ANCASTER, ON. The Redeemer Royals came up just short in their cross-over playoff game against the Georgian Grizzlies, losing 66-60 in a game that was anything but easy. What started as a tough first half turned into a thrilling battle, but the Royals couldn't close it out in the end.

Entering the first round, Redeemer was the OCAA West 7-seed, while Georgian was the OCAA East 2-seed.

It was a rough first quarter for Redeemer, as they found themselves down 19-9, struggling to get their offense going while Georgian capitalized on mistakes. The Grizzlies continued their success in the second quarter and were leading 38-28 at halftime.

But the second half was a whole different story. Redeemer came out with a fire that had been missing in the first half. Sydney Lazenby led the charge with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, her hustle and intensity starting to show. Meanwhile, Sydney Drain, who finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, was a major threat on both ends of the floor. The two Sydneys carried the Royals, helping them stage an incredible comeback.

The third quarter was where the Royals really turned things around. After being down by 10 at the break, Redeemer went on a 21-13 run, finally taking the lead at 51-49. The defense tightened up, and the offense started to click, with both Lazenby and Drain making big plays. The Royals were in the driver's seat heading into the final 10 minutes, but the Grizzlies weren't going to go down without a fight.

The final quarter was a nail-biter. The Royals fought hard to stay in it, but the Grizzlies managed to pull away, closing the game out 66-60. The Royals are now eliminated from the OCAA Playoffs and look to build on this year's success in the fall.