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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 23 Getting a leg up on the competition Senior girls' basketball league is wide open Loyola stuns three-time champion Irish; five-way tie for first in Volpe Division By Herb Garbutt Pauletto knew his Grade 10s, centre Nicole Garcia and forward Marti Killeen, were good players, but he didn't expect They may not have been the leading them to adapt so quickly to the senior candidate to end Halton's longest high game. school senior girls' basketball winning Even with last year's talented veteran streak, but the Loyola Hawks' upset of lineup, the Hawks lost 66-37 to the Irish the three-time defending champions has in their only regular-season meeting. thrown the doors wide open to a host of "We had to have a lot of things go teams with championship aspirations. well for us (Wednesday), but I knew they The Hawks defeated Notre Dame 56- had it in them," Pauletto said. "They 49 Wednesday to snap the Fighting probably played their best game of the Irish's 40-game winning streak in league year." play. Among the things that "It's probably the biggest "It's probably the went right for Loyola was win in girls' basketball here biggest win in its shooting from the foul in 25 years," said Loyola line, where it went 19-forgirls' basketball coach Chris Pauletto. 24. That was critical down Loyola's victory created here in 25 years." the stretch as Notre Dame a logjam atop the Volpe rallied while trying to erase Division statndings with Loyola coach an 12-point deficit in the five teams -- Notre Dame, Chris Pauletto, final quarter. The Irish got Loyola, the Abbey Park following upset within six before a clutch Eagles, Nelson Lords and of Notre Dame basket by Stacey Cusan in M.M. Robinson Rams (all the last two minutes forced teams 3-1). Holy Trinity leads the Notre Dame to foul the Hawks. Poliziani Division with a 4-0 mark, but While the Hawks have already played even it needed a late basket by Lauren last year's finalists, Notre Dame and Holy Morris to escape with a 37-35 win Trinity (the Titans beat Loyola 63-49 in Wednesday at Oakville Trafalgar. the season opener), Pauletto said his "It was definitely an interesting day team can't afford to relax. for basketball," said Titans coach Andrew "I'm not thinking we're going to run Saulez. the table," he said. "We still have some What made Loyola's upset surprising very good teams left and from what I can is that this season could easily be con- tell, anybody can knock off anybody." sidered a rebuilding year for the Hawks. Trinity survives against OT They lost three key players -- Alex Pecar and Jenn O'Brien, who are now playing Oakville Trafalgar came very close for McGill University, and Leah Franco, to proving that by nearly KO'ing the who is playing volleyball at Queen's. one remaining undefeated team. With With only two returning starters, the game tied 35-35, OT had the ball in guards Megan Hickingbottom and the final 30 seconds but Trinity's Ashara Cadogan, the Hawks dipped into Kareefa McQueen stole the ball to set See Eagles page 24 the junior ranks for replacements. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER HEAD START: Oakville Skating Club figure skater Daphne Boehmer works on her technique during practice Thursday at River Oaks Recreation Centre. The club began its season earlier this year in an effort to enhance the development and advancement of its members. For more information, see page 25.