Spirits Plan To Use Speed To Make Up For Shortcomings

Photos and story by Robert Thomas

After last year’s powerhouse season of eight returning grade twelve students the 2024/2025 edition of the Vanier Spirits senior girls basketball team is getting the veterans and new players up to speed.

“The team it is new. It is a bit of a rebuild. We have some returners and we have a lot of great girls (joining the team). We are small but we are going to be quick. Yes just building that team up,” Vanier Spirits head coach Alisha Amey said.

Not only are the Spirits ranks full of new players to the senior league the team is also under senior girls rookie head coach Amey.

Like all Moose Jaw senior girls basketball teams the Spirits do not have what is called a full bench of 12 players. The team is playing what is generally called a short bench.

One of the major disadvantages of running a short bench is that injuries or players fouling out could leave the Spirits struggling physically to keep up on the court versus a full bench team.

This season the Spirits sport five grade twelves with only three returning from last year and five grade elevens round out the roster.

“We are going to be competitive all the way through. I like what I have seen so far. The energy and the vibe from the girls I think we are going to be competitive across the board. Within the league and provincially. We are going to have to fight for it but I think we can do it,” Amey said.

“We typically have eleven or ten (players) but getting ten girls is seemingly tough for a senior girls basketball team across Moose Jaw. I don’t mins running ten but it is always nice to have an extra player to build the program up. It is really the goal to keep girls in basketball. It’s tough but we do it.”

Amey said the Spirits have not run into any problems running a short bench. If they happen to there is always the junior ranks to draw from.

“There is always the availability (concerns) you try and pull juniors up and try to teach for a practice or two. And then work with them that was as well,” she said.

“They can be called up but there are rules around it.”

Short benches are seen across the female portion of the city league with Central, Peacock and Lumsden also running shorter benches.

“Just keeping girls in basketball the benches is tough. We have got to get the younger girls started from elementary (school) and keep them in it all the way through,” she said.

Gone from the Spirits head coaching ranks this season is veteran coach Christa Lapointe who has moved on to a different teaching role within the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.

“It is definitely different. Christa, Rob and Shaleigh we built a pretty good program the last five years. It is different without them and they’re irreplaceable people. I learnt so much from all of them and they are all in touch and cheering for us. It is definitely different and I am excited to take on this role its a new challenge for me but as a coaching staff I am excited to have my good friends helping and joining me as well.”

Although she has never coached a senior girls basketball team Amey does have experience when it comes to coaching basketball. Amey coached for the most recent Saskatchewan Summer Games. Additionally she has been coaching youth basketball for a number of years.

Asked what is the Spirits biggest strength this season Amey said it was the Spirits quickness.

“Our quickness and defence. We are going to are going to be buying into everyone working together and being quick. They are pretty gritty. They are small but they’ll get in there for rebounds. I really like our quickness,” she said.

At their most recent practice the Spirits did not scrimmage but instead they ran drills to set up the plays they want to run this season. There was a strong emphasis on shooting.

Standouts on the team include the returning grade twelves.

Names like Waverley Demassi - who is headed into her fourth year with the team, Ireland Gullame - who headed into her season with the senior Spirits.

“They are amazing kids they will do anything for the team. They are some of the top players you will see around the province those two.”

The other returnees - Madeline Cruz, Addison Lamb and Keira Zimmerman - to the Spirits will be stepping into bigger roles in the 2024/2025 season.

Last year’s bench sitters are now starters for the Spirits this season.

“They are starters (this season) and they are shining in it. They are working their butts off.”

Amey said she hopes that the fans come out to cheer on girls basketball this season.