GTA All Star Game at Humber College
Junior Game: Team East 49 vs Team West 38
It may have been the junior game but you wouldn’t have been able to tell by the level and quality of talent on the court. Team East ran the floor well early on, getting to their first and second options while scoring the ball very well. They were getting good shots and good looks down low early. Team West struggled a bit early on but managed to stay in the game by playing strong defense and getting to the line to keep it close.
Notable players included Aiden Rainford (Oakwood C.I./Transway/Cadette National Team member), Akilah Stewart (D’Youville, Canada Elite), Keishana Washington. It was clear early on Washington dictated the tempo at the guard spot, feeding her teammates in transition and communicating to them to get into spots on the floor where they can be most beneficial to score.
Once Team West got a feel for the tempo they got back into the game led by Stewart and Alexa Julien. It was a very organized up and down game with the difference maker coming from freshman in the post Keowa Walters, a teammate of Aiden Rainford at Oakwood C.I. On the defensive end Walters managed to control the paint by grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds to match her 12 points. She also blocked and changed shots when Team West got into the paint. She was a force to be reckoned with and was unanimously voted by the selection committee as MVP of the game.
GTA All Star Junior MVP: Keowa Walters Oakwood C.I.
Ryerson Rams Sportsmanship Award: Katya Dondi, Keishana Washington
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Senior Game: Team East 59 – Team West 47
The senior game had an amazing talent pool of players and from the first jump ball the game was filled with action & exciting plays. Notable players included Julia Chandler (Committed to Syracuse University), Hayley Robertson (Committed to the University of Vermont), Dominique Maxwell (Committed to Trinity Valley CC), Janika Griffith-Wallace (Campion, OFSAA Champion), Oksana Gouchie-Provencher (Bill Crothers).
Griffith-Wallace led the way with in the flow shots, getting to the rim with ease, finishing plays and getting to the line. She controlled the tempo and put on a show for the appreciative crowd. Jahhae Giyles from Team West complimented her well at the guard position. Her solid play, strong handles and ability to get to the rim and to take contact to finish plays in the lane were almost unstoppable.
The offensive serge from Team East, led by GTA All Star MVP Oksana Gouchie-Provencher, were hard to manage for Team West. Gouchie-Provencher poured in a game-high 20 points with 13 rebounds in the process. Chandler added 11 points and 8 rebounds as the two were a dominant force inside for Team East leading to 59-47 victory over Team West.
This was the first time that the East managed to beat the West teams in both games.
GTA All Star Senior MVP: Oksana Gouchie-Provencher
Ryerson Rams Sportsmanship Award: Kimeshia Henry & Nikki Yiygan
Recap by Kareem Griffin(In Charge Sports & Entertainment Club)
Edited by Drew Ebanks
