THUNDER BAY – The Hammarskjold Vikings game plan was as simple as it gets – take the lead and never give it back.
The senior girls’ basketball squad jumped out to an early 6-0 advantage and never trailed in capturing the Superior Secondary Schools Athletic Association championship game, downing the visiting St. Ignatius Falcons 39-25 to earn a berth in the NWOSSAA final at home this weekend.
Kayln Crocker, a six-foot sophomore, dominated the paint for the Vikings, topping the Hammarskjold side with 13 points, six of them coming in the fourth quarter, which at one point gave her more second-half points than the entire St. Ignatius lineup.
Crocker was also tasked with keeping Falcons centre Kelsie Ellacott in check.
Ellacott finished with 11, but only put up two points in a second half that saw St. Ignatius put up just two points in the third quarter and nine in the fourth.
A Grade 10 sophomore playing on the senior team, Crocker said redemption can be a motivating factor at times. Hammarskjold dropped a 49-44 decision to the Falcons in last year’s senior girls’ final, the two teams meeting for the title in each of the past four years, both teams claiming two titles during that span.
“I’m so happy we (won). Last year we lost, so it’s a great feeling to come back this year,” Crocker said.
“I think we came out having no expectations and we just played as a team. We really stepped on defence, though.”
Crocker put up four points in the first half, but came to life when her team needed her most. She hit a buzzer-beating three to close out the third, the Vikings outscoring their opponent 10-2 in the quarter, then added six more in the fourth as they held off a St. Ignatius team that wasn’t shooting its best for most of the contest.
“My coach always says let it loose so I just did. I tried my hardest and you know, if you make a mistake, you just keep going,” said Crocker, whose brother Kolt quarterbacked Hammarskjold earlier this month to the junior football final.
Coach John Clouthier, his three daughters on the roster, said losing last year hurt, but he didn’t see it as a huge motivating factor. At least it wasn’t when the coaching staff formulated the plan to knock off St. Ignatius.
‘We didn’t bring that up once,” said Clouthier, the son of former longtime Lakehead volleyball coach Kathy Clouthier.
“The girls may have thought about it. I think kids would think about that thing. I tried to look at the full body of work this team has had, particularly the seniors who are graduating this year. Over the course of their four years, that was my message to them, that they’ve gone phenomenal things, regardless of what happened last year and regardless of what happened tonight.”
The Vikings, who led 19-12 at the half, will host the NorWOSSA best-of-three championship this weekend.
“I’m excited. I’m so happy it’s here because now everyone can come and watch again.”
That’s the next step in what Clouthier hopes will be another podium finish at provincials.
“Our goals at OFSAA this year are lofty. We had a really good team do very well. Two years ago we won bronze, we were fourth. I’m expecting better.”
Game times for the regional final will be available later in the week.
Hammarskjold also won the junior championship, downing St. Ignatius 29-16 on Monday night.
