Passing over Oilfields, Highwood

Times Reporter   

 

The Strathmore High School (SHS) Spartans varsity girls basketball team had defeated Oilfields High School, 53-30, earlier this season on Dec. 16 – they did it again on Feb. 5, by an even greater margin of 52-22.

“It was good, for sure,” Strathmore coach Dion Galandy said. “We played our game and if we play our game, we usually do pretty well.”

Though the team passed the ball well, the coach feels the ladies need to work on defensive breakdowns and their percentage from the field.

“It’s not as high as I want it to be,” he said. “I want it to be higher, but still pretty good. It was certainly one of our better efforts (against Oilfields).”

On Feb. 10, the girls also defeated Highwood High School 49-34, having also won against them on Jan. 15, 60-51.

“They’ve improved a fair amount so they were a little tougher, but still manageable,” Galandy said of Highwood. “I thought we played good defense. We pressured them well and kept number seven – their strong player – at bay. We could have played our offense a little bit better.”

SHS’ offense was led by Grade 11’s Karly Larson and Erin Warrack, and Grade 12 Carter Jones.

“She’s going to control the game,” Galandy said of Larson. “She’s going to distribute to whoever is open and needing that ball.”

From Feb. 6-8, the Spartans played in the Chestermere Tournament, against George McDougall High School, Prairie Christian Academy and Magrath High School. They only lost once, to Magrath.

“We played really poorly in the first quarter. It was kind of our first intense game back. We’ve been playing a lot of weaker teams, so it just hasn’t helped us. We got it back, we were down just five points in the third,” Galandy said. The girls went on to lose by 28, as injuries plagued them later in the matchup.

“It’s a learning process when you lose,” Galandy said.

SHS will travel to Magrath Feb. 14 for a tournament there, and will face Winston Churchill High School in their first game – who are fourth in the province. SHS is ranked within the top 15.

“It’ll be a good test for us to see where we are. At this tournament, there’s a former number one in the province,” Galandy said of McCoy High School.

SHS is part of the 3A designation, but will play all levels in Magrath.

“When you get to the top 10, it doesn’t matter what designation, it’s good basketball. It’ll be a good tournament for us,” Galandy said.

The Spartan ladies have their next league game against Holy Trinity Academy on Feb. 12, before the time of print. The Spartans lost to Holy Trinity in their first game of the season, 54-52.