50p
Historic Season for Junior Girls Basketball
This was a historic year for Junior Girls Basketball. Many of these devoted young women met every Wednesday night throughout the fall to start building on their skills. Once the real season began in November, they were ready to go, leaping into the first two tournaments of the year.
The squad was deep enough to field two teams. One played in the Victoria Tip-off Tournament, losing only one game to top-ranked Belmont, while the other ventured to VIU, where they were undefeated. We were also able to enter two teams in the Mid-Island league, where both teams went undefeated, winning the banner.
After winter break, the girls returned to compete in the Ogilvie Tournament, where our two teams ended up tying and collectively winning the trophy. Although a number of players were dealing with injuries, by mid-January, the team was in peak form and ended up defeating PCS, Claremont and Alberni to win the Provincial Qualifying Tournament for the school’s first ever berth to Junior Girls Provincials (not counting the 4th place finish accomplished by a Grade 9 girls team back in the early 2000s). Ms Mariya Young, current volleyball coach, was a member of that team.
The team then ventured to the ISAs in Vancouver where they earned a silver medal, only losing to SMUS, who ultimately finished second at provincials.
Finally, most of the team ventured to Provincials where they were ranked 18th and faced a difficult first round matchup, losing to #15 3A College Heights. The squad regrouped and came back with a convincing 32 point win over 3A Duchess Park which moved them through to the semi-finals. They faced another 3A team, Robert Bateman, in their most exciting game of the tournament. Down by three with a minute left, Jensa NG hit a three to tie, and then we made a steal and some free throws to win it 52-55, moving us to the finals that night. After such an exciting game, we weren’t sure if we could muster the energy required, as they faced 4A Riverside. But his group of young women continued to play gritty basketball, leaving it all out on the floor and pulling away with another convincing victory: 60-47. With a tournament record of three wins and one loss in their first trip to Provincials, the future of Brentwood girls basketball looks bright. They will also have fond memories of kangaroo court, late fines/costumes, charades and pictionary!
The girls put so much effort and spirit not only into their games, but into each practice. They devoted time over break and every Wednesday night to better their game. These girls welcomed new additions to the team and ultimately ended the season as sisters on and off the court. So much has been learned this season and memories have been made together. Thank you girls and thank you to Ms Napier, Ms Manton, and Ms Bakker for a great season. We hope to continue this legacy for years to come.
The squad was deep enough to field two teams. One played in the Victoria Tip-off Tournament, losing only one game to top-ranked Belmont, while the other ventured to VIU, where they were undefeated. We were also able to enter two teams in the Mid-Island league, where both teams went undefeated, winning the banner.
After winter break, the girls returned to compete in the Ogilvie Tournament, where our two teams ended up tying and collectively winning the trophy. Although a number of players were dealing with injuries, by mid-January, the team was in peak form and ended up defeating PCS, Claremont and Alberni to win the Provincial Qualifying Tournament for the school’s first ever berth to Junior Girls Provincials (not counting the 4th place finish accomplished by a Grade 9 girls team back in the early 2000s). Ms Mariya Young, current volleyball coach, was a member of that team.
The team then ventured to the ISAs in Vancouver where they earned a silver medal, only losing to SMUS, who ultimately finished second at provincials.
Finally, most of the team ventured to Provincials where they were ranked 18th and faced a difficult first round matchup, losing to #15 3A College Heights. The squad regrouped and came back with a convincing 32 point win over 3A Duchess Park which moved them through to the semi-finals. They faced another 3A team, Robert Bateman, in their most exciting game of the tournament. Down by three with a minute left, Jensa NG hit a three to tie, and then we made a steal and some free throws to win it 52-55, moving us to the finals that night. After such an exciting game, we weren’t sure if we could muster the energy required, as they faced 4A Riverside. But his group of young women continued to play gritty basketball, leaving it all out on the floor and pulling away with another convincing victory: 60-47. With a tournament record of three wins and one loss in their first trip to Provincials, the future of Brentwood girls basketball looks bright. They will also have fond memories of kangaroo court, late fines/costumes, charades and pictionary!
The girls put so much effort and spirit not only into their games, but into each practice. They devoted time over break and every Wednesday night to better their game. These girls welcomed new additions to the team and ultimately ended the season as sisters on and off the court. So much has been learned this season and memories have been made together. Thank you girls and thank you to Ms Napier, Ms Manton, and Ms Bakker for a great season. We hope to continue this legacy for years to come.