Laurentian tournament showcases girl's basketball talent

Laurentian Lady Vees' basketball coach Mike Clarke must be wishing that this won't be the last time he has the opportunity to watch Victoria Rampado shine at the Ben Avery Gym.

Rampado, a Grade 10 forward with the A.N. Myer Marauders of Niagara Falls, scored 19 points in leading Myer past the St. Basil Saints of Sault Ste. Marie in the championship encounter of the Laurentian University Jr/Sr Girls High School Basketball Tournament Saturday in Sudbury.

For her efforts, the 15-year-old Rampado, who was a teammate with Samantha Cooper of Lockerby on the Team Ontario U-15 squad this past summer, was recognized as tournament MVP.

A.N. Myer downed St. Basil's 50-36, walking away with the tournament banner as Samantha Hunt answered with 10 points in a losing cause for the Saints.

In the bronze medal game, Rideau District High School (Elgin) trimmed Lockerby 40-37, with Brooke Kelly leading the way offensively for the Lady Lions with 17 points. Tiye Traore paced the Sudbury attack with 15 points, and joined Hunt, Brooke Kelly, Abby Hurd (St. Basil's) and Alyssa McCabe (A.N. Myer) on the tournament all-star team.

In the junior division, the St. Basil's Saints proved to be the class of the eight-team grouping, defeating the Lockerby Vikings 41-23 in the gold medal encounter.

Junior tournament MVP Courtney White spear-headed the Sault Ste. Marie attack, netting 16 points in the final while Emily Paquin replied with eight for the Vikes.

Each year, the tournament provides an opportunity for coach Clarke and company to showcase the Laurentian University campus to high school students from across northern Ontario and elsewhere in the province.

Over the years, out of town athletes who have appeared in the tournament and subsequently attended Laurentian included Darrah Bumstead, Julia Kay, and more recently, Rebecca Goodier.

The event has also seen countless young ladies move on to play on university teams, both in Canada and the United States. The Lady Vees will open pre-season play in early October, taking part in the University of Alberta Tournament.