OKM Sr. Girls defeat Heritage Woods with Convincing Offence

OKM Sr. Girls vs. Heritage Woods

Written by: Jamie Keast, Handsworth ‘06

Okanagan Mission (OKM) Senior Girls have just arrived now at Handsworth from their foggy drive in on the Coquihalla. They are excited to be here as last year they were unable to attend out-of-town tournaments due to the Coquihalla closures. Heritage Woods, who are in their fourth straight year of attending our tournament, didn’t have as far to come, although with Lower Mainland traffic, it may have taken them just as long.

OKM opens the game with #14, Kanani Coon, getting the hoop and the harm, but misses the free throw. After a several unsuccessful back and forth possessions, OKM’s #4, Asia Borg, hits a three, taking them up 5-0 against Heritage Woods. Heritage Woods gets on the board in the next possession though, and with two successful runs down the floor, bring the game to within 1. However, OKM’s #7, Jada Burden, had other plans as she hit a big three. A block from OKM’s Kanani Coon against Heritage Woods’ #22 Kate Mean on the layup keeps Heritage Woods from increasing their lead. Kate Mean for Heritage Woods takes an offensive rebounding foul but OKM can’t capitalize on it as Heritage Woods returns down the floor to score a basket. 

With 4 minutes left in the first quarter, Heritage Woods’ #9, Rhyanne Head, brings the game to within 3 points. OKM’s #3, Maya Sandhu, lays one in to give them their biggest lead as they are up 14-8. OKM’s #8, Maya Andruchow, heads to the line, further extending OKMs lead to 8. OKM’s #5 Ayla Mulleny forces a turnover and they capitalize on it, ending the quarter up 10 points on Heritage Woods. 

Two minutes into the second quarter and neither team has put any points in the board until Heritage Woods’ #21, Izzy Lloyd hits a baseline three. A backdoor pass from Kate Mean followed by another Heritage Woods basket leads to back-to-back-to-back baskets for Heritage Woods, bringing them to within 5 points of OKM. Scoring starts slow for OKM until #4, Asia Borg, hits a three. A hard drive to the basket from OKM’s Kanani Coon continues to help build their lead. With less than 2 minutes in the half, OKM’s #13, Faith Hunter, hits a three. The score at the half: OKM 31-Heritage Woods 22. 

The third quarter sees a couple of shot attempts from Kanani Coon, but scoring doesn’t open until her third attempt, two minutes into the quarter, which takes OKM’s lead back to 11 points. Coon is making things happen this quarter, assisting in the next basket to give OKM their biggest lead of 15 points, and then driving and getting fouled in the next possession, where she goes 2 for 2 from the line. Five minutes into the third quarter Heritage Woods puts up their first basket of the frame. With just over 2 minutes left in the quarter, Kananai Coon gets a steal and goes end-to-end for the hoop and the harm, again, drawing an unsportsmanlike foul and hitting the free throw for a 3-point play. OKM’s #13, Faith Hunter, also heads to the line for three after being fouled from behind the arc. Heritage Woods seems to be having challenges keeping OKM at bay, as OKM goes on a 24-6 run in the third quarter. 

OKM opens the last frame with three successful free throws from two separate fouls. Once again, Kanani Coon gets the hoop and the harm (for the third time this game) as it looks like she may have been fouled by three separate players on the drive-she hits the free throw, earning her 22 points in the game. Coon continues to be a force, drawing an unsportsmanlike foul for excessive force on another layup. As they keep possession, #5 on OKM, Ayla Mulleny, drives in for a basket followed by a three by Faith Hunter. Heritage Woods #12, Bahar Ebrahimi, gets two layup opportunities and puts 4 on the board in back-to-back possessions. Heritage Woods’ #7, Anita Tavaszi, earns her fifth and disqualifying foul, sending OKM’s #13 Faith Hunter to the line where she goes 1-for-2. Heritage Woods’ #9, Rhyanne Head, also earns her fifth and disqualifying foul with 2 minutes left in the game, sending OKM’s #6 Payton Friensen to the line. 

Heritage Woods didn’t give up in their first game of the tournament, but OKM came out stronger, winning 74-41.