Medicine Hat completes comeback to win 4A Girls South Zone title

By Lethbridge Herald on March 13, 2026.

Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald

The Catholic Central Cougars got off to a torrid start, but couldn’t hang on in the 4A Girls South Zone gold medal game, falling in a close 57-55 game to the Medicine Hat Hawks.

Catholic Central started the game out on a 10-2 run, putting Medicine Hat on their heels early. Cougar head coach Kirsten Dancoisne says her team got out of the starting blocks exceptionally well.  

“We had lots of energy, pushed the ball ahead and we did really well in transition. When we got into the half court, we found the open player, we set really good screens and we were responsible with the ball. A lot of great O boards in the first half we had as well. We couldn’t have asked for a better start, we executed our game plan fairly well all the way through. Those are hard games to hold onto.”

Catholic Central held leads after every quarter in the game. The Cougars utilized their hot start to lead 18-12 after the opening quarter. They would retain their six point advantage at 32-26 at the half. Medicine Hat would then cut the gap to just four at 41-37 after the third quarter.

It was a very different game then the last time the two teams met in league play as the Hawks defeated the Cougars by 28 points. Catholic Central lost their starting post Jenna Meechance when she picked up her fifth foul with just under two minutes to go.

Dancoisne says Catholic Central knew they were in tough and had chances they weren’t able to convert on.

“That’s a very tough, physical team. We were looking for a quick response and we certainly got that in the first half and then we just couldn’t hold on. We had our post presence in a little bit of foul trouble. We did the best we could. Couple of key turnovers and then we just couldn’t convert down the stretch on a couple of good looks. I thought we had lots of opportunities. We just couldn’t get a paint touch, couldn’t convert. It happens, that’s basketball.”

With the loss, Catholic Central will not advance to provincials and their season has come to a close. With Winston Churchill hosting, only the Hawks earned a berth from the south zone. 

“The message to the group is to thank our three seniors who just poured everything they had.” Dancoisne explained. “They gave us absolutely everything. They gave us nearly 40 minutes from all three of them all the way down the stretch. Their legacy will carry on in the seven players that will be on our roster next year. I can’t wait for November because we’re going to have a response.”

In other 4A zone action, the Winston Churchill Griffins held on and beat the Chinook Coyotes 60-59 in the girls bronze medal game. Chinook scored a long two to tie the game with just 3.2 seconds left. A result from the 4A boys gold medal game was not available as of press time.

Zone basketball action continues Saturday with the 5A Zone Finals. In the girls final, Raymond matches up with Magrath at 5 p.m. On the boys side, Magrath takes on Medicine Hat at 7:30 p.m. All games are at the Co-op Centre for Sport & Wellness on the University of Lethbridge campus.