The new year didn’t mean a slow start to the season for the Edwin Parr Composite junior varsity girls basketball team.
The club tipped off 2015 with an exhibition game in Barrhead last Tuesday and ended up falling by a score of 45-20.
Head coach Suzanne Beckett explained it was a tough one to play, as the girls had not played a game in more than a month.
“We were coming off of not having played any games since the first weekend in December when we were in Olds for a tournament,” she said, where the team finished fifth.
This past weekend though, the girls put up three great efforts to come away with the title at a tournament in Hinton.
They began the weekend with a 47-41 victory over Parkland from Edson.
“The girls played really well and were able to keep the lead most of the game,” Beckett said.
Parkland did make it 24-24 in the third quarter, but three quick baskets gave EPC the lead again and they we were able to hang on.
Game two was a nail-biting 30-29 win over Westlock’s R.F. Staples.
“The best part of this game was the composure the girls had in the last minute,” said Beckett.
“Staples had a player score both free throws to bring the game within one, but we kept possession across half and won a tough battle.”
In the final, Beckett felt the team played their best game of the tournament despite a worry her team would be tired.
“They loaded up on Skittles and chocolate milk to maintain their energy levels and beat Assumption 40-29,” she explained.
“The girls played as a team and truly grew together and it was great to see.”
Despite the win, Beckett knows there are things the team needs to work on.
“I think, as a team, we need to work on our defensive game and to learn how to stay calm in the last few minutes of a game,” she said.
“We are quite young – with seven grade 9s and four grade 10s – so I know that will come with time, but it will be a focus of our next tournament.
“I love this team and am so glad to have not only such a good group of athletes, but more importantly, nice young girls who represent our school with pride.”
The girls are next on the court at the end of the month at a tournament in Barrhead.
