By JAMIE SHANKS of the Weyburn Review
The Weyburn Comprehensive School Sr. Girls basketball team isn't short - they're "vertically challenged."
That's the politically correct way of describing it, but whatever the Eagles may lack overall in the height department is made up for in attitude and above-average fundamental skills. And their objective for the season remains as big as ever.
"Our ultimate performance goal is to win the 4A provincial championship," head coach Len Williams said.
Along the way they hope to win the Small Cities crown, a title they owned for four consecutive years before competing in the 3A division last season. Simply appearing in the Small Cities final would be enough to qualify them for the Hoopla provincial tournament, an event they have attended for the past 14 years in a row.
The Sr. Girls are a step closer to those goals after taking the bronze at a tournament in Notre Dame this weekend. After defeating North Battleford's John Paul Collegiate 57-50 in their opening game, they fell 56-43 to Moose Jaw Peacock before dispatching Swift Current 66-52.
Marla May led the scoring in the final game with 20 points and five rebounds while Jessi Wilson combined for 30 points and 14 rebounds in Weyburn's two victories.
To go all the way, however, the Eagles will need to improve their perimeter shooting skills and develop their passing game, Williams said. Their roster, profiled below, includes a core of four Grade 12s and a number of other players who are in their second season on the team.
Sara Giroux: a shooting guard with an excellent perimeter
shot, she is a determined go-to player who appears to thrive on
pressure. "The characteristic that distinguishes her most
is 'wants the ball with the game on the line and the clock running
out'," says Williams. "She wants the ball at crunch
time."
Giroux says she hopes to "show leadership to the new girls.
I hope we go far as a team."
Jessi Wilson: a jack-of-all-trades forward with a positive
attitude, Wilson leads by example. A very committed and dedicated
Grade 12 player, her ability is maximized by her well-rounded
skill development, Williams adds.
"I hope to make it enjoyable for everyone else," Wilson
says. "I want to be a leader that way."
Jennifer Bresciani: this three-year veteran guard-forward
can run all night thanks to her athletic ability and fitness.
An excellent practice player who doesn't let up. "She needs
to be more assertive and confident, but she has great potential,"
Williams says.
On a personal level Bresciani wants to contribute "probably
just my best effort all the time and not to give up."
Memory Williamson: "A dogged defender," Williams
says of the Grade 12 point guard-forward. An aggressive risk-taker,
she excels at penetrating the key on the dribble and isn't afraid
of taking some lumps in order to make a play.
Williamson knows exactly what she wants to offer this year. "Hard
work," she says. "To make the team as strong as it can
be."
Krista Sandney: the Grade 11 post is the team's tallest
player at six feet and has their best back-to-the-basket moves
as well. Very intelligent and a great listener, she is consequently
very coachable, Williams says, although she needs to be more aggressive
on the floor.
Sandney is ready to do "all that I can really do - my best,
and hopefully that'll be enough."
Stephanie Ernst: a quick, determined and aggressive
forward who is developing a very good perimeter shot. Ernst is
showing considerable improvement in only her third year of playing
the game.
This season Ernst hopes to contribute "whatever I can and
whatever I'm capable of doing."
Marla May: "Sees the floor better than most people,"
Williams says of the Grade 11 forward-post. Consequently she possesses
great vision and awareness of where everyone is during the play.
Another player developing a good perimeter shot, May is a good
anticipator who has improved on defence this season.
May is looking forward to providing the best play she can and
"to be consistent and improve in all my skills."
Sheena Aitken: a fit and fleet-footed forward with a
good first step, she is a very good on-the-ball defender and is
the key to the Eagles' pressure defensive game. Aitken also has
university potential with an improved offensive game, Williams
says.
Aitken plans to bring good defence to the team along with "experience
and being more of an offensive threat."
Bre Leach: this very strong Grade 11 forward-post missed
a season of basketball while in New Zealand last year. Leach still
possesses an above-average shot, however, and is a confident,
aggressive player with potential.
A single word sums up what she hopes to contribute this year.
"Aggression," she says. "We're a small team we'll
have to be tough on defence."
Tamara Steer: a Grade 10 forward who is an above-average
passer with good offensive skills but needs to improve on defence
and maintain her concentration. "She has a good feel for
the offensive part of the game," Williams adds.
Besides working hard, Steer hopes to "try and help everyone
out to work as a team and become friends."
Nicole Glab: another Grade 10 forward with excellent
fundamentals and a very good understanding of both offence and
defence because of superior concentration skills. An excellent
practice player who is always on-task, says Williams, Glab needs
to work on getting her shots away quicker.
"I want to grow stronger as a person and as a player and
encourage my teammates, too," Glab says.
Marliss Verhaeghe: extremely quick and fast, Verhaeghe's
only basketball experience prior to this season is from playing
in pick-up situations. The Grade 10 forward is eager to learn,
however. "Eager is a great word," Williams says, adding
she has great potential once her fundamentals are sound.
For now, Verhaeghe hopes to be a good player and "to be the
best I can and get better in every position."
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