Lakers edge Crusaders for zone crown

By Lethbridge Herald on March 17, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Stirling Lakers Zoe Micheson attempts to push the ball up court passed Amanda Talbot of the Coalhurst Crusaders during the 1A South Zone varsity girls championship game on Saturday at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

It went down to the wire but the Stirling Lakers varsity girls basketball team were able to stave off a late push from the Coalhurst Crusaders to capture the 1A South Zone Championship with a 64-60 win on Saturday to open up the medal games at Lethbridge Polytechnic.

“I would say the strength of our seniors led us to victory,” said Stephanie Michelson, Lakers head coach.

“But when one of them …  fouled out, it was a very tough moment for us. But then our Grade 9s, who have much less experience, stepped up and they did the job that they were supposed to do.”

Michelson believed that defence was key in the game.

“I think that our defence saved us the game,” said Michelson.

“The girls were moving their feet fast; they were getting up on the shooters. They had some good shooters that we were warned about and we shut down their star shooter.”

The Lakers are excited about the provincial berth.

“Provincials is the highlight of our whole year,” said Michelson.

“We play in a league where we’re a small school playing against bigger schools. We get beat quite a lot, it’s a good growth opportunity for us, but we keep our eye on the prize and that’s always provincials.”

The Lakers are focusing their preparation on the provincial host Olds team.

“They’re a good team and we’re just focusing on what we need to do to beat them,” said Michelson.

The 1A girls had three south zone berths for provincials this year, so  Coalhurst and Coaldale Christian, who won bronze, will join Stirling this weekend in Olds.

Coaldale Christian beat Taber Christian 82-52  in the 1A boys South Zone final to solidify their spot in provincials, however,  both teams will head to St. Mary’s Taber this weekend as there were two south zone berths.

The Stirling boys defeated Willow Creek 105-57 in the 2A boys final but both teams will play in provincials this weekend in Calgary with berths from the south.

The Immanuel Christian Eagles flew to a 64-32 over Taber Christian to take the 2A girls South Zone banner but both teams will head to provincials in Calgary this weekend.