Lady Gens capture seventh straight WECSSAA title

Amherst defeats Sandwich 66-29 for the WECSSAA AAA basketball championship

Posted By Ron Giofu/The Amherstburg Echo

Posted 2 months ago

The General Amherst Lady Gens senior girls basketball team won the WECSSAA AAA title Friday night by beating Sandwich 66-29. Top row (from left): coach Don Parks, Mallory Reiner, Jessica Mallender, Carly Fasan, Rebecca Mallender, Christine Belcher, Jaylin VandeBovenkamp, Kaylee Williams, coach Dom Silvaggio. Bottom row (from left): Courtney VandeBovenkamp, Talya Tovar, Amy Belcher, Korissa Williams, Michelle Harber, Sam Kellam, Candice Clouthier.

AMHERSTBURG — The General Amherst senior girls basketball team won their seventh straight WECSSAA title Friday night and made some history in the process.

The Lady Gens allowed the first basket of the game but that was the only time they trailed as they quickly pulled away en route to a 66-29 win over the Sandwich Sabres. Amherst built a 21-6 lead after one quarter and led 39-9 at the half. While it is their seventh straight WECSSAA title, it is their first at the AAA level after having won the first six at the AA level.

It is the first AAA title for Amherst in basketball and could be the first for the entire school.

"That is the way they should come out to play," said head coach Dom Silvaggio. "I couldn't have asked for anything more. They were focused and determined. When we play like that, we're pretty tough to beat by anybody. When they're focused like that it 's fun to watch. They ran the floor well, they filled the lanes well on the fast break. I was pleased with the way they came out to play."

Not only have they won seven straight league titles, the Lady Gens have gone undefeated during that span as well.

"That's quite an accomplishment for them. A lot of them have been here for four years too so that's nice," he said.

Silvaggio said the whole team was ready for Friday's game and didn't see anyone that didn't have a good game.

"I didn't care if they missed shots as long as they came out and played hard and they did. You can't ask for anything more than that," he said. "I thought in the second half our second stringers played some of their best basketball all year. They definitely were focused. Their defense was awesome."

Korissa Williams, who scored nine points and was a strong presence defensively and on the boards, said they were happy with the way things turned out.

"It was a very exciting game for us. We just had so much intensity. Everyone on the bench was excited," she said. "The bench was into it. This is how we should play."

Williams acknowledged the seven-year run at WECSSAA and said "it's not stopping." She said the focus is now on SWOSSAA, which will be this week in either Chatham or Sarnia.

"If we can play like this and play to our full potential, we're good."

Amy Belcher and Michelle Harber led the Lady Gens in scoring in the title game with 11 points. Mallory Reiner had seven points while Sam Kellam, Carly Fasan and Courtney VandeBovenkamp scored six each.