In a media press room after the gold medal game, Saskatchewan Huskies head coach Lisa Thomaidis called her team “really special.” On March 8, they went out and won their second national title in five years (and of all time) with an 82-64 victory over the Brock Badgers.
“For our fifth-years to come in and win a national championship in their first year and to go out national champions, it couldn’t be any more special,” Thomaidis said. “They really earned this.”
Those fifth-year veterans include Vera Crooks, Megan Ahlstrom and Sabine Dukate, who were part of Saskatchewan’s first-ever national championship in 2016.
They came from different places – Crooks from Fife Lake, Sask., Dukate from Ventspils, Latvia, and Ahlstrom from Calgary, Alta. – but being on the Huskies brought them together.
The team’s bond also strengthened over time. “We really came together this year and we’re as tight as we can be,” forward Summer Masikewich said.
Since then, the group has gone through four more trips to nationals and three Canada West championships. Now, another national title bookends the seniors’ careers.
“It definitely feels different,” Dukate said. “My first year, everything was kind of blank for me. I didn’t know how much work and effort it takes to win a national championship and I feel like now I know how much it takes.”
The guard hit three after three after three – eight in total – to help her team continue to build up their lead.
On the court, Brock forward Samantha Keltos got into early foul trouble and Saskatchewan took advantage. A string of threes off ball movement and points in transition pushed the lead up to 45-33 at halftime.
In the second half, the Huskies continued their run. After baskets by Dukate, Ahlstrom and Masikewich, the score was at 70-47 and the Huskies were on their way to lifting the trophy. As the final buzzer sounded, they mobbed each other in a group hug on the court.
Brock was led by 21 points by Keltos and 14 points by Ontario University Athletics Player of the Year Melissa Tatti.
“I’m very thankful that we made it here,” Tatti said. “I know we didn’t play our best game. They’re a crazy good team. We knew that was going to happen. I wish we could play it again, but they deserve that and I’m really happy with second in the country.”
The Badgers were ranked fourth heading into the OUA playoffs and pulled off road victories over the higher-seeded teams such as the Western Mustangs and Ryerson Rams to win the Critelli Cup and reach nationals.
Tatti, a fifth-year herself, reflected on her memories with fellow graduating senior Jessica Morris earlier in the day. Symbolically, the two of them shared a hotel room together in their final week of U Sports basketball.
“We’re just like, ‘let’s just play for fun’ and now we’re back here on the national stage,” Tatti recalled.
“We’re grateful and we can’t even believe it. Honestly, we woke up this morning and we’re like ‘wait, what, we’re playing in the national finals game’ and we’re just going to come out here and play and whatever happened, happened.”
For the Huskies, the moment was also about their own graduating seniors and the impact they’ve had. Masikewich, a Canada West first team all-star, has seen it firsthand in her four
years with the Huskies.
“I’m going to remember [Ahlstrom’s] intensity and that she never ever stops going in practice, in games, everything,” she said. “She had this game in mind and she pushed us and I know I’m going to miss that.”
Masikewich called Dukate “an incredible leader” and Crooks “a mentor” as a fellow forward who always pushed her in practices.
“All in all, they’re my best friends and I’m happy to share this with them,” she added.
Feature image by Spencer Colby. With Files from Mark Colley
