Three tickets have been punched.
Only one dance card remains.
Regular season champion Halifax Thunder, Fredericton Freeze and Saint John’s Port City Fog has all earned a spot in this weekend’s Pro*Line Stadium Legacy Cup championship in the Nova Scotia capital.
The Final Quartet will be held at Dalhousie University.
Thunder, 10-0 during the regular season, defeated city rival Halifax Hornets to secure its final ticket. The Hornets, however, have a second chance and that comes Thursday when they visit Lake City 56ers at the Zatzman Sportsplex Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
Lake City finished second in Nova Scotia and second overall in the seven-team Maritime Women’s Basketball Association. With three teams in Nova Scotia, first met third in the opening playoff game and the loser would face Lake City.
In New Brunswick, the Freeze and Fog both survived wild games to advance directly to the final.
Thunder 78, Hornets 64
Thunder moved into the final with its win over cross-town rivals and will watch the other two Nova Scotia teams battle Thursday for the right to join them at Dalhousie University.
The winners used a balanced offence – something they have done all season – to tame the Hornets, powered by 16 points from Alaina McMillan. Grace Lancaster potted 13 and Sandy Saunders and Kiera Duffie both dropped 10.
Aliyah Fraser erupted for 21 to spark the Hornets.Toni Biancini scored 10 and Katelynn Power offered nine.
Freeze 87, Mystics 73
These two teams have a heated rivalry. It was brought to the forefront in a wild outing in the heat of the venerable Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium.
Fredericton had the climate and game in control, rolling into a 19-point lead at one point before Moncton started to chip away and actually tied things in the third quarter, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The Freeze took the temperature down with a solid fourth quarter to advance.
Allie McCarthy drained 24 points to spark Fredericton’s offence. Bailey Russell struck for 19. Eva Tumwine and Katie Daley both had nine. A key three by Daley helped pushed Fredericton into fourth quarter command.
Allie Berry was a monster inside, sparking Moncton with 16 points. Jenna Jones dropped 15, Kelsey McLaughlin hit for 14 and Leonie Elbert drilled a dozen.
Fog 73, Her-Icanes 66
More back and forth action than a teeter-totter at a busy playground.
In the end, Port City won out, downing visiting Miramichi and earning a spot in the Final Quartet.
The ‘Canes held a 40-32 lead at halftime and carried a 52-48 lead into the pivotal fourth quarter before the Fog erupted, outscoring its guest 25-14 over the last 10 minutes.
Kaylee Kilpatrick scored 15 points for Port City. Courtney Thompson struck for 14 and Rachel Farwell had 10.
Lauren Rainford had 15 for Miramichi and Katie Donahoe had 14. Aiden Rainford scored 10.
– Fredericton’s Ann Bastien looks for an open teammate (Fran Harris Photo)