Senior Girls D3 Basketball

SG Basketball: The Moment

By Erik Van Dyke
Another full court press, an ill-advised pass, a half-hearted dribble. They steal the ball in our backcourt again and their Senior Night crowd erupts as their point guard scores uncontested to complete the comeback. From down 28-20 to start the second half, Salesien has gone on a thrilling 10-0 run to take the lead. The gym is a madhouse. I have to yell for the minor officials table to hear me.
 
“Timeout.”
 
This is the moment. We are completely rattled. Our opponent is taking it to us. Their fans are roaring. Our heads are buzzing with white noise, and our body language is slumped and defeated. We are all alone, on the edge of the cliff. Teetering. This is The Moment.
 
And in the most important 30 seconds of the RSEQ season, your Spartans meet The Moment... and stand firm.
 
On the very first play after the timeout, Camryn and Bernie help break the press, Melissa hits a floater, the defence stiffens, Henni snatches the rebound, the crowd quiets down, and we are back in this thing! Yes, the game is tied and Les Spartiates have the momentum, but we’d just overcome the biggest hurdle of the season. Passed the toughest test. Make as much noise as you want, folks – Stanstead isn’t going anywhere.
 
But neither is Salesien. The rest of the game is a slugfest. Anybody’s game. Every possession matters. Complete laser focus. And with four minutes left comes the Play Of The Game: slim 33-30 lead for us and Bernie makes her 8th(!) steal on the perimeter, races up the floor with a defender riding her step for step, and with ridiculous calm banks in the contested layup for a 5-point lead that silences the gym and makes every Spartan, from that point on, really BELIEVE that we can do this.
 
And we do. 41-35 final score, RSEQ D3 League Champions for the first time ever, and the most joyous post-final-buzzer celebration of the year.  
 
How did this team, of all teams, make this kind of history? Was it our balanced scoring, with 7 out of 8 players getting on the scoresheet? Was it our 18(!) deflections on defence? Camryn and Bernie combining for 14 steals? Henni’s 16 rebounds and 4 blocked shots? Siena’s offensive spark off the bench? Gloria’s timely jump shot? Hayley’s help defence? Melissa’s smooth little floaters?
 
Was it the yoga circle to start the game?
 
Easy answer. It was ALL of those things. Without every single contribution from every single player, you don’t win games like this.
 
And you don’t win leagues like this.
- Coaches VD & W
 
The year so far
Overall Record28 wins 9 losses
RSEQ League Play:  11 wins  1 loss
Points for per game41.8     Points allowed per game27.4
Mtl Independent Schools Tournament Silver Medalists
Stanstead Invitational Tournament CHAMPIONS
Bailly Tournament CHAMPIONS
MacLEOD PROVINCIAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
RSEQ Div. 3 League CHAMPIONS
 
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