The Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) senior girls basketball team won the 14th Annual Victor Elias Memorial "Shoot For A Cure" Pink Senior Girls Basketball Tournament for the first time since 2017, defeating Moose Jaw Peacock 62-56 in the final.
ECS led by 20 points at halftime, but Moose Jaw battled back in the second half, making for an exciting finish. The last time ECS won its home tournament, they also faced Peacock in the final.
"It was a great game," said ECS head coach Jessie Smoliak. "Moose Jaw never gave up, and it made for a great experience for the players and fans."
Megan Porter led ECS with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Jordyn Tarnes added 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Sadie Aspinall contributed eight points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
This year, the event held special meaning for Moose Jaw Peacock coaches Brendan and Megan Fedoski. Megan's mother, Tammie Crone, was a strong supporter of the pink-themed tournament before she passed away from cancer in 2021. During the tournament’s pink game, Megan refereed while Smoliak, who is also a local basketball official, presented her with a pink balloon in memory of her mother.
"This tournament is about more than just basketball," Smoliak said. "It’s about community, connections and supporting each other."
Tournament results:
- ECS defeated Gladmar 66-24 in the opening round, then won 53-28 over Moose Jaw Vanier in the semifinals before topping Peacock in the final.
- Central Collegiate defeated Vanier 51-24 for third place.
- North Battleford edged Yorkton 70-69 in the B final.
- Weyburn defeated Gladmar 51-49 in a close contest.
Gladmar stepped in on short notice after another team withdrew due to the passing of a staff member. As a 1A school, they faced strong competition against larger 4A and 5A schools. Despite the challenge, Gladmar played well, nearly forcing overtime against Weyburn.
The tournament raised $7,000 for Clarice Abucayan, a Grade 8 student at Westview School who was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML) last July. She is undergoing nearly a year of treatment at the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
"The generosity of our community is incredible," Smoliak said. "Former beneficiary families were in the stands, some volunteering or donating. It’s amazing to see how people continue to give back."
The tournament also recognized graduating players from each team, presenting them with pink roses donated by A Loving Touch.
ECS now prepares for the upcoming Weyburn tournament before hosting the 5A Rural Girls Basketball Championships on March 14-15. Their ultimate goal is to qualify for Hoopla, the provincial championships, from March 20-22. The team’s ranking and playoff positioning will be announced March 10.