Staff
The four Muskie court teams were kept out of the winners’ circle Tuesday at the NorWOSSA playoffs in Dryden.
Three of the four played in their respective finals but were denied gold by the host Eagles each time.
The heavily-favoured senior and junior girls’ basketball teams both were upset after earning byes to the final thanks to finishing atop the regular-season standings with 7-1 records.
The senior Muskies were held off the scoreboard for the final six minutes—and never sank a free throw all game—in falling to Dryden in the final for the second-straight season with a 32-20 loss.
Abby Sanders led the Muskies with 10 points.
Sydney White added 11 rebounds but went scoreless after torching the Eagles for 18 points in their previous matchup a week earlier here.
The Eagles will host the Thunder Bay champs in the best-of-three NWOSSAA final Nov. 18-19.
As for the juniors, the defending champion Muskies built an 11-point first-half lead, and were up five in the fourth quarter, before succumbing 40-36 to the Eagles.
Grace Petsnick led the Muskies with 13 points while Adyson Wilson-Hands posted 12 points and 12 rebounds.
In boys’ volleyball action, the senior Muskies swept the Kenora Broncos 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, and 25-7) in the semi-final to give themselves a chance to repeat their NorWOSSA crown from a year ago.
But Dryden was rested and waiting—and swept Fort High 3-0 in the final (25-21, 25-5, and 25-22).
The Eagles now will travel to Thunder Bay for best-of-three NWOSSAA final Nov. 18-19.
Meanwhile, the junior Muskies bowed out in the semi-final with a 3-1 loss to the Eagles (22-25, 25-17, 25-11, and 25-10).
Dryden was prevented from pulling off a golden sweep, though, as Kenora prevailed 3-2 in the final (16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, and 15-7).
