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I I PAGE 16THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, NOVEMBER 27,2002 www.durhamregion.com Fifth-seeded Austin shoots for a medal at Ontario basketball championships After four years and 350 games, Austin strives to reach OFSAA podium BY BRIAN McNAIR Staff Writer It's crunch time for tire Austin Wildcats. After shedding so much of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears over the past several year's, members members of the Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School senior' girls' basketball team hope to make five final games together the most memorable when they play host to the OFSAA AAAA championships championships beginning tomorrow. Eyeing a medal at the provincial provincial championship tournament, the Wildcats will likely have to meet and beat their Waterloo in order to achieve that goal. If all goes according to the rankings, the No. 5-ranked Wild cats will, face No. 4 Waterloo in the quarterfinal, with the winner moving on to the medal round and the loser bowing out. "For these guys, they've just worked so hard it would be nice for them," says Austin coach Heather LaFontaine, who has guided a core of seven player's through some 350 games in club and high school play over the past four years. "There's something to be said for that type of commitment commitment in this day and age." The 18-team tournament gels under way tomorrow at 10 a.m., with games being played at each of four area high schools: Austin and All Saints in Whitby as well as Notre Dame and Richardson in Ajax. Semifinal and medal games will be held at Durham College Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. and culminating with the championship championship game at 8 p.m. The Wildcats begin their quest against unranked Aurora at 10 "a.m. tomorrow at Richardson. A win would likely set up a match with unranked Father McGivney of York Region Friday at noon back at Richardson, with the winner winner moving on to the quarterfinals that evening at 8:45 p.m. at Austin. If Austin and Waterloo do indeed indeed hook up in the quarters, the Wildcats will try to use home court advantage to pull off what would have to be considered an upset. Waterloo won OFSAA bronze a year ago, has lost only one player from that team and has beaten Austin twice this season, albeit by close scores. "We have to be a little more consistent," says LaFontaine. "The second time we played them, we had a big lead and I had a couple of people just completely completely melt down." Assessing the field, LaFontaine LaFontaine says St. Mary's from Hamilton is the team to beat, followed followed closely by St. Christopher's from Sarnia. St. Mary's has eight provincial team members and has earned its No. 1 seed by winning all 38 games this season. No. 2 St. Christopher's isn't nearly as deep, but is the lone team to have given St. Mary's a scare this season, according according to LaFontaine. If the two favourites live up to their billing and meet in the gold medal game, the 6 p.m. bronze medal match will offer a very nice consolation prize for the r est of the field. "The next four (ranked) teams - Westdalc, Waterloo, ourselves and Glebe - it's a pick 'em," says LaFontaine. LaFontaine. "On any given day, who- ever's hot is going to beat the other guy" Making their fourth straight appearance appearance at OFSAA, the Wildcats will need to call upon their familiarity familiarity together to come away with a medal. Although some may return return next year', this marks the final time Kelly LaFontaine, Jessica Loziuk, Pam Wilkinson, Stephanie Kerr, Jennifer Lagani, Kim Gibbs and Andrea Mitchell suit up together for their high school team. LaFontaine, the coach's daughter daughter and team's captain, is coming off a 25-point performance in last week's 66-52 LOSSA championship championship win over Pickering's Pine Ridge Pumas. 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