Tournament About Tradition And Adapting
Story and Photos by Robert Thomas
The Moose Jaw Senior Girls Invitational Basketball Tournament might be described as playing in the great unknown.
The teams are all new and for many - including the host Peacock Toilers - teams they have never met the entire season.
But it’s not knowing anything about your opponents before you hit the court which makes the format more alluring.
Peacock Toilers Devlynn McClung (right) breaks straight in for a shot past two Yorkton Raiders defenders
“We haven’t played a single team that we have seen in the entire year,” said grade twelve Toilers standout Devlynn McClung.
“It makes the season way more interesting playing with teams you’ve never played against before. It’s just learning how different teams can play and work together,” McClung said.
There is no real scouting nor film on their opponents it’s just learn on the fly something she likes.
Peacock Toilers Kate Hansen (center) is caught up by two Yorkton Raiders defenders…
For the Toilers, who are in a bit of a rebuild year with a squad with younger players, the Invitational happened at the right time for the team McClung said.
“I think we are slow but we are getting back into the season. We are going hard but we had a long time off. We are coming back after nine days with no game,” she said about the Toilers performance at the tournament.
The Invitational is a bedrock event in local senior girls high school basketball.
“It’s a tradition but it feels good to have it every year.”
…but Kate Hansen (center) for her efforts would find herself ending up on the hardwood
This year’s weather has played a bit of havoc with the tournament. With a couple of out of towns unable to attend either the full tournament or a single day due to weather restrictions.
But despite that McClung said the tournament was well worth it for the team.
“I feel like we’re working on our plays and getting better with the things we were like told to do. Working on our own areas, we’re all getting better at it”
Peacock Toilers Callista McQueen (right) heads down the floor covered by Yorkton Raiders Evia McDowell
Despite not being in the running for the overall A side tournament championship the team has responded, she said.
“I think we all have done better working as a team. Our bench keeps cheering and I think we all just work well together…it just works well with everyone having their own job,” she said.
Yorkton Raiders Georgia Nelson (left) guards against Peacock Toilers Kate Hansen
After a loss to the Yorkton Raiders on Saturday morning the Toilers find themselves battling for third place on the tournament’s B side later in the day.
