50p
Prioritizing a Plaque in Our Presence
A plaque.
It was won last year and despite great efforts to acquire it and hang it in our room, it was ripped from the well-earned grasp of Co-Captains Miranda NP and Jensa NG and hidden away wherever Mr Gage and the athletic staff stash Brentwood’s well-earned trophies and accolades.
Photos were taken and the eyes of parents and spectators present at last year's North Island finals were laid on the 4” by 8” faux stone plaque before it disappeared into the backpack of coach Ms Jillan Napier.
Where is this plaque now? I can assure you it is not in the hands of either Co-Captain.
Poof!
Our well-earned hardware - vanished.
So, Team, what’s next? Do we break into Mr Gage’s office and tear it apart like detectives searching for one last piece of evidence?
Hmm…
After we reviewed our plan, we decided that approach might lead to grounds for expulsion. Therefore, we took the high road, more specifically, the highway to Ladysmith - home of this year's Senior Girls’ Basketball North Island Championship - with the aspiration of bringing home another plaque.
This year's tournament was comprised of four teams. Us - Brentwood College School - Ladysmith Secondary, Highlands, and Kwalikum Secondary.
Brentwood’s first tip-off was at 5:00pm, meaning, after a team meeting, team lunch, and short shooting practice, the gang piled onto the bus parked at Crooks Hall and departed campus at 3:15 to head north, along Highway 1, until we reached the 49th parallel town of Ladysmith, population 8,990.
The draw had Brentwood facing off against home team Ladysmith Secondary. It was “A great opportunity for the bench to get some action and an opportunity for the squad to try out some new offensive counters” explains coach Napier. Every player on the score sheet walked away with a basket to their name. Kionah W, our top scorer of the night, had 15, followed by Amelie B, with 14, and Miranda NP with 12.
A convincing win for Brentwood found the team leaving the locker room with their minds set on the next game so Head Coach Napier, Jensa NG, Ruby M, and Kionah W, accompanied by their parents, all stayed behind to scout the first half of the Highlands vs Kwalikum game - Brentwood would be playing the winner on Friday night at 7:00.
Friday at 1:30 the team met for a shoot-around and to run through some offenses and defenses Coach Napier figured would bring us success after scouting Kwalikum the previous night. After our shoot-around, the UBC Men's basketball team occupied the gym for a practice of their own amidst their doubleheader against the UVic Vikes. And they ran the same offense we do.
For one last time before starting their belated Midterm break, the gang loaded the Brentwood bus at Crooks and made their way to the North Island Finals.
From the tip-off, Coach Napier's scouting report and adaptations proved golden. Brentwood locked up Kwalikum’s strong point guard, and its rebound magnet down in the key. It was up to us to put the ball in the bucket and secure a win. Up by 20 at halftime, Miranda NP was leading the team with 24 points of her own, with the help of outstanding passing from Peyton H, and strong defensive efforts by Jensa NG and Ruby M. With the refs calling a loose game, Brentwood was forced to play physically, driving to the paint in the hope of drawing fouls and getting to the line.
As the final buzzer sounded, Miranda NP walked off the court with 33, Peyton H with 12, Jensa NG with 11, as well as several other game-changing offensive and defensive performances. After a train of “good games” and a quick word from Coach Napier, Co-Captains Miranda NP, and Jensa NG were awarded the “AA Senior Girls North Island Champions” plaque, along with a pass to the AA Girls Islands, hosted at Brentwood February 16th-18th.
Speaking of the plaque, where is it now?
As I write this article I glance up at the bright West Coast sun glimmering beautifully off the gold “AA Girls North Island Champions” writing.
No longer will our accolades sit collecting dust in Mr Gage’s office.
No longer will it sit in a drawer in Ms Napier’s office never to be seen again.
No longer will we fuel Mr Patel's ego by letting him possess our well-earned hardware.
Until threatened with suspension or expulsion, we, the Senior Girls' Basketball team, will hold our plaque close to our hearts, and “Anyone who wishes to take it from us will face the wrath of Beluchi O and Peyton H!” clarifies Co-Captain Miranda NP, Alex ‘23.
The Sr Girls team will be in action at home today at 2:00 at the Foote Center in their Gold medal game at the Islands Championship. Come and support them as they hope to achieve their goal of making it to their third, and for some, their final Provincial Basketball Championship.
It was won last year and despite great efforts to acquire it and hang it in our room, it was ripped from the well-earned grasp of Co-Captains Miranda NP and Jensa NG and hidden away wherever Mr Gage and the athletic staff stash Brentwood’s well-earned trophies and accolades.
Photos were taken and the eyes of parents and spectators present at last year's North Island finals were laid on the 4” by 8” faux stone plaque before it disappeared into the backpack of coach Ms Jillan Napier.
Where is this plaque now? I can assure you it is not in the hands of either Co-Captain.
Poof!
Our well-earned hardware - vanished.
So, Team, what’s next? Do we break into Mr Gage’s office and tear it apart like detectives searching for one last piece of evidence?
Hmm…
After we reviewed our plan, we decided that approach might lead to grounds for expulsion. Therefore, we took the high road, more specifically, the highway to Ladysmith - home of this year's Senior Girls’ Basketball North Island Championship - with the aspiration of bringing home another plaque.
This year's tournament was comprised of four teams. Us - Brentwood College School - Ladysmith Secondary, Highlands, and Kwalikum Secondary.
Brentwood’s first tip-off was at 5:00pm, meaning, after a team meeting, team lunch, and short shooting practice, the gang piled onto the bus parked at Crooks Hall and departed campus at 3:15 to head north, along Highway 1, until we reached the 49th parallel town of Ladysmith, population 8,990.
The draw had Brentwood facing off against home team Ladysmith Secondary. It was “A great opportunity for the bench to get some action and an opportunity for the squad to try out some new offensive counters” explains coach Napier. Every player on the score sheet walked away with a basket to their name. Kionah W, our top scorer of the night, had 15, followed by Amelie B, with 14, and Miranda NP with 12.
A convincing win for Brentwood found the team leaving the locker room with their minds set on the next game so Head Coach Napier, Jensa NG, Ruby M, and Kionah W, accompanied by their parents, all stayed behind to scout the first half of the Highlands vs Kwalikum game - Brentwood would be playing the winner on Friday night at 7:00.
Friday at 1:30 the team met for a shoot-around and to run through some offenses and defenses Coach Napier figured would bring us success after scouting Kwalikum the previous night. After our shoot-around, the UBC Men's basketball team occupied the gym for a practice of their own amidst their doubleheader against the UVic Vikes. And they ran the same offense we do.
For one last time before starting their belated Midterm break, the gang loaded the Brentwood bus at Crooks and made their way to the North Island Finals.
From the tip-off, Coach Napier's scouting report and adaptations proved golden. Brentwood locked up Kwalikum’s strong point guard, and its rebound magnet down in the key. It was up to us to put the ball in the bucket and secure a win. Up by 20 at halftime, Miranda NP was leading the team with 24 points of her own, with the help of outstanding passing from Peyton H, and strong defensive efforts by Jensa NG and Ruby M. With the refs calling a loose game, Brentwood was forced to play physically, driving to the paint in the hope of drawing fouls and getting to the line.
As the final buzzer sounded, Miranda NP walked off the court with 33, Peyton H with 12, Jensa NG with 11, as well as several other game-changing offensive and defensive performances. After a train of “good games” and a quick word from Coach Napier, Co-Captains Miranda NP, and Jensa NG were awarded the “AA Senior Girls North Island Champions” plaque, along with a pass to the AA Girls Islands, hosted at Brentwood February 16th-18th.
Speaking of the plaque, where is it now?
As I write this article I glance up at the bright West Coast sun glimmering beautifully off the gold “AA Girls North Island Champions” writing.
No longer will our accolades sit collecting dust in Mr Gage’s office.
No longer will it sit in a drawer in Ms Napier’s office never to be seen again.
No longer will we fuel Mr Patel's ego by letting him possess our well-earned hardware.
Until threatened with suspension or expulsion, we, the Senior Girls' Basketball team, will hold our plaque close to our hearts, and “Anyone who wishes to take it from us will face the wrath of Beluchi O and Peyton H!” clarifies Co-Captain Miranda NP, Alex ‘23.
The Sr Girls team will be in action at home today at 2:00 at the Foote Center in their Gold medal game at the Islands Championship. Come and support them as they hope to achieve their goal of making it to their third, and for some, their final Provincial Basketball Championship.