By Scott Roblin

Coyotes & Titans crowned provincial champions in Medicine Hat

Mar 18, 2018 | 12:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Jubilation for a pair of schools and bitter disappointment for two others as the 2017-18 high school basketball season came to a close on Saturday at 4A provincials in the ‘Gas City.’

The girls final featured an all-Calgary matchup between the top-seeded Centennial High Coyotes and the third-ranked Bishop Carroll Cardinals duking it out for gold.

It was a heavyweight tilt between the two sides trading the lead multiple times, with the Cardinals scoring a few baskets late in the third quarter to take a 44-41 lead into the fourth.

Centennial High came alive however, with senior Carly Ahlstrom leading the way with a game-high 21 points to help the Coyotes to a provincial championship with a 67-60 victory.

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Winning provincial gold in her final high school game, Ahlstrom said it was a picture perfect way to end her time with the Coyotes.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my high school career,” said Ahlstrom. “I’m honestly speechless, it’s an incredible feeling.”

A veteran-heavy team, four other Coyotes in Cameron Engen, Brooke Evason, Courtney Thomas, and Alexis Lambrinoudis walk away from high school athletics as provincial champions.

Ahlstrom added it was a special group this year, with the five veterans and seven Grade 11 students forming a championship bond.

“I’m seriously speechless,” said Ahlstrom. “We’ve only been together one year and I love them just like my second family. All of them are unreal, they’re amazing friends, they’re amazing teammates, and I’m just so proud and honoured to have the opportunity to play with them.”

According to head coach Nadine Blum, the win in Medicine Hat on Saturday night was also a historic one.

“This is the first provincial basketball championship for our school, boys or girls,” said Blum. “So, it’s a really big deal, it’s something that the players really wanted to achieve. So I was just overwhelmed, I’m so happy for them.”

Rounding out the medals in the girls division were the St. Albert Catholic High Skyhawks, who squeaked out a 58-56 win over the Jasper Place Rebels to win bronze.

The Harry Ainlay Titans proved why they were the best boys team in Alberta meanwhile, as they rolled over the top-seeded Bishop O’Byrne Bobcats 86-65 to take a provincial banner back to Edmonton.

Loaded with 10 seniors, the Titans rallied from a slow start in the fourth quarter to beat the Bobcats, earning four straight wins to be crowned Alberta champs.

Harry Ainlay’s offence was the standout story of the boys tournament, outscoring their opponents 378-205 over four games en-route to a gold medal.

In a battle of two southern Alberta schools for bronze, the Magrath School Zeniths topped the Cardston High Cougars 57-48 to finish in third place.