R.F. Staples’ senior girls basketball team is off to a good start this season, after hitting the court for two back-to-back tournaments after just one week of practice.
Heading into the Dec. 16 and 17 tournament in Whitecourt, the team was down two players, with just 10 taking the court in their opener versus .
After an opening loss, the club rebounded with a big 75-14 win over Slave Lake.
“We started down and weak at the start, but won this game very handily,” said head coach Rod Carlyon.
This win put the team into the consolation finals against St. Joe’s of Whitecourt, which they beat 39-23.
“I wasn’t happy about our start, but by the third game, we had a better start,” he said. “Each tournament we get better within the tournament.”
The team took to the court in its first tournament on Dec. 9-10 in Athabasca, where it was pinned against last year’s zone champion right out of the gates.
“Morinville was the zone champion last year so we knew we were facing some of the top-hand competition right away,” Carlyon said.
Although R.F. Staples lost the game 59-27, the team pushed through to the end and was able to score more points in the last quarter than Morinville.
“We got significantly better as the game went on,” Carlyon said.
The momentum continued with the girls playing Barrhead next — the team’s “arch nemesis.” It was a close game, ending in a 41-39 loss.
“This was a real good game and through the years that I’ve been around, Barrhead and us have played equal,” he said. “We were up in the game, then they were up. It went back and forth.”
In the final game of the tournament, the T-Birds dominated the floor, downing Whitecourt 44-26. It was a bitter-sweet win as Carmen Smith broke her arm in the match.
“I think our girls just had more energy and drive and wanted to win a game,” he said.
He said heading into the first tournament in Athabasca, the team was at a bit of a disadvantage due to just one week of practice under its belt.
“Lots of schools would play in November, but we respect volleyball,” he said. “We don’t have practice or tryouts or open gym or anything.”
Having just one practice made it harder for the 12-girl team to find their roles as well as learn the different plays, he said.
“We want to have a competition team so any team we play, we want to have competition and have a chance to win,” he said, adding although he thinks the team will be strong this year.
Something Carlyon said might help the team rise to success is the addition of another assistant coach this year. In addition to Leonard Seatter, the team has added Candis Rottier to the coaching staff. He said this gives the players more one-on-one time with a coach.
Both the R.F. Staples’ girls and boys basketball teams will hit the court on Jan. 6 and 7 in Lac La Biche.
