By Larry Moko
A healthy Addison Turkstra is a welcome addition to the senior girls' basketball lineup at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School.
She was sidelined for all of Tonnos's games last season due to a sprained ankle.
"Addison was in Grade 10 on our senior team last year," BT coach Len Moccia explained. "She didn't play, though, because she was injured. She came to practices but didn't participate."
On Thursday, Turkstra was in action against the visiting Cathedral Gaels. And in that contest, she helped the Tonnos Titans to a 54-33 victory.
The outcome improved BT's record to 6-0, while dropping second-place Cathedral to 5-2 in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic standings.
"Addison would have helped us last year (when BT bowed out in the semifinals), but I'm very happy that she's able to be a huge asset for us this year," Moccia said. "Her ball instincts are great for steals."
The top scorer for Tonnos was Avery Hedley, with 15 points. Turkstra added 13 and Bridget Dinning had 11.
Naomi Stanley answered with eight points for the Gaels.
Tonnos raced to a 23-7 first-quarter lead before Cathedral cut the margin to six points late in the second quarter. In the third, however, BT blanked the Gaels, 18-0.
"Addison's general defence has given us such a boost in that area," Moccia said. "Every time we seem to have a dip in our play she leads the charge back for us."
Tonnos swept the two-game regular-season series from Cathedral, taking the opener, 56-26.
"They're a really good team," Gaels coach Kevin Daly said. "We made some improvements from the first game, but obviously it wasn't perfect.
"They do a good job of pressuring you. If you don't handle the pressure well they will make you pay. And that's what they did. They turned us over and we kind of panicked."
Turkstra says she's happy to be back on the court again for Tonnos.
"It was hard to sit and watch," she said. "I really wanted to play. I like bringing the energy."
The Tonnos coach added: "Every time I see her I say, 'we've got to keep you healthy.' I was glad we didn't have to use her in the fourth quarter of this game."
Tonnos has enjoyed a lot of success at the junior level in recent years, going undefeated and winning two straight championships.
"Our junior team hasn't had anybody within 40 points of them for the last few years," Moccia said.
In the first half of the doubleheader, the Tonnos juniors improved their record to 10-0 with a 63-22 decision over Cathedral.
Elsewhere on Thursday, the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals evened their senior record at 3-3 with a 75-51 win over the St. Thomas More Knights (1-5).
Said Daly: "This wasn't a do-or-die game. It really didn't matter in terms of the standings. We're not too worried about it. We think we're getting better. In the playoffs we'll take our chances."
Photos by Richard Andoga
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