Hornets Dominate at 21st Annual Chris Paulin Tournament and win Major Midget AAA Gold
The Goubourn Hornets Major Midget Girls basketball team just completed its first tournament of the year at the Chris Paulin Tournament hosted by Ottawa Next Level. The Hornets opening game was against traditional rivals Nepean Blue Devils in what proved to be the toughest test of the tournament. Nepean effectively used a tough zone defense and good shooting to open up a first half lead. The Hornets eventually adjusted and scored some tough baskets in the paint to emerge with a 45-41 victory.
Next up was Ottawa South Bedrock. After the opening game wake up call, the Hornets came out buzzing and used aggressive defense to create turnovers that led to easy baskets. Improved outside shooting and a solid team game earned Goulbourn an 87-31 win and a spot in the quarterfinals against the Gatineau Mystique. The Hornets continued their high tempo team game to frustrate the Mystique and score frequently in transition. Strong performances from the entire roster led to a final score of 91-10.
The semifinal opponent was the Gloucester Wolverines, who came out strong defensively to force turnovers and establish an early 10 point lead. The Hornets responded with their own defensive push and a better scoring touch to erase the lead and move to a 37-27 lead at half time. The good play continued in the second half as the Hornets eventually won 77-43.
The finals meant an inevitable rematch with Nepean. The game opened very competitively with several lead changes in the first half. The experience of the opening game however served Goubourn well as they made adjustments that allowed the offense to function more smoothly. A solid defense, opportunistic offense and good shooting eventually proved too much for the Blue Devils, as the Hornets claimed the gold with a 77-56 victory. Congratulations to the players and coaches on an impressive start to the season.
