And the field is set.
The Fredericton Freeze has advanced to the PRO•LINE Legacy Cup championship, finalizing the final field of four, set to be held in Fredericton next weekend.
All action will be at the beautiful Richard J. Currie Center on the campus of the University of New Brunswick.
The road to the Final Quartet was not easy for the Freeze, who survived to defeat the Moncton Mystics, 84-66 to punch its ticket, joining regular season champion Lake City 56ers of Dartmouth/Cole Harbour, reigning champion Halifax Thunder and upstart Miramichi Her-Icanes, who arrive as New Brunswick’s top seed.
The Freeze and 56ers open things Saturday at 5 p.m. followed by Thunder and Her-Icanes at 7:30 p.m.
Third place game is Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and final goes at 3 p.m.
At Fredericton on Sunday, the Mystics came flying out of the chute, scoring at will and confounding Fredericton’s defence at every corner, erupting into a 30-20 lead after 10 minutes. The gap was narrowed at the half, but Moncton clung to a 42-37 lead at the half.
Things turned in the pivotal third quarter as Fredericton outscored its guest, 25-12, paving the way for the come-from-behind win.
Bailey Russell sparked Fredericton with a game high 22 points including 10 in the fourth quarter. Allie McCarthy drilled 17, Eva Tumwine scored 12 and Courtney Thompson had eight.
Lindy Alcorn dropped 16 for Moncton. Addie Albert had 12, Kate Fillmore scored 11 and Eavan McLaughlin and Olivia Mowatt had 10 apiece.
– Jane Boyle attacks Moncton’s defence in MWBA action Sunday. (Fran Harris Photos)