Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A rare loss in the semifinals ended the NDSS Golden Hawks junior girls’ bid for a second straight EOSSAA title.
Napanee, which was playing to the eastern Ontario regional tournament, was swept by ESC Casselman (25-20, 25-23) in the semifinals.
For the Hawks it was just their second loss of the season when combining league play, playoffs and the EOSSAA tournament. Unfortunately for them, in a sudden-death playoff format, one is all it takes to dethrone a reigning champion.
NDSS’ Kaiah Weese sets up a play in front of the net. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
The Hawks were off to a hot start, defeating schools from North Grenville and Perth to advance to the semifinals.
Top scorers for Napanee included Vienna Ballance-Hinch with 22 points (8 kills, 9 aces, 5 stuff blocks), Sadie Lupton 17 points (13 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks), Abby Kelsey 12 points (6 kills, 6 aces), Kaiah Weese 10 points (1 kill, 8 aces, 1 block) and Finlay Paul 10 points (6 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks).
NDSS’ Nara Rickard serves. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
After advancing passed Napanee, Casselman would go on to capture the EOSSAA title, defeating North Grenville in three sets.
Sadie Lupton jumps to spike the ball over the net. Photo by Adam Prudhomme.
Though not the finish the Hawks had envisioned, they still finished the year as champions of the Kingston area for a second straight year. With a near even mix of Grade 9 and 10 players, they figure to be able to field two very competitive teams next season at the junior and senior level.
-NDSS’ girls hockey team will play for a trip to the KASSAA finals on Monday, taking on La Salle in the semifinals at Kingston’s Invista Centre. Napanee advanced with a convincing win over Regi in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
With a win on Monday they would take on the winner of the Holy Cross/Frontenac showdown on Feb. 29 for the league trophy.
NDSS’ boys hockey team saw their season come to an end with a loss to Holy Cross in the KASSAA quarter-finals.