The Alberni District Secondary School junior girls basketball team lost to the No. 20 ranked team in the province but they’re on the way to being a contender, head coach Nick Seredick said.
The Armada placed second at a basketball tournament hosted at Mark Isfeld Secondary in Courtenay last Saturday.
The team lost its final game against the No. 20 ranked Isfeld Ice, 46–38.
“I knew going in that we’d be playing some quality teams and we showed that we’ll be competitive this season,” Seredick said.
The Armada’s march to the final saw them make short work of Nanaimo’s Wellington Secondary and Courtenay’s GP Vanier Towhees before taking on the Ice in their home gym.
The Ice edged the Armada down low in the post but the Armada kept the ball on the perimeter with a zone defense that clogged the key.
The Armada held the line with the Ice until the fourth quarter when ADSS mainstay Julia Hudson fouled out.
“That changed the complexion of the game and they hit some big three pointers after that clinched it for them,” Seredick said.
Hudson scored 17 points and Denae Edgar drained 11 of her own in the effort. But Seredick singled out the unsung workman like effort of Heather Kennedy, who corralled key rebounds throughout the night.
“We have our scorers but its not just points that win games,” Seredick said.
The team protected the ball and got open with the defense the Ice threw at them. But “We shot poorly even though our defense kept us in the game,” Seredick said.
The game was a loss but a win in another way, Seredick said. “I’m confident in putting different combinations of players together now,” he said. “We showed we can play with them.”
The team practices over the holidays then will hit the floor running in January when league starts.
Foul shots.... The team is expecting Grade 9 player Dana Williscroft back in January after a serious knee injury.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com