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30 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2009 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER FAMILIAR FOES: Former doubles partners Natalie Rook (above) and Megan Elliott (right) faced off in the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference girls' badminton final Thursday in Milton. Elliott prevailed in two games, but both qualified for the upcoming provincial championships in Sudbury. Ex-teammates collide in GHAC final By Herb Garbutt Elliott claimed a 21-16 decision to win the title. "She was really accurate," said MILTON -- When Megan Elliott Iroquois Ridge's Rook. "She was hitand Natalie Rook square off, there's ting the line and her shots were realone strategy neither can employ -- ly good." the element of surprise. Despite the loss, Rook also qualiThe former doubles partners met fied for the upcoming Ontario in Thursday's Golden Horseshoe Federation of School Athletic Athletic Conference high school Associations (OFSAA) tournament badminton final, just as by beating Aldershot's they had in the previous "You're always Kaylie Cunningham weeks' Volpe Division thinking, `What's 21-14, 21-6. and Halton champi- her next shot Both Elliott and onship matches. Rook have OFSAA expegoing to be?'" "I have to be so rience, having played much more focused GHAC badminton mixed doubles with against her," said champ Megan Elliott, their brothers and each Elliott, who took the on facing her claiming a GHAC title. GHAC title at E.C. former teammate Former clubmates in Drury in Milton. "You Brantford -- Elliott have to keep your concentration now plays in Oakville -- the duo also because if she gets a run of points, formed a doubles pair for the you're not going to be able to catch Ontario Winter Games. her. You're always thinking, `What's "Since we've played so much her next shot going to be?'" together, we know each other's It was Elliott, a Grade 12 St. strengths and weaknesses," Elliott Thomas Aquinas student, who got said. "There are certain tactics you the run of points early on, taking the know she'll use. She's got a good opening game 21-6. Rook played drop shot and she's fast." much better in the second game but Loyola's Natasha Wong took the OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF opposite route to earn a trip back to OFSAA, moving from singles to doubles. Wong teamed up with Monica Lee to defeat Acton's Emma Jolly and Sarah Glassford in the GHAC final. Wong said there was an initial adjustment in playing doubles. "You just have to get your timing and get your rotation right," Wong said. Wong and Lee took the opening game 21-17. The Acton team tied the match with a 21-15 win, but an adjustment in tactics helped Wong and Lee rebound to win the deciding game. "It was less driving it and (more) just placing it," Lee said. Abbey Park's Nick Dickenson came within one victory of reaching OFSAA. Dickenson lost an early match and had to take the long way through the draw to get back to the match for the second OFSAA berth. Facing Nelson's Davis Zhang, Dickenson took the opening game 21-11. However, Zhang rallied to take the next two 21-16, 21-12. The OFSAA tournament runs May 6-9 in Sudbury. Loyola's Choliy to play at York Loyola sharpshooter Ostap Choliy will play university basketball next season with the York Lions. The six-foot-five small forward captained the Hawks to Halton and Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference titles this past season as Loyola advanced to the provincial championships. He was considered one of the top recruits at his position. "I chose York because this is a place where I think I will meet a lot of new people and receive a good education," Choliy said. "I am excited about playing at York because there is a young team I can develop with."