The Glengarry Sports Scene

Back from the holiday break, area high school sports teams return to action this week.

Girls volleyball

GDHS will host Tagwi, CCVS, and GVIS for a Wednesday, Jan. 6 senior and junior girls volleyball tournament. The action will be served up all afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. Teams from Char-Lan and Holy Trinity will play at La Citadelle on Thursday.

Boys basketball

Today (Jan. 5), Char-Lan's senior basketball team will play at La Citadelle in a 4 p.m. tip-off, while the juniors will take to the floor at 5:30 p.m. at L'Heritage. Both teams from Tagwi will play at Seaway this afternoon, starting at 1 p.m. and then again on Thursday at Rothwell-Osnabruck.

On Jan. 6, Holy Trinity will host CCVS at 1 p.m and St. Lawrence at 2:30 p.m.

Friday action will have GDHS' teams playing at La Citadelle (seniors) at noon and L'Heritage (juniors) at 1:30 p.m. Char-Lan's squads will play at Tagwi, starting at 3 p.m.

Girls hockey

Williamstown will be the location of the next girls hockey tournament. Taking to the ice at the Rec Centre, Char-Lan's girls will square off against CCVS at 10 a.m. and La Citadelle at 2 p.m.

The county's three junior hockey teams were active at the Dec. 1 deadline that requires squads to cut down to 25 cards that include signed players and open cards.

The Alexandria Junior B Glens dealt Jared McDonald to Char-Lan for the rights to defenceman Sam Rodrigue, a player that had not suited up for the Rebels this season. Rodrigue should add some experience on defence and will fill a 21-year-old card for Alexandria.

As well, Char-Lan released Julian Maynard and Matt Ladouceur, two players who saw limited action with the team. The other move for the Rebels will see the brothers MacDougall reunited, as Grant MacDougall with rejoin his older brother Joey playing in Char-Lan.  Grant had been playing with the Junior A Colts in Cornwall, but was getting only spot icetime.

The Glens also picked up Jonathan Fitzpatrick from Morrisburg. The 18-year-old was looking for a change from the struggling Lions.  Alexandria gave up a 16-year-old card for next season to get him.

In Maxville, the Junior C Mustangs signed Tyler O'Brien who had been playing with the Glens.  Tyler will now wear a Maxville jersey, following in the footsteps of his older brother Shane who was a star player for the Stangs just a couple of years ago.  As well, the Glens will likely affiliate him, so he may see some time playing in Alexandria too.

See the next print edition of The Glengarry News, which will be published Wednesday, Dec. 2, for a full wrap on the OFSAA girls basketball tournament held at Holy Trinity over the past few days.

Char-Lan, last year's silver medallist, was relegated to the consolation pool this year, but won the consolation final in overtime against Nouvelle-Alliance.

Holy Trinity had a shot for bronze, overcame a 14-point deficit to grab the lead, but in the end fell by one against Elliot Lake.  The Falcons won bronze in 2008, while this year had to settle for the antique medals for a fourth-place finish.

For the second straight year at OFSAA basketball, Holy Trinity's girls will go for bronze, having won it in 2008.

The Falcons will tip off in this year's 2009 bronze medal match on home court at 6 p.m. against Elliot Lake. The gold medal match between Rideau and Confederation will follow at 8 p.m.

With a solid win tonight against Ridley College, Holy Trinity's senior girls have advanced to basketball's semifinal round and will face off against Confederation at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Falcons' Nest with berths in the OFSAA medal games on the line.

Ridley was the tourney's second seed, while HT was ranked seventh coming into OFSAA.

The Falcons will need to upset another higher seed to reach the gold medal game, with Confederation ranked third in the initial standings.

The winner of the HT vs Confederation match will play for all the marbles and a provincial title at 8 p.m., while the loser will go at 6 p.m. in the bronze medal match.

The Char-Lan girls won their consolation quarter-final match this afternoon, beating Mitchell DHS 43-35.

Next up, the Crusaders will square off Saturday morning at the St. Joseph's gym in a consolation round semifinal match against Rockway Mennonite, the fourth-seeded team that was upset in the opening round of the tournament. Tip-off is booked for 10:30 a.m.

The winner of that match will play in the consolation final at 4 p.m. at Holy Trinity, while the tourney will be over for the loser.

Our region can still pins its medal hopes on the girls basketball team from Holy Trinity, with the Falcons having won their second-round game against Rockway Mennonite.

Holy Trinity will next play tonight (Friday) on home court with tip-off at 7 p.m. in a quarter-final tilt.

At the OFSSAA girls A basketball tournament being held at Holy Trinity and St. Joseph's, both Char-Lan and Holy Trinity won their respective opening matches.

The sixth-seeded Crusaders pounded Runnymede 51-25 and will next play Friday at 8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's against Elmwood, the team that lost today to Rideau, the top seed and EOSSAA champion.

Holy Trinity topped King's Christian with a 36-18 effort. The Falcons will play Friday versus Rockway Mennonite, the fourth seed, at noon at the Falcons' Nest.

Last year at OFSAA, Char-Lan won silver, and Holy Trinity claimed bronze.

Football teams in the Seaway high school league will gather at the Royal Canadian Legion in Cornwall on Sunday evening to celebrate the season that saw Holy Trinity win its first league championship. As well, individual awards wil be presented.  Festivities are slated to get underway at 5 p.m.