Douglas – The Opeongo High School (OHS) junior and senior girls basketball teams have advanced to the Eastern Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (EOSSAA) championship.

The junior Wildcats hosted St. Joseph’s Catholic High School from Renfrew last Thursday, with the home team holding on to post a 28-27 win to advance to EOSSAA. The Wildcats had been eliminated from the Upper Ottawa Valley High School Athletic Association’s (UOVHSAA) play-off the previous week, losing their semi-final game against Bishop Smith. However, because the two teams that advanced to the UOVHSAA final were both AA rated teams, the Wildcats and St. Joe’s, met in the qualifier to see what school would represent the A-rated teams at EOSSAA.

The A and AA rankings in based on the population of the communities where the schools are located and OHS and St. Joe’s both qualify as A schools, while Arnprior District High School, who defeated Bishop Smith of Pembroke in the UOVHSAA, were both AA schools.

The junior tournament was yesterday (Tuesday) in Elgin, but no results were known at press time.

The senior girls also are advancing to EOSSAA as the Wild Card pick of the A-rated schools.

They will be travelling to St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Brockville for the tournament being held today (Wednesday) AND Thursday.

Wildcats Eliminated

In boys’ volleyball play, both the junior and senior Wildcats were eliminated in last week’s semi-finals.

The juniors opened their semi-final versus St. Joe’s of Renfrew with a 25-21 win, but then lost three-straight by scores of 27-25, 25-21 and 25-17 to be eliminated. With the loss, the Wildcats failed to advance to the EOSSAA junior championships which Opeongo is hosting today (Wednesday).

The seniors dropped the first set 25-23 to Mckenzie Community School from Deep River, then rebounded with two straight wins of 25-20 and 26-24. Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost key player Jack Egan to an injury early in the fourth set, and Mckenzie took the final two sets, 25-12 and 15-7 to advance.