Local basketball teams shut out

Ashlee Kocon of the Chargers tries to pass the ball to Sarah Jenkins, not shown, late in the fourth quarter of the championship game. Bailey Whillans of the Paul Rowe Raiders, centre, tries to block Kocon. Directly behind Whillans is Samantha Bruun, who is coming to assist. At the very left in the back is Charis Gordey of the Chargers. The Titans won the game 53-42.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

It was not a good weekend for local senior basketball teams, as out-of-town teams won both championship games. This first annual invitational tournament was held at E.W. Pratt and Prairie River Junior High Nov. 28-29. The Chargers teams and the St. Andrew’s Saints senior boys team were joined by the G.P. Vanier Vipers (girls only), Paul Rowe Raiders, Peace Wapiti Academy Titans and Ridgevalley Raiders. The Paul Rowe Raiders won 53-42 against the Chargers in the girls’ championship, while the Titans won 65-41 against the Chargers in the boys’ championship. Each winning team received a plaque from the organizers. Despite the loss, Jenelle Gallivan, coach of the Chargers girls team, is pleased they made it to the championship. “I was very proud of my team, they played excellent,” says Gallivan. “Their defence got them to the championship game.” Her three guards – Sarah Jenkins, Charis Gordey and Ashlee Kocon – led the defensive play. Moreover, her team scored more points in the second half of the game, making up for the first half. Mel Humber, the boys coach, says her team did good for having mostly Grade 11 players and she is already think ahead. “We’re going to defend the full court press for the next tournament.” The next tournament for the girls team will be in Peace River Dec. 12-13 against the Peace High Nomads. The Saints did not fare better in this tournament. They lost all their games, which coach Pat Monahan attributes to the lack of senior players. “They played with a lot of heart and tried hard,” he says. “We were missing some of the senior players, so the young players got a lot of court time. You could tell that the teams we played against had more seniors on their teams, Grade 11 and 12s. We had predominately Grade 10s, one Grade 11 and one Grade 12.” He talked to his players after the game and they remain upbeat. League play started last week and Monahan’s focus will be to give his players more court time.

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