What an incredible weekend for our basketball teams. We won two zone banners, finished second in another and both senior teams qualified for provincials. Our JV teams are done for the year and both senior teams are off to the 3A Championships this weekend. Check our web-site or the ASAA web-site for results and live streaming of games.
VARSITY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PROVINCIALS IN STRATHMORE
With the 3A Girls’ Provincials in Strathmore, this weekend, we hope that we will have lots of support at our games. Our first game is on Thursday at 3:30 against Ardrossan and if we win that game we play Friday at . Please check ASAA or Chestermere Athletics web-site for updates. The ASAA will also have live video feeds of all games.
JV BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Chestermere JV Lakers played in the 2013 South Central Zone Championships this past weekend. The Lakers played the Olds Spartans in the first game of the tournament and lead from start to finish making it to the
semi- finals against the Foothills Composite High Falcons. The final result was a 66- 42 win. Jeff Rodehutskors led the team with 28 points and 11 rebounds. The game against the Falcons was hard fought from start to finish with the Lakers winning 70-56. That earned the boys a spot in the championship game against the Cochrane Cobras. The Lakers started out slow and found themselves down 26-8 eight minutes into the game. The Lakers finally got organized and fought back to a 10 point difference at the half. The second half was a different game for the Lakers. They played with a sense of urgency and determination. The only lead the Lakers held during regulation was with 4.6 seconds left, 69-68. Cochrane pushed the game into overtime with a free-throw. In overtime the game was neck and neck with the Lakers scoring last to win the Championship 79-78. They brought home the gold and the Championship banner. The scoring was led by Jag Gill with 35 points and 20 rebounds and Ali Abdulghani with 24 points including 5 three point shots. It was a great effort from all 12 Lakers for a great team win. That wraps up a very successful season for the Lakers and ended it on a great note.
VARSITY BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The varsity boys entered the week as the number 3 seed in both the province and the South Central Zone rankings. The quarter-final saw the Lakers handle the Mustangs of Highwood 85-59. In the semi-final the Lakers offense proved to be too much for Canmore, winning 100-92. Charn Gill led the way with 32. Drake Bruney was crucial inside with 15 rebounds. Viny Jawanda contributed with a solid 12 points. Advancing to the final to face Cochrane for the 4th time this season, the Lakers came up just short losing 64-62. A three point shot at the buzzer by Jawanda came up an inch short for the win. The Lakers had to re-group and play in the silver – bronze game with a shot a provincials, again against Canmore. Taking a 52-30 lead into the second half, the Lakers held on down the stretch with clutch free throw shooting, going 12-13 in the last 2 minutes of play. Jawanda was a key contributor on the offensive end with 14 points. Grade 10, Tyis Yellowhorn, was crucial as the Lakers fell into foul trouble throughout the game. His scoring and willingness to complete defensively and on both ends for rebounds propelled the Lakers to the provincial bid. The Lakers now enter the provincial tournament next week in Spruce Grove as the number 2 seed, seeking their first provincial title since the back to back wins in 2008 and 2009. Congratulations to all players and coaches. All games can be seen on the ASAA website.
JV GIRLS’ BASKETBALL.
The JV Lady Lakers Basketball team concluded their season on the weekend with three hard-fought games in the South Central Zone JV Championship, in Cochrane. Indicative of their recent success, all three games were intense defensive struggles that led to entertaining playoff-style basketball. After a tough loss to Cochrane, in the opening round on Friday morning, the team rebounded in the evening and pulled out a close 5 point victory over Bow Valley, that would send the girls on to the Consolation Final on Saturday. Despite a great effort by the entire team, the Lady Lakers would fall in their last game of the year to a strong Holy Trinity Academy team. The coaches were very proud of the girls and had this to say about the team: “This group of young Lady Lakers did all that was asked of them. They have a tremendous passion for the game and it will be exciting to watch these girls develop over the next few years.” Congratulations on a successful season.
VARSITY GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
The Lady Lakers are 3A South Central Zone Champions!! This is the first zone banner since 2010 (4A) and our first 3A banner since 2001. The girls were ranked #1 going into the tournament and expected tough games in all 3 games. In the opening game the team sprinted to a 25-6 first quarter lead and never let up. Playing everyone in both halves we never let up and won 75-23. In the semi-finals on Thursday the girls had another great start and played hard from start to finish, winning 80-45. The team was on a quest to not let up at any time during the tournament. The Lady Lakers expected a tough game in the Zone Finals and that is what Springbank provided them. Playing tough defense the girls went up 12 early but could not extend the lead and settled for a 31-23 half-time lead. The team was out played and out scored in the third quarter. Going into the 4th quarter the game was knotted at 42. The girls settled down and went up 7 late. Some poor decisions and passing resulted in the Phoenix getting within 2 and missing a 12 foot shot at the buzzer. The Lady Lakers struggled offensively but won the game on defense and on the boards. Our defensive rebounding made the difference in the game. The girls have worked hard all year and deserve the championship and a spot in 3A Provincials in Strathmore this week. Congratulations to all team members. This is the Lady Lakers’ 15th appearance in Provincials. This is a great way for our 7 seniors to finish their careers.
BASKETBALL ODYSSEY
After the excitement of winning our zone championship on Friday, I enjoyed watching some other basketball action on Saturday. At 11 it was off to Rundle College to watch our community bantam basketball girls team play in Basketball Alberta Provincials. After winning their first game on Friday night, their shooting went cold and lost a close game in the semi-finals. In the 3rd place game, later that night, the girls ran out of gas and lsot their game, but earned a 4th place finish in Provincials. It was a pleasure to watch these young stars of the future play. At the conclusion of that game it was off to High River to watch our Varsity Boys play Canmore in the last game of zones to earn the final spot in provincials. I caught the second half and was enjoyable to watch the Lakers prevail and earn their spot in the 3A Provincials. Once completed it was a long drive to Three Hills to watch former Lady Laker, Richelle Rawlyk, play in the ACAL Gold Medal game. Richelle did some good things but her Olds team lost the final. I stayed to watch the first quarter of the men’s final and it was a crazy college environment. After a longf day of basketball finally made it home about 11. A great day to watch the future, present and past of Lakers Basketball.
BADMINTON
Our badminton team has started their training and has three practices this week. See Mr. Massig or Ms. Everson for details on the badminton season. The divisional championship is fast approaching.
RUGBY
The boys have started their training for the upcoming season. Please see Coach Autet for details and schedules. The girls will be starting shortly. Check with Mr. Derkatch for details on practice schedules. All boys and girls planning on playing rugby this year should be doing training on their own, as well.
ALUMNI BASKETBALL UPDATE
Congratulations to Lady Lakers 2012 alumnus, Richelle Rawlyk. Richelle and her Olds Broncos finished 2nd at the ACAL Championship on Saturday at Three Hills. Her team had finished first in the league standings but could not knock off the Prairie Bible team. Chatted with 2011 alumnus, Amber Smith, on the weekend. She just finished her second season with St. Mary’s University. Her team completed their first season in the ACAC.
SHOOTING STARS CLUB BASKETBALL
The Shooting Stars will, again, be offering club basketball for girls in the Chestermere area. The identification camps will be as follows in the Wilson Gym: Monday, March 18 and 25 and Tuesday, March 19 and 26 6:00-7:30 for girls in grades 6-8. For girls in grades 9-11 your identification camp will be on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 from 7:30-9 in the Wilson gym at CHS.
Ali played the best game of his JV career in the biggest game. He knocked down 5 threes, 24 points and had 8 assists in the zone championship final. As well, he played tough, defensively. He helped lead his team to a 79-78 OT victory over rival, Coachrane. Ali is a class act on and off the court.[/box] [box]VARSITY GIRLS’ATHLETE OF THE WEEK- JORDAN BROWN
Jordan had a strong weekend to help the Lady Lakers earn the South Central Zone Championship. A captain, Jordan leads by example. Her toughness and hard work were inspiring to her teammates and coaches. In the championship game Jordan had 10 rebounds and 10 points, including a perfect 6/6 from the line.[/box] [box]VARSITY BOYS’ ATHLETE OF THE WEEK –VINY JAWANDA
Senior forward, Viny Jawanda , was crucial to the Lakers earning a silver medal at the 3A South Central Zones this past weekend. Viny’s scoring and leadership helped the Lakers win their three games and a trip to 3A Provincials. Viny is an unsung hero who comes to play every game.[/box]
