Mulgrave Titans Sr Girls Outlast Aden Bowman Bears in Thrilling Tournament Opener
Mulgrave Sr Girls vs Aden Bowman (Saskatchewan)
December 11, 2025
The Aden Bowman Bears made their long-awaited return to the No Regrets Invitational on Thursday morning, their first appearance since finishing as tournament runners-up in 2018. But the host Mulgrave Titans—backed by a loud, energetic junior-school crowd and a spirited Senior Boys’ team armed with drumsticks and buckets—were determined to make their presence felt in the opening round.
The game wasted no time establishing its tone: fast, physical, and relentless. Mulgrave’s #1, Mojarradi, opened the scoring before Aden Bowman answered immediately with an and-1 from their own #1, Berg. Both teams flew up and down the floor, but the scoreboard stayed stubbornly low. With seven minutes left in the first quarter, the score remained just 2–2.
Mulgrave’s full-court pressure caused early trouble for the Bears, forcing multiple turnovers. Their Grade 10 forward, #10—easily the tallest player on the court—blocked a shot before being called for a foul, sending Bowman’s #2, Friedenstab, to the line for two. By the midpoint of the quarter, the Bears had edged ahead 7–5, highlighted by #9, Zehtab-Jadid blowing a playful kiss to the crowd after sinking one of her free throws.
The Titans’ hustle, however, began to swing the momentum. Loose balls turned into scrambles involving three players at a time, and Mulgrave’s energy finally pushed them ahead 8–7, a lead they held through the end of the first quarter.
End of Q1: Mulgrave 8, Aden Bowman 7
The second quarter opened with four consecutive turnovers—a chaotic start that perfectly matched the tempo of the first. Mulgrave’s #10 continued to cause problems inside, but the Bears countered with quick baseline actions, including an effortless lay-in on an inbound play to regain the lead.
After a Bowman run, Mulgrave head coach, Claude Leduc, called a timeout to settle his group. The Titans responded, highlighted by a spectacular sequence from Grade 12 guard #1, Mojarradi, who stole the ball while flying out of bounds and flicked it to a teammate for a foul call under the hoop.
Moments later, Mojarradi’s jab-step three electrified the home crowd—Mulgrave’s first triple of the morning—and helped the Titans recover to tie the game 11–11. The teams traded buckets at high speed, with Bowman’s #9, Zehtab-Jadid, repeatedly attacking the rim. Despite missed free throws, she grabbed her own rebound to score again, helping the Bears hold a slim halftime advantage.
Halftime: Aden Bowman 19, Mulgrave 18
The energy inside the gym didn’t fade after the break. Even the fun fact shared during halftime—one official’s wife taught Quinn Keast at Handsworth two decades ago—underscored how connected this tournament is to its community roots.
Aden Bowman opened the third quarter with a quick bucket, but Mulgrave answered immediately with a determined drive from #11. The Titans’ preferred pressure continued to generate turnovers, and when Mojarradi sank a pair of free throws, Mulgrave retook the lead for the first time in the half.
But the Bears responded again. Their star guard, #9 Zehtab-Jadid, hit a deep three to silence the crowd and push Bowman ahead 28–24, prompting another Mulgrave timeout. The Titans regrouped, with their Grade 10 post grabbing an offensive rebound that led to a put-back by #1 Mojarradi.
The back-and-forth battle continued until the final seconds of the quarter. With Mulgrave up briefly, Bowman's #9 delivered a stunning step-back buzzer-beater—her signature moment of the game—sending the Bears into the fourth up one.
End of Q3: Aden Bowman 36, Mulgrave 35
Mulgrave struck first in the fourth, with #10 scoring inside to regain the lead. After several empty possessions on both sides, Mojarradi broke the drought to put Mulgrave ahead by three, prompting an Aden Bowman timeout with six minutes remaining.
Out of the timeout, AB’s #1, Berg, launched a potential game-tying three that missed, and Mulgrave immediately capitalized. #11 knocked down a massive triple—the biggest of the game—and the Titans suddenly led by six. Another Mulgrave basket pushed the lead to eight.
The Bears battled back, with #1, Berg, draining a three, only to have Mulgrave’s #1, Mojarradi, erase it seconds later. The Titans held a 48–40 lead entering the final minutes.
The closing stretch delivered all the drama the packed gym could ask for. Turnovers piled up, bodies hit the floor, and Aden Bowman refused to go away easily. Their #13, Milne, powered to the rim repeatedly, bringing the Bears within four with three minutes to play.
But Mulgrave’s composure held. Their Grade 8 phenom, #11—playing far above her age—converted an and-1, then later knocked down two pressure-packed free throws in bonus time. The Titans’ late-game poise and ability to secure rebounds proved the difference, thwarting Bowman’s final attempt at a comeback.
Aden Bowman’s desperation three in the final seconds missed, and Mulgrave closed out a hard-earned victory in their tournament opener.
A high-energy game from start to finish, filled with grit, heart, and momentum swings—exactly what the No Regrets Tournament is known for. Best of luck to both teams as the tournament continues.
Final Score: Mulgrave 57, Aden Bowman 50