Senior Spirits Too Tough For Visiting Toilers
Story and photos by Robert Thomas
The last time the Peacock Toilers senior girls basketball team faced the Vanier Spirits it was a double overtime thriller but on Tuesday evening a repeat performance was not to be had.
Tuesday's game - played in front of just over 100 screaming fans - saw the Spirits force Toilers misses and then use fast breaks to exact sweet revenge.
The Spirits would be victorious with a 70 - 47 victory over the Toilers.
Vanier would take a slim one point lead over Peacock after the First Quarter of play with a 22 - 20 score.
The score at the end of the First Half was 43 - 32.
The teams scoring would be almost identical in the Third Quarter with the quarter ending Vanier 51 and Peacock 42.
The Spirits would turn up the jets in the Fourth Quarter taking advantage of the Toilers playing up close offensively to break out quickly and make baskets.
The Final Score was Vanier 70 and Peacock 47.
Top Scorers for Vanier were:
Kate Waldenberger - 21 points
Waverley Dejassi - 19 points
Ava Kindiak - 10 points
Top Scorers for Peacock were:
Devlynn McClung - 21 points
Hannah Miller - 20 points
Coaches’ Comments
Vanier Toilers head coach Christa Lapointe said her Vanier team had been practicing hard for the rematch against Peacock.
“We knew coming into this game it was going to be a battle as well (like the other season matchups) and we did a lot of preparations on different offences and expectations as a team to play all four quarters…the girls took up the challenge and they were ready,” she said.
“They didn’t want to go into a double or triple overtime in this one so they really wanted to take care of business the first go around.”
Asked if she was surprised with the walkaway result versus Peacock given the exciting double overtime Peacock victory the last time the teams met she said it was just the nature of high school basketball.
“It’s high school basketball so really the score can change and fluctuate at any given time. Our girls kept driving hard and hard in the second half…the end score is really bigger than what the hame showed,” Lapointe said.
Regarding the break taken to allow players and their student fans to prepare for final semester exams she said in the past it has set teams back but also been helpful to other teams.
The main emphasis though wasn’t basketball but about education.
The break however this year was exactly what the Spirits needed.
“My team had a very heavy January so the break to them was good mentally and physically. And they came back a little bit hungrier which was great for us.”
The fast break Vanier used in the game was part of a goal the team had.
“Our goal in the second part of the season was to get conditioned and to start running the court more. And our girls excelled at that.”
Lapointe said the team had struggled with the fast break at times but on Tuesday evening it helped the Spirits leave with the victory.
It was a disappointing evening for Peackock Toilers head coach Brendan Fedoski especially coming off of the double time victory over the Spirits at their last meeting.
“It was a tough game. You know what coming out of the break I thought we were going to have a little bit more energy but we learn from it and we will be ready for the next game,” Fedoski said.
Asked what the difference was on Tuesday as Vanier got behind Peacock's players and broke up court scoring layups.
“A lot of that I think is rebounding. We just could not figure out our boxing out. I think if we get that scored up a little bit things will be better.”
Asked about how the scoring seemed even for a good two quarters (first quarter and third quarter) but Vanier managed a good second quarter and seemingly never looked back in the last ten minutes, he said Vanier made key baskets.
“We had them within a couple of digits and then they made a couple of huge baskets,” Fedoski said, adding “you know what? Kudos to them for executing a really good game plan.”
He said the exam break impacted the team but the focus needed to be on priorities - schoolwork- first. But both teams had been on the same semester break.
“I think it (the break) does hurt us but we have got to focus on school first and then come back to basketball second.”
He said the team was set to hit the practice court and get back into the winning groove with lots of basketball coming up right away.
“We are going to practice tomorrow and then play Lumsden on Thursday. Then we are away for a weekend tournament so we have got another of basketball coming up right away.”
