ALGONQUIN 60, ALGOMA 38

ETOBICOKE, Ont. – The first of two semi-finals at the 2013 belairdirect OCAA Women's Basketball Championship on Friday had the Algoma Thunderbirds taking on the Algonquin Thunder.

History would repeat itself, however, as the Algonquin Thunder knocked off the Algoma Thunderbirds by a final of 60-38 and booked their ticket to the OCAA gold medal game Saturday at 6:30 pm.

The two-time defending OCAA champions are also guaranteed a spot at nationals, with the top two teams in Ontario earning an invite.

Player of the Game honours for Algonquin went to Sandre Bascoe, who finished with 20 points, six rebounds, two blocks and five steals.

Player of the Game honours for Algoma went to Laura Cooper, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.

Algonquin started the game running. Bascoe scored the first four of the Thunder's six points to lead 6-3 midway through the quarter.

Then a devastating turn of events would hit Algoma, with their leading scorer Corina Bruni falling hard on her knee. She would have to be helped off the court as her team watched on.

With their main offensive threat on the sidelines, Algoma struggled for the rest of the quarter, only scoring three more points and trailing 16-6 going into the second.

All would not be lost though as Algoma would pick it up in the second quarter and adjust their offence, going on a 8-2 run to get right back in the game. Laura Cooper and Megan Delfare took over the main scoring responsibilities, netting four points each in the run. Cooper then tied it up with a nifty post move on Bascoe that brought the Algoma bench to their feet. Bascoe responded with a lay-up of her own though to make it 20-18 with two minutes to go in the half.

"I believe throughout the game getting to the line was very important for us to really pull ahead and put this game out of reach," said Boscoe, who was a perfect 6-for-6 at the line.

Even with their best player out for the game, the Thunderbirds only trailed the defending OCAA champions 22-20 at the half.

Cooper led all players with 10 points and one assist at the half. Bascoe led the Thunder with eight points and three rebounds at the break.

The Thunder had a 5-0 run to start the third capped by a huge Abeer Farhat three that made it 27-20 with 5:55 remaining. Two fantastic plays by the Thunderbirds would get them back within three, but Farhat hit another jumper to the delight of her bench and Algonquin fans that made their way to Toronto this weekend.

That would be the game breaker, as the Thunder went on a 9-2 run and led 38-26 going into the fourth, where Algonquin would put this one away and book their ticket to the final with a 60-38 outcome.

With the win, Algonquin will now face the winner of the Fanshawe-Humber game for the gold medal tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. and a chance at repeat gold medals for the school.

With the loss, Algoma still has a chance to win a bronze, as they will take on the Seneca Sting on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the bronze semi-final bracket.

Source: Humber College with files from OCAA Communications