If someone had have predicted that the Algonquin Barons would be Junior Girls Basketball Champions at almost any point in the 2023 season, they would have likely been pegged for a dreamer.

Algonquin finished in 4th overall in season play, seemed destined to make a brief playoff appearance and start the 2024 season with a bit more experience for the effort. Despite big odds, the team beat Franco Cite in the Quarterfinals only to be matched up against the unbeaten powerhouse St. Joseph Scollard Hall Bears in the Semifinals. The result, at the time, felt like a forgone conclusion. The Barons would end up shocking everyone by winning with a buzzer-beater against a Bears squad that had up till that game absolutely dominated regular season play. Algonquin had seemingly done the impossible- but was still a three game series against the second place Chippewa Raiders away from winning the Championship.

In the first game of the championship series, the Barons would eke out a 37-34 overtime win against the Raiders to steal home court advantage. Tension was mounting for the Friday rematch between the two teams, but cancelled buses due to weather meant everyone had to wait till Monday. Monday’s game was as close as the past contests- with Algonquin pulling out a single basket 23-21 win to take home the hardware.

The Barons only posted 3 wins in the regular season- but won 4 games in a row when it really mattered. This win was the biggest surprise of the 2023-24 NDA season so far- and the Algonquin Barons squad earned every bit of the upset.