The Warriors are one step closer to the Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association championship after enjoying an undefeated regular season which saw the school get behind the team to help raise nearly $3,000 for breast cancer research.
The Warriors, wearing the pink and blue uniforms they’ve had all season, held off a feisty St. Paul Wolverines squad for a 37-32 win this afternoon in the opening round of the ROPSSAA playoffs.
“These girls have represented their school and their community very well,” Loyola coach Jerry Fraelic said of his team. “I know they’re young, but I think they have an awareness of breast cancer. I mean, it’s a worldwide thing.”
The idea of the predominantly pink uniforms came up last June when a friend of Fraelic’s approached the basketball coach, wanting to do something special. The friend paid for the uniforms but that was only part of the campaign.
The school’s student council, the basketball team and the HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) program put a plan together.
“The students in the school were asked to donate $3 each,” said Fraelic. “Then we had a bake sale two weeks ago. We bought all the baking goods, went into the school cafeteria and everyone made cupcakes, brownies and stuff for the bake sale.”
The whole breast cancer awareness campaign has produced team camaraderie. The Lady Warriors were 8-0 during the regular season and started the playoffs as the third-seeded team behind St. Marcellinus and Cawthra.
However, the Wolverines, who came into the game ranked 14th, threw a little scare at the Warriors. The Wolves were trailing by one point, 31-30, with a couple of minutes left in the game. The Warriors, however, scored six points in a row and held on for the win.
“The game was so slow and that’s not typical of us,” said Fraelic. “We weren’t getting any penetration against them and that forced a lot of shots from the outside.”
“We played hard,” said St. Paul coach Vince Galli. Most of our girls are in Grade 9 and this is their first playoff game. I’m very proud of them.”
Danielle Fontyn was the high scorer for the Warriors with 16 points. Jenna Veglia led all scorers in the game with 19 points for the Wolves.
