The senior girls' basketball team has had an incredibly busy first two week's of play. With the season barely started, the Cavs have already played seven games. Here is Coach McLaughlin's report on her team's early season exploits:
The Senior Girls Basketball team's season started off with two big tournaments and some of the toughest North Shore competition.
The season opened with the girls competing in the Big Ticket Tournament, a tournament featuring some of the top teams from all the divisions across the province. Though the girls faced perennial AAA powerhouse, Riverside Rapids, losing in the opening round, they bounced back to play North Surrey in the second round and came away with a solid win.
In the final round of the tournament, the Cavs came up against Burnaby South, who managed to pull away from the Cavs in the final quarter. What makes this tournament so special, and something to strive to compete in, is not only the top-notch competition, but, that every team entered can nominate two senior players to vie for one of forty $1000 scholarships. Cav Captain, Dorreh Assadi, was awarded one of these scholarships.
Following the Big Ticket, the Cavs opened up league play against a very competitive and accomplished STA team. The squad was in for quite the battle, but with some team goals set, they competed fiercely against this formidable foe. Though the final score indicated a loss for the Cavs, it was a moral victory as they achieved all the goals they had set and did not give up fighting the entire game.
This past weekend saw team head across town to compete in the ISA tournament at York House. The opening round pitted the Cavs against the SMUS Blue Jags. With both teams having short benches, it was a battle of fitness and foul management. It was a tightly fought game, with the Cavs coming out ahead despite some poor shooting from the free-throw line and leaving multiple points on the rim.
Rachael played phenomenal defence against SMUS's strongest player and that certainly helped dictate the outcome of the game. Timely baskets down the stretch from Sara, Dorreh, Kiera, Tiffany, and May sealed the victory for the Cavs.
The Semi-Final matchup featured the Cavs against the hosts, York House. Unfortunately for the Cavs, the deep bench and deep shooting of York House, helped the Tigers secure the win.
The Semi-Final loss pushed the Cavs into the Bronze medal game against old rivals, Mulgrave. The Cavs took a strong lead in the first quarter, but Mulgrave battled back to keep it close going into half-time.
Entering into the third quarter, too many turnovers by the Cavs allowed the Titans to take a small lead going into the fourth. However, through the fourth, the Cavs buckled down on the D and started to convert on some beautiful passes in and around the basket.
When the final whistle blew, the Cavs were victorious in earning the Bronze medal. Kiera, Dorreh, Rachel, and Sara were all keys to the Cavs' success at different points in the game.
The victory cannot be savoured for too long, however, because league play continues Tuesday night with another match-up against Mulgrave, who will surely be looking to avenge their loss on Saturday. The girls then head to Carson Graham on Thursday and West Van on Monday to wrap up the pre-holiday schedule.
Dorreh Assadi earned a $1000 scholarship for herself at The Big Ticket tournament.