field goal to keep the game tied. Coon heads to the line to put OKM up by 3 with 7 minutes to go in the game. A beautiful play set up by Coon, who gets the ball in the post and gives it to a back-door cutting Mulleny results in a lead of 5 but Churchill returns right away with a three. With 5 minutes to go, we are still tied up! 

After a few intense possessions for OKM, and a couple of Churchill turnovers, the Huskies are up 8 points with just 2 minutes to go in the game. But the Bulldogs have other plans: with two successful possessions, they’ve brought the game to within 2 points. OKM turns the ball over, but Churchill then does the same, so OKM has possession with 45 seconds left and #8, Maya Andruchow hits a three-pointer putting them up 5 points. Coon heads to the line, makes her first free throw, misses her second, but OKM gets the rebound and keeps possession. This forces Churchill Emily Z. to foul, which is her fifth and disqualifying foul. The Bulldogs fought hard but OKM prevails, winning by 8. 

Final score: OKM Huskies 77, Churchill Bulldogs 69