There were two Saturday night showdowns in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association.
One in Nova Scotia, one in New Brunswick.
Let’s start in the Bluenose Province where the Halifax Thunder host the red-shot Miramichi Her-icanes in a game between solid entrants.
Halifax appeared poised to run away and hide into the fourth quarter before Miramichi found some touch, closing to within two points in the final minute before Thunder’s Sandy Saunders slammed a three-pointer from the corner, giving the hosts an eventual 63-54 win.
The setback snapped Miramichi’s seven-game win streak.
Alaina McMillan had 15 points for Thunder. Bianca Helwig popped 14 and Sami Russell had a dozen.
Grace Lancaster had a game-high 18 for Miramichi. Lauren Rainford added 15.
Thunder improved to 6-3 and the Her-icanes moved to 7-2 as the regular season winds up tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the hometown Port City Fog used a last second first half bucket from Amelia Mitchell to carry a 36-30 lead at the half over the visiting Fredericton Freeze.
That changed swiftly.
The Freeze outscored the Fog 43-13 in the second half, rolling to a 73-49 win.
Fredericton is the first team to finish its regular season, the Freeze finishing 5-5 and will finish second in the New Brunswick standings behind Miramichi. Port City fell to 1-8.
Eva Tumwine continued her solid season, leading all scorers with 23 points while grabbing 15 rebounds. Bailey Russell was on mark with 22 points and 14 boards.
McKinley Bezanson dropped 13 for Port City. Amelia Mitchell had nine, Mali Straker eight and Erin Ingalls seven.
It means the playoff scenario is set in New Brunswick for next weekend when the Freeze will host Moncton Mystics (2-7) and Port City will visit Miramichi.
There is action Sunday on three fronts.
Lake City 56ers, 8-1, visit Halifax Hornets (3-6) at 2 p.m. at Mount St. Vincent University. Port City stays home to meet Miramichi at 3 p.m., in a post-season preview and Moncton wraps its season with a 4 p.m. date in Halifax against the Thunder at Dalhousie University.
