Breanne Nicholas of the Blenheim Bobcats - CKSN.ca Photo

Although UCC entered as the higher ranked team, Blenheim came on strong in the second half of the season and carried that into the championship game beating the Lancers 29-21 for the Kent crown.

Breanne Nicholas and Jean Kelly scored tries for Blenheim in the first 20 minutes, before UCC settled down and used a ball control game to march down the field, scoring and converting twice to lead 14-12 at the half.

In the second half, Nancy Knelson scored a quick try off a penalty before UCC again answered back.

UCC star Breanne Nicholas then scored twice to put her team up for good.

This is the second straight year Blenheim has defeated UCC in the Kent final.

Both teams are off to SWOSSA next Thursday the 24th. UCC will visit Northern at 4pm in the AAA/AAAA level game, while Blenheim will play at St.Christopher in the A/AA game at 4:30pm.

Alex Ciarma scored a hat trick for UCC as they downed the John McGregor Panthers 3-1. Madi Tunstall had the lone JMSS goal.

CKSS powered by Pain Court 6-2. Kelly Young, Alicia Huckle, Syd Gagner, Niki Whitson, and Missy Paxton-Batten and Lakeisha Cato scored for the Golden Hawks in the win, while Emily Pepper had both Pain Court goals.

In senior boys soccer, Chatham Christian defeated Lambton-Kent 4-1. Kaden VanHelden scored twice for Chatham Christian, with Daniel Grootenboer scoring, and Kevin Grootenboer picking up the other CCHS goal on a penalty kick. James Shelton had the only Dresden goal.

Mike Foster scored twice and Brayden Fischer picked up a goal as Wallaceburg shut out Tilbury 3-0. Ursuline College beat John McGregor 5-2 with Casey Gregg, Deryck Devogelare, Keegan Pittuk, Angre Coelho, and Zak Rybansky scoring for UCC, and Nate St. Pierre grabbing both JMSS goals.

The CKSS boys got goals from Antwaine Baker, Brandon Provost, and two from Clark Green as they shutout Pain Court 4-0.

Jake Lindley used his receivers well Friday night under the lights at CKSS throwing for 191-yards in the 26-8 win including two touchdown passes to Ian Smart.

In addition to Ian Smart’s two touchdowns, Dan Allman also ran in two for the Golden Hawks and caught a two-point convert late in the game.

Wallaceburg’s lone touchdown in the losing effort was scored by Josh Berkvins who pulled in a 17-yard pass from Tartans QB Jeremy Griffioen.

In other Junior football action, the Blenheim Bobcats kept pace with the CKSS Golden Hawks picking up their third win of the season by defeating the winless John McGregor Panthers. The win snapped a two game losing streak for Blenheim.

Dalton Shuian scored an incredible five first half touchdowns for Blenheim running 223-yards, as Blenheim downed JMSS 49-14. Spencer Clarke and Brayden McTavish had the other Blenheim Bobcats touchdowns who scored all of their points on the ground.

Gabe Gagner and Cam Demars scored for John McGregor.

The KCSSAA season wraps up this week with the UCC Lancers already clinching first, while JMSS will finish in 5th, out of a playoff spot.

Riley Heath had the other Tilbury goal, while Kevin Gootenboer scored for Chatham Christian on a penalty kick.

In other action, the Lambton-Kent Cardinals senior boy’s team defeated John McGregor 3-1. James Shelton scored twice for the Cardinals while Bryce Broad had one goal. Nate St. Pierre scored the lone goal for JMSS.

In girl’s action, John McGregor defeated Lambton-Kent (Dresden) 3-1.
Taneila Charles, Laura Polowick, and Jessica Raine scored for the John McGregor Panthers, while Veronica McFadden had the Dresden goal.

Their finals adversary, Blenheim, enters with a 5-2 record, with their only two losses coming against the UCC Lancers.

That doesn’t mean however, that the Lancers will be the favourite in the May 17 final as the Bobcats handed UCC an exhibition loss during a tournament last weekend.

As well, Blenheim has history on their side, as they defeated UCC 12-5 last season in the Kent Championship game.

In their first meeting this season, Blenheim got out to a confortable lead before UCC scored during the final seconds of the game to win 17-15. Their second match a month later was a more convincing win with the UCC Lancers taking the game 29-7.

UCC advanced to the final by defeating first year Wallaceburg 80-0 in the semi-final, while Belle River forfeited to Blenehim automatically advancing the reigning champions to the final.

The location and time of the May 17 final has yet to be announced. Continue to follow CKSN for updates on the game.

In boys action, Brayden Fischer scored twice for Wallaceburg, while Lucas Allaer and Bobby Zenick had single goals as the Tartans downed the Cardinals 4-1. Troy Babcock was Wallaceburg’s game star in the win.

James Shelton had the only Dresden goal, with Kyle Ellis taking home game star honours.

Alice Huber, Kaylene Hagen, Alyssa Lucier, and Christina DeBakker scored for the Wallaceburg girls as they shutout LKCS 4-0. Danielle Bird and Nicole Vanrabaeys were game stars for the Cardinals.

In other action, the UCC Lancers played the Pain Court Patriotes in boys soccer, with UCC remaining undefeated this season after Zak Rybansky, Patryk Dorozynski, and Keegan Pittuck scored, and Josh Pickering picked up the shutout in a 3-0 win.

In girls action, Pain Court crushed Tilbury 6-0. Emily Pepper led the charge for Pain Court scoring a hat trick in the game, while Audree Rossignol, Cassandra Faubert, and Savanna Stallaert had the other Patriotes goals. Faubert and Alisha Dezeure shared the shutout for Pain Court.

Game stars were Shelby Paraskevopoulos for Pain Court, and Vivian Stevenson and Kaily Zack for Tilbury.

On the boys side, Jamie Faubert scored twice and Brandon Funk added a single as the Pain Court boys shutout Tilbury’s squad 3-0.

Wallaceburg also faced UCC in both boys and girls soccer action Tuesday. The UCC girls shutout Wallaceburg 2-0 with goals from Alex Ciarma and Riley Vanderydt, and Sydney Authier picking up the shutout between the pipes. The UCC boys played to a 2-2 draw against Wallaceburg.

The speedy duo of Garth Denys and Bobby Zenick each scored for the Wallaceburg Tartans, while Josh Reaume and Keegan Pittuck scored for the Lancers.

Breanne Nicholas of Blenheim setting up for a convert kick - CKSN.ca File Photo

In the opening game of the tournament, Blenheim defeated the host UCC Lancers, who currently sit first in the Kent high school league 7-0. Mary Boldt had the only try in the game, while Brianne Nicholas kicked a convert.

Blenheim shut out a much improved Wallaceburg squad in game two. Nicholas and Morgan Baker had two tries each, while singles went to Colleen Hall, and Vanessa Baker. Nicholas also kicked two converts in Blenheim’s 32-0 win.

Nicholas continued her dominance in Blenheim’s third game of the day, a 26-0 win over London Central, scoring three tries and kicking three converts. Danielle Naclerio had the other Blenheim try.

In their final game of the day against London Medway, Blenheim needed a strong defense to win what would prove to be the championship game 5-0. Nancy Nelson had the only Blenheim try to keep the Bobcats a perfect 4-0 on the day, while dropped Medway to 3-1 for a second place finish.

The UCC Lancers finished in third with a 2-2 record, while Central was fourth at 1-3, and Wallaceburg fifth at 0-4

Grade 9 Tristan Logan scored two rushing touchdowns in the game to lead the Golden Hawks on the ground, but it was quarterback Jake Lindley who really stole the show in CKSS’ 49-0 win over the John McGregor Panthers.

Lindley rushed for a 26-yard touchdown and also threw three touchdown passes to Ian Smart (two) and Dan Allman. Lindley also kicked six extra points in the game.

Blain Kwiatkowski scored the other CKSS Golden Hawks touchdown.

John McGregor is now the only winless team in the KCSSAA Junior football league this season.

In other high school sports, UCC remained undefeated in the girls rugby league after defeating Belle River 84-0. Rachel King and Julia Moretto each scored twice for the UCC Lancers, while Gaby Desbiens, Justine Van Herk, Shania Van Herk, Justine Fredricks, Sydney Nolan, Alicia Dalanyi, and Janet Lowther all scored singles for the Lancers.

UCC has clinched first place in the girls rugby league.

In boys soccer, Pain Court edged Chatham Christian 2-1. Kyle Parry and Jamie Faubert scored for the Pain Court Patriotes. Kevin Grootenboer had the lone goal for Chatham Christian.

Breanne Nicholas kicks a convert for Blenheim - CKSN.ca File Photo

Teams involved in Saturday’s tournament will be UCC, Wallaceburg, Medway (London), Central (London), and Blenheim.

Wednesday in a regular season game that will also serve as a tune up for Saturday’s tournament, Blenheim played WDSS in Wallaceburg defeating the Tartans 66-0 in Kent Girl’s Rugby.

“Wallaceburg is showing a lot of improvement, definitely better than our first meeting this season. They are agressive in contact, and are working very hard. Some improvements in defense and at the breakdown will really even things up and make WDSS very competitive,” Blenheim coach Brian Hall explained to CKSN via email.

Hall also praised his own team saying, “time spent in practice and in previous games developing new players is starting to pay off.”

Ten different girls scored for Blenheim Wednesday, some getting their first career points, with the forwards contributing 5 of 12 tries.

Mary Boldt led the UCC Lancers offense scoring two tries, while Morgan Baker, Vanessa Baker, Robyn Fraser, Amber Nicholas, Breanne Nicholas, Jessica Gardiner , Kathryn Patterson, Kate Clendenning, and Nancy Knelsen scored singles for Blenheim. Breanne Nicholas kicked 3 conversions while Boldt was selected as Maid of the Match.

UCC still sits in first in the girls rugby loop with a perfect 2-0 record while Blenheim is second.