Gryphons victorious in “Shoot for the Cure” game
On Jan. 31, the Guelph Gryphons women’s basketball team hosted the Brock Badgers in their “Shoot for the Cure” game. The game, which is used to promote, educate, and fundraise for breast cancer awareness, is a CIS-wide initiative, spanning the entire country. Guelph’s game, which would feature “Think Pink” t-shirts dedicating play to family members and friends, would end successfully for the Gryphons, as they came out on top with a score of 59-57. Kate MacTavish, the six-foot forward from Waterloo, led the Gryphons with 23 points and 12 rebounds. With the win, the Gryphons improve to 7-6 while the Brock Badgers fall to 5-9.
The Gryphons started the first quarter strong, with Vanessa Rampado and MacTavish playing strong in the key. With Rampado drawing an impressive “and-one” opportunity, the conversion would put the Gryphons up 14-6. With continued efforts at rebounding, especially on the offensive boards, the ladies opened up opportunities to score with every trip down the floor. By the end of the first quarter, the Gryphons led 20-15.
Early in the second quarter, an unfortunate jump ball play would see Brock Badger Katie Harpur incur a head injury, which would halt play for several minutes. Thankfully after medical attention, an out-of-it Harpur was eventually able to walk off the court to an acknowledging applause of support. When play did resume, the Gryphons went back to action, grabbing both defensive and offensive boards, dominating the glass once again. With MacTavish’s 12 points and the efforts of her teammates, Guelph hit the locker room at the half still up 33-23.
In the third, we would see MacTavish hit her double mark for the second game in a row, with 21 points and 10 rebounds to her name through three quarters played. With the Gryphons outscoring the Badgers 21-15 in the quarter, they would lead into the final quarter with a score of 54-38.
However, the final quarter would not bode as well for the Gryphons, as it would take the first six minutes to get their opening basket of the frame. They would also allow the Badgers to run the score and re-enter the game. Some credit is due to the Badgers, as their defensive play and rebounding improved drastically, only allowing Guelph five well-fought-for points in the whole quarter.
In the end, the Gryphons dominance on the boards, both defensively and offensively, would prove to make all the difference. With under 10 seconds remaining in a two-point game, the Gryphons missed a pair of free throws but grabbed a huge offensive rebound thanks to the hard play of Rampado, who had played strong all day.
Brock had one last chance to win it, but the three-point from half court as the final buzzer sounded was no good, and the Gryphons would hold on to win it 59-57. The Gryphons also boasted great statistics for the match-up, outrebounding the Badgers 47-29.
With a good crowd on hand, many of whom were clad in pink in support of “Shoot the Cure” went home happy.