As the bus carrying the PECI Junior Girls Basketball team motored home Thursday night, coach Nathan Vader chuckled to himself. The steady chatter of teenagers, and music blaring a soundtrack for the ride back home from Monaghan, east of Peterborough, brought the skipper full circle to his days as a Panther.

The skipper was part of a resurrection of roundball at PECI in the mid-to-late 90’s. Along the way, that Panthers crew racked up wins and the squad developed into a Bay of Quinte powerhouse. It was an era that gave birth to the career of Milford’s Matt Ross who led his Carleton University Ravens to three straight U Sports national championships.

Could history repeat itself on the girls’ side of the ball 30 years later? Is there a new Matt Ross somewhere in the PECI mix? That is yet to be determined. But if you’re searching for a sports story of redemption, the Panthers have what you seek.

Early Success

The Cats were good this year. After a season-opening setback to Bayside, PECI didn’t look back, running through the rest of the Bay of Quinte competition, going 8-1 through the regular season. PECI managed to earn a bye into the Bay of Quinte Semi Finals where they toppled the Eastside Ravens 64-56. The playoff win clinched a Central Ontario Championships berth and also set up a date with Bayside for the Bay of Quinte championships.

The finals were hosted Nov. 8 at Loyalist College. PECI had designs on Bay of Quinte Gold. They were tied with the Red Devils after the opening quarter and spirts were high.

Then starry Sofia Edgett went off for BSS and the game was all but academic after the first half. Ms. Edgett dropped 56 points in the game and had nearly 30 rebounds. In the history of Bay of Quinte Finals, her stat line might have been record setting. The Devils dominated in a 72-44 whitewash.

“It was just an incredibly impressive performance by Sofia. She’s head and shoulders above a lot of good players in the Bay of Quinte. That being said, we really didn’t have a game plan for her and it was tough, playing at Loyalist, in that environment, and figuring out on the fly how to come up with an answer,” Mr. Vader lamented.

PECI had a couple of practices between the Bay of Quinte final and the Central Ontario Championships at Crestwood Secondary. Could they play their way to the COSSA Finals and try a new strategy against Ms. Edgett and the Red Devils?

Breaking the Mustangs

Standing in PECI’s way of a return date with Bayside were the undefeated host Crestwood Mustangs, champions of the Kawartha-Pineridge Region in 2024.

In a packed gymnasium full of hostile Crestwood students, the Panthers came out ready to play and matched up with the Ponies all the way through the first half.

“It’s a game that none of our players will ever forget,” said Coach Vader. “It’s hard to imagine playing in an environment like that and doing so well.”

Leading scorer Carmen Gonzalez paced the PECI offence as the match never got beyond a bucket or two in terms of a lead. Jessie Davis came up with a couple of clutch buckets with time winding down and Averie Cole helped secure the win with a bevy of key rebounds and a pair of buckets from the charity stripe late in the game. PECI won 42-36.

Redemption

Naturally, a Hollywood ending would have seen PECI hitting a last second bucket over the arms of the Bayside Red Devils to win the Central Ontario title Thursday afternoon. It didn’t work out that way, but PECI showed some real grit and determination in their game and were in the fight until the very end. Coach Vader came up with a double team and shadow tactic to keep Ms. Edgett in check and it worked out for the most part. Chloe Lucas hit some big buckets in the half and PECI’s attention to detail was evident.

“Sophie Caissie, Alia Vader, and Sadie Rees were outstanding. They frustrated the Red Devils offence and we were only down three at the half,” the coach noted. “We had momentum at the end of the second quarter.”

But a long day and an emotional win over the Mustangs in the COSSA opener finally took its toll. Some frantic turnovers early in the second half allowed Bayside to run up a 14 point lead by the end of the third quarter. PECI fell 56-39. Ms. Gonazlez poured in 18 points and Abbey Rumig had 10 points to lead the PECI scoring.

The Panthers made adjustments, but ran out of fuel as the game grew larger. The loss was difficult but a blueprint had been developed. They know next season could be different if they keep growing and developing.

“We fought hard until the very end,” the coach said. “All ten players factored into the game. From a team that almost wasn’t, to Bay of Quinte and COSSA silver medalists, the players have a ton to be proud of and memories for life.” And they have built a foundation for future success.

“We know there’s some outstanding athletes coming through the pipeline that are developing in the County Clippers and Belleville Spirits programs and there’s reason to be excited about what comes next.”