Lady Cougars lone winners in Can/Am Tourney

The Sault College Cougars women's basketball team emerged the only local team with a win from the Can/Am Basketball Tournament on the weekend.

Both the men's and women's entries from Sault College and Algoma University College participated along with American community college teams from Alpena, Kirtland and St. Clair County in the two-day tournament hosted in Alpena, Michigan.

The Lady Cougars opened the tournament on Friday with a tight 44-43 win over Alpena, which is coached by former Lake Superior State University standout Bobby Allen..

After trailing 40-39 with 3:24 to play in the second half, the Cougars jumped ahead 44-43 with 1:22 remaining in the second half. Despite turning the ball over three times in the final 1:22, the Cougars held on for the win.

Simone Taylor led the Cougars with 17 points, Carly Uhlman drained 13 while Jill Esposito scored six. Julie Kelly, Lyndsey Carlyle and Cara Russon all turned in solid defensive performances off the bench.

On Saturday, the Cougars fell 68-32 to St. Clair County from Port Huron, Michigan. Taylor scored 11 while Carlyle added seven.

The Cougar men dropped their opening game to Alpena 97-71 as Alpena outscored the Cougars by 20 points over the final 10 minutes of the game. Ron Kelly led the Cougars with 22 points while former Cougar Sean Seivwright scored 12 for Alpena.

On Saturday, the Cougars fell 108-70 to Kirtland as Ryan Court led the Cougars with 15 points while Jeff Rennison added 11.

The AUC Thunderbirds men got 12 points from Greg Sirie in a 80-47 loss to Kirtland on Friday before dropping a 77-50 decision to Alpena on Saturday. Sirie scored 12 and Jake Thomas added 11 against Alpena.

The short staffed Algoma women opened the tournament with a 106-10 loss to St. Clair County on Friday before finishing with a 67-55 loss to Alpena. Jessica King led the Thunderbirds with 14 points while Sarah Miller added 12.

All four local teams will be back in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association action next weekend as Windsor's St. Clair College visits for four games.

The Cougars will host St. Clair on Friday at Sault College as the women tip off at 5 p.m. followed by the men at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, St. Clair visits the Thunderbirds at the George Leach Centre on the AUC campus beginning with the women's game at noon followed by the men at 2 p.m.

The Sault College women's volleyball team will also be in action against St. Clair on Friday at 9 p.m. at Sault College.

(With files from Randy Russon)