Livingstone Senior Girls Sabres host and win basketball tournament

Sabres #6 Sheanna Schamber aims one at the hoop in
 tournament final against Novas
C. Davis photos and videos

Chris Davis

Livingstone School in Lundbreck was the site of a Senior Girls basketball tournament on Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8. Participating teams included the Livingstone Sabres, the Holy Trinity JV Knights from Okotoks, the Crowsnest Consolidated Pandas, the Erle Rivers Novas from Milk River, the Matthew Halton Hawks, the Noble Central Blades from Nobleford, and the Chinook Alumni team, composed of players that graduated from Livingstone School. The Chinook team filled in for a team that withdrew from the tournament, and automatically forfeited their games.

Game 1: Sabres vs Blades

Sabres vs Blades

The first game was a match-up between host team the Sabres and the Noble Central Blades. The Sabres dominated the first quarter, winning it 18-8. The second quarter was off to a slow start, but the Sabres managed to extend their lead to 35-23. There were a couple of really nice 3-pointers for the Blades in this quarter. The third quarter saw the Blades rally somewhat, having figured out the Sabres' style of play more, and holding their own better. The quarter ended with the Sabres up 49-28, with Sabres #6 Sheanna Schamber netting a nice one right at the buzzer.

The Sabres dominated the final quarter like they did the first, with the Blades having trouble finding the basket with their shots. Schamber scored right at the buzzer again, and the final score was Sabres 71 - Blades 32.

Sheanna Schamber scored 21 points for the Sabres, 8 of those in the last quarter. Sabres #5 Raelyn Rutledge scored 14 points, and #12 Reagan Bousquet was not far behind with 11 points. Blades #14 Taylor Holtorf was the top scorer for her team with 17 points.

Game 2: Hawks vs Novas

Hawks vs Novas

Matthew Halton's Hawks faced the Erle Rivers Novas in the second game of the tournament. The Novas are a fairly young team, with four of their members in grade 10, five in grade 11, and three in grade 12. They proved to be challenging competition for the Hawks, after getting off to a fast start and taking a 1-8 lead early in the first quarter. The Hawks bounced back, getting it together later in the quarter, but were also faced with their perennial problem of having a smaller bench. The first quarter ended with the Novas ahead 22-15. The Hawks started out stronger in the second quarter, but once again the Novas pushed the score up in their favour. Despite the fast and furious efforts of Hawks #8 Alyssa Barbero the Novas again finished on top by a score of 25-38. Novas #4 Sierra Harty made a huge difference to her team, scoring 6 in the first and 8 in the second.

In the third quarter we got a chance to see a number of good shooters on the Novas team, including #11 Grace Oswald with 8 points. For the Hawks #9 Dakota Van Loon stood out with 8 points in the quarter. The score stalled at 33-46 for a fair while, and it was probably the best quarter I've seen the Hawks play yet this season, scores aside. They managed to shut Novas breakaway queen Sierra Harty down for most of the quarter. A very physical quarter ended with the Novas ahead 39-58.

The Hawks passing play seemed to be much improved in the final quarter, but it was essentially too late to make a big difference. The Hawks also pulled a lot of fouls, which didn't help them any. Alyssa Barbero scored 12 points for the Hawks in the final quarter, another big effort there, and the Hawks actually scored the most points in this quarter, the only time that happened in this game, but not enough to win it. The game went to the Novas by a score of 74-60.

Alyssa Barbero scored a total of 24 points for the Hawks, followed closely by Dakota Van Loon with 21 points. Sierra Harty scored 24 points for the Novas, followed by #11 Grace Oswald with 16 points and #9 Kerstin Swanson with 12 points.

Game 3: Chinooks Alumni vs Pandas

Chinooks Alumni vs Pandas

The Chinook Alumni/Pandas game was an automatic forfeit for the Chinooks, but that didn't stop either team from playing it for real. The two teams played to a draw for the first 8 minutes of the game before the Chinooks began to gain ground. Even then the Pandas held their own quite well, considering. Their major effort at holding back the Chinooks' onslaught throughout the game was a highlight. Jen Erickson and Mallory G of the Chinooks scored a couple of nice 3-pointers each. The final score was 49-32 for the Chinooks, which translated into a remarkable achievement by the Pandas in keeping the score so low.

#6 Meaghan Flannery was the top scorer for the Pandas in the game with a total of 16 points. The Chinooks spread their scoring around the team.

Game 4: Sabres vs JV Knights

Sabres vs JV Knights

The game between the Sabres and the Holy Trinity JV Knights was a bit of a mismatch, in that the Knights are a JV team and the Sabres are a well-seasoned Senior team.  That didn't stop the Knights from putting in 100%.  The Sabres were ahead 16-8 at the end of the first quarter, and 41-11 at the end of the second quarter.  The Knights put in a huge effort in the third quarter, actually outscoring the Sabres 18-16. Knights #14 Alyssa Robbins scored 10 points in the third quarter.  The Sabres dominated the final quarter, winning the game by a score of 73-36.

Sabres #10 Rebecca Lowry (a grade 9 student) scored 17 points in the game. Sabres Raelyn Rutledge and #9 Gabi Feller each scored 14 points in the game.  Sabres #13 Kaelynne Verbaas scored 12 points and Sheanna Schamber scored 10 points.  Alyssa Robbins was the top scorer for the Knights with 12 points.

Game 5: Hawks vs Chinooks Alumni

Saturday began with a morning game between the Halton Hawks and the Chinooks Alumni team.  Once again the Chinooks forfeited in advance.  The final score for this game was 76-43 for the Chinooks.  

Dakota Van Loon was the top scorer for the Hawks with an impressive 19 points.  Alyssa Barbero scored 10 points for the Hawks.  Chinooks' Emma Lowry scored 20 points, and Chinooks' Alyssa Parkin and Ericka Larson scored 14 points apiece.

Game 6: Blades vs JV Knights

Holy Trinity's JV Knights handily defeated the Noble Central blades by a score of 54-26.  Top scorer for the Blades was #14 Taylor Holtorf with 11 points.  Top scorer for the Knights was #8 Kelsey Keith with 12 points, followed by Alyssa Robbins and #11 Angela Sosick with 10 points each.

Game 7: Pandas vs Novas

The Pandas and the Novas squared off for what seems to have been an interesting game.  The Novas won every quarter, ultimately winning the game 59-44.  Pandas #4 Reagan Jackson was top scorer for her team with 19 points, followed by #5 Alexis Bohmer with 11 points.  Novas' #11 Grace Oswald scored a whopping 16 points in the third quarter, of 19, with a huge total of 31 points for the game.  Her teammate #3 Tiffany Hansen scored 17 points, including a 3-pointer in the third.

Game 8: Consolation - Hawks vs Blades

The Halton Hawks won the consolation game in a big way by a score of 76-33, largely thanks to a tremendous effort by Dakota Van Loon, who scored an incredible 35 points.  Alyssa Barbero scored a highly respectable 16 points, and #11 Kati Nicas was right behind her with 13 points. Blades #15 Karen Manyshots scored 15 points and #11 Makayla Hofer scored 10 points.

A side note about the Hawks:  They sure do seem to have a lot of fun out there.

Game 9: Semi Final - Pandas vs JV Knights

Pandas vs JV Knights

One of the biggest surprises of this tournament was the Holy Trinity JV Knights from Okotoks.  They turned out to be a JV team with an SV attitude.

In the semi final game the Crowsnest Pandas established an early lead which they managed to maintain throughout.  It was 22-12 at the end of the first quarter in the Pandas' favor.  Fouls cost the Knights dearly, and in fact their fouls in the first quarter cost them some crucial players and may have cost them the game.  The Pandas played a very assertive game in the second quarter, almost doubling the Knights on the scoreboard before the Knights  began to make up the deficit.  There was a slick 3-pointer by  Knights #9 Adele Bibault near the end of the quarter.  At the end of the quarter the ratio was much closer, with the Pandas ahead by a score of 36-27.  The Knights actually out-shot the Pandas in the third quarter, and began closing the gap, showing us what they were capable of.  A great 3 pointer by Knights' Alyssa Robbins brought the score to within 7 points, the quarter ultimately ending with the Pandas ahead by 47-39.

The Pandas poured on the steam in the final quarter, and so did the Knights.  It began to look like they might steal it, with the Pandas only ahead 47-43 at one point.  It stayed close but the Pandas managed to get their momentum back, ultimately winning the game by a score of 53-46 and taking third place in the tournament.


Pandas #4 Reagan Jackson was a dynamo, scoring 28 points for her team, a big factor in their win.

Third Place: Crowsnest Pandas

MVP Alyssa Robbins

MVP: Top scorer for the Knights was Alyssa Robbins.  She was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Pandas Coach David Vigna seemed pleased with his team's effort.  "I think the difference is we stuck it out together.  They came back and they gave it to us in the end but our hearts were in it, and we gave it 110%.  I think we worked hard, and they never gave up, so I'm proud of these girls.  I've coached these girls for the last three years, and I've coached for the last ten.  These are a good group of kids.  They're probably the closest knit team I've had in a long time."

"We play Nanton on Monday and then we play at home against Lundbreck, so that should be a good test."


Game 10: Final - Livingstone Sabres vs Erle Rivers Novas

Sabres vs Novas

Two well matched teams hit the court and the final game of the tournament was underway.  The Sabres got off to an early lead, but both teams really seemed to want it and the score remained close until near the end of the first quarter, when the Sabres lengthened their lead, to finish the quarter ahead by 11-6.  The Novas narrowed the gap in the second quarter, coming within 2 and 3 points of the Sabres several times.  The Sabres were playing smart and passing smart, and making some nice long passes, but they were also giving away those crucial penalty shots.  Sabres #9 Gabi Feller was a monster out there, scoring two 3-pointers and 3 regular baskets for a total of 12 points in the quarter, of the 18 total for her team.  The score stood at 29-21 for the Sabres at the halfway point, and the Novas were proving to be a big challenge for them.

The second half began with a lot of back and forth play and scoring before the Sabres began to inexorably increase their lead.  At the end of the third quarter they were ahead 44-29.  The Sabres dominated the final quarter, ultimately winning the game by a score of 54-39, thereby also winning the tournament.


While I was cornering Sabres Coach Jim Proudfoot for a post-game interview one of his athletes walked past saying he was the best coach.

"It was just our match up, with their two top players," he said of the final game.  "We were able to execute a really excellent defence against 11 and 4.  The two gals we had on them, that was Rebecca Lowry and Sheanna Schambers.  They just shut them down, especially in the second half, there was just nothing more there.  So our other players just stepped up whenever they got rid of the ball.  They stepped up and dominated their man, too.  That is where the turnover happened.  They got them."

"Early on Gabi Feller was draining them from the outside. We knew they play a two three zone.  If you can hit outside of any zone, you wreck that zone. We shot from outside, and that makes it pretty tough for them to scramble and cover everybody."

"It was fun."

Second Place: Erle Rivers Novas

First Place: Livingstone Sabres

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