The ADSS Armada senior girls’ basketball team is “a work in progress” this year, says head coach Ryan Broekhuizen.
With three returning players and a strong core of new players—including one who has never played basketball before—Broekhuizen is looking for team unity as they head into Totem 64 this weekend.
Port Alberni’s ADSS high school hosts its 64th annual basketball tournament Jan. 10–12. All games are open to the public.
The Armada girls finished second in last year’s Totem, dropping their final match 37–24 against Lambrick Park.
READ MORE: Alberni Armada girls head to Totem final
READ MORE: Alberni teams finish strong at Totem 63
Returning players include Grade 11 point guard Memphis Dick, who has been playing senior ball since Grade 10. “She’s a very experienced basketball player.”
Dick was injured leading up to Totem in 2018, so her Grade 10 year was interrupted by injury. Coach Ryan Broekhuizen said he will wait and see how she fares this season.
“We played up in Comox (in early December) against Highland. She still does have some issues with that knee, it’s not 100 percent.
“We’re trying to not play her too many minutes early in the season and just break her in.”
Dick was named a tournament all-star in the Armada’s victory at Duncan Christian School last month, so she is quickly finding her way on the floor. Team captain Abby Broekhuizen, who is also a point guard, said having a second healthy point guard “will definitely help.”
Broekhuizen
is back for her Grade 12 year, and has been laying down some serious points early in the Armada girls’ season. “Abby is definitely doing the job offensively and defensively,” said coach Broekhuizen, who is also Abby’s father.
“She’s averaging about 20 (points) a game. She had 20 (against Highland) and we only scored 41 as a team. She held the best player on the other team to 15 points.”
Catherine Joe Thompson is the third returning player and has also had a strong start to her season.
“The rest of the girls are Grade 11 students and we have one Grade 12 but she’s new to the sport of basketball. We’re just learning and trying to get better,” coach Broekhuizen said. He’s heartened by the number of new players the team has drawn this season.
So is captain Abby Broekhuizen.
“I’m hoping we’re able to have a fun year and really bond as a team,” she said. “I know this year isn’t as strong, but we’re quite strong in defence. I hope that helps us win some games.”
As for Totem, the team aims “just to have a lot of fun,” coach Broekhuizen said.
“The key to it all is we have our whole community out, it’s a long-running basketball tournament. I just want the girls to enjoy it. And we’ll try to win some games in the meantime.”