By Larry Moko
The St. Thomas More Knights captured an OFSAA girls' basketball championship in 2019 just before two tough foes arrived on the high school scene -- COVID 19 and the Cathedral Gaels.
There was no provincial high school showcase tournament five years ago due to the pandemic. Then, Cathedral went undefeated for three consecutive seasons -- 90 games -- en route to winning Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic and provincial AAA titles from 2021-23.
But Wednesday night at More's gym the Knights regained the league trophy, taking down Cathedral, 56-29.
"We wanted this so badly," said More co-captain and veteran guard Milania Bozzo, who chipped in with seven points. "We worked hard for it. They beat us the last three years ... they were unstoppable."
With the victory, More advances to a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference semifinal on Tuesday. They'll face the winner of the Halton Catholic league, either the Corpus Christi Longhorns or the Bishop Reding Royals.
"This feels great," More coach Ralph Bozzo said while clutching the league trophy. "It's been a long time coming."
First-place More (11-1 during the regular season) took a six-point lead into the intermission against third-place Cathedral (8-4). In the final two quarters, however, the Knights outscored the visitors, 25-4.
"We played well enough defensively to be in this game," Cathedral coach Kevin Daly said. "But, obviously, if you score four points in a half you're not going to win.
"We went cold, unfortunately. We just couldn't buy a basket. It wasn't because of effort or that we weren't getting good looks."
The Gaels got to within two points late in the first half. During an 8-0 run Lauren Daly and Ellaiva DeCosta drained three-point baskets and Beatrice Clausen scored on a fast-break layup.
Bozzo, one of two Grade 12 players on the team, said: "We knew Cathedral was very strong in the second half and that we would have to keep up the intensity to shut them down. They do not lose air. We were lights out."
Co-captain Isabella Moro led the Knights with 18 points.
"Issy Moro gave us real trouble," Daly said. "She's a great player. She showed up today."
Savannah Gallea added 10 and Caitin Connolly chipped in with nine points for the Knights.
Other More players included Adrianna Stocco (six points), Gabriella Mazzuca (three points), Julia Bonitatibus (three points), Cara Luang-Asa and Katarina DiSabatino.
The Gaels got nine points by Daly, eight by DeCosta and six by Mekeelah Dillon. Grade 10 centre Naomi Stanley was limited to two points but she blocked seven shots.
"Our game plan was to really take it to their big girl in the middle," the More coach said. "Isabella Moro did a fantastic job of attacking her.
"Everybody else was there for any kick outs that were available. We worked really well as a team in moving the ball."
On defence, the Knights coach said his team worked effectively in the zone.
"(The Gaels) weren't making their shots," he said, "but our defence did an outstanding job. We kind of mimicked what they've been doing all season and it paid off for us. Our girls denied anything in the middle, forcing them to shoot. And fortunately for us, they weren't hitting anything."
Cathedral and More split their two regular-season meetings.
"Hats off to them," the Gaels coach said. "They're a very good team. In my mind, that's a top-four provincial team that we just lost to."
Daly, who has coached in four straight Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic finals, said he's proud of the effort and development shown by this year's squad.
"We got hammered by (Windsor) Holy Names at the start of the year," he said. "We also got beat by Tonnos, Bishop Ryan and Newman in our league. But we really turned it around. We won 10 in a row coming into this game."
The Knights next game Tuesday will be at More.
This year's OFSAA tournament is scheduled for Nov. 21-23 in Brampton.
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