SHS Girls basketball team wins again, things looking good going into playoffs

Dion Galandy    

Coach

 

This past weekend, the 3A SHS Girls basketball team won their tournament in Dunmore, just east of Medicine Hat. They beat St. Dominic from Rocky Mountain House 63-30, where Kate Harris was named the game all-star. In their second game, they matched up against the home team Eagle Butte who are currently ranked sixth in the province. 

SHS was down 37-40 at half but with their strong determination defeated the Eagle Butte Talons 73-70. This game showed the heart that the Spartans have as they were down 55-65 with six minutes to go, but still managed to claw back, take the lead and fend off a furious attack by Eagle Butte. In their final game, they played Crescent Heights from Medicine Hat. This was a scrappy game but the Spartans held on for a 63-54 victory. 

One of the goals for this young team of six Grade 10’s and four Grade 11’s, a typical JV team, was to try to improve throughout the year and possibly win a few games in the process. In November and December the girls managed seven wins and five losses playing in tournaments and league play. Especially tough were league game losses to 4A Foothills Composite from Okotoks by a score of 33-76 and to Holy Trinity School also from Okotoks by a score of 47-67. 

However, this team has since found a spark and just the opposite has happened beginning in January as the SHS Girls have been playing some great basketball. In the months of January and February the girls have a record of 14 wins and two losses and are actually undefeated in February. Including wins against Holy Trinity (77-63) and Foothills (52-49) in league play. 

Because of their improved play, they finished second in league play and as a result will host the semi-final game at home against either Holy Trinity or Strathcona Tweedsmuir. That game will be played at Friday, March 1 at 7:15 p.m. in the SHS gym. A win and they will be playing for the league championship at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at Foothills Composite against the winner of the second semi-final. 

But it only gets tougher from here. After league playoffs the team will have 3A Girls South Central Zones to compete at, hosted by Chesteremere March 7-9. There will be no easy games as this zone is traditionally strong. As a result of the Spartan’s recent wins and competitive play they may actually be one of the top teams at the zone, but that will only be determined after the final provincial ranking that comes out from ASAA March 4. If Strathmore High School was fortunate enough to be one of the top teams, with the format of the zone draw, they would actually host a game on Wednesday, March 6. 

It would be great if we were a Top 10 provincially ranked team going into 3A Girls Basketball Provincials March 14-16 hosted by Strathmore High School. This is an event where 12 teams from around the province will compete for gold and it’ll all happen right in the Spartan’s gym. With the momentum that these girls have generated, they are sure to find a competitive edge necessary to battle some of the top teams in the province.