Submitted by: Lise Fraser | JV Girls Basketball Team travelled to the Yorkton Raiders Basketball Tournament this past weekend and posted an undefeated record.
The Tigers’ first opponent of the tournament was the home team, Yorkton Raiders. Yorkton was big and fast, jumped out for an early lead and were ahead by 9 points at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers had difficulty getting their offense going, but partway through the 2nd quarter they started to push the ball up the floor, utilizing their fast break. By the end of the first half Yorkton’s lead was reduced to 2 points. The Tigers made some adjustments on offense and scored 25 points in the 3rd while holding Yorkton to only 9 points. Yorkton pushed back in the 4th quarter but it was not enough to overtake the Tigers and at the end of the game the score was 52-41 for the Tigers. Top scorers of the game were Adria Bateman with 16 points, Lauren Klatt and Ireland Staples with 8 apiece. Brenna Schure hauled down 8 rebounds. Erica Sembaluk-Hart, Staples and Schure created havoc with the full court press with 5 steals each.
Saturday (February 10, 2018) morning the Tigers faced off against Estevan Regional Comprehensive School and this time it was the Tigers that held an early lead due to their aggressive press. At the half the Tigers were up by only 8 points though as the Estevan Eagles attempted a comeback, scoring a couple of quick baskets in the last minute of the half. In the 3rd quarter the Tigers intensified pressure, scored 18 points and limited the Eagles to only 6 pts. The Tigers kept the pressure up for the 4th quarter scoring another 18 points and allowing only 7 points from the Eagles. Final score was 63-28 for Swan Valley. Lauren Klatt was unstoppable for the Tigers, scoring 20 points and hauling down 5 rebounds. Bateman scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Caitlyn Stewart contributed 8 points. Brynlee Spencer made her 2nd three pointer of the tournament. By the end of the game every Tiger had scored. A highlight was Jasmine Rose shooting 100% from the foul line. Josie Black and Sydney Fedorchuk were solid for the Tigers with 4 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and 4 steals each.
In the final game of the day, the Tigers played Weyburn Eagles, a team that had beat the Tigers last year in the tournament. The Eagles were a strong defensive team, utilizing a press against the Tigers. The Tigers led by only 3 points at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers began to use their size and speed pulling ahead slowly. At the end of the first half, the Tigers led 37-14. The Eagles did not give up though and continued to trade baskets back and forth, both teams working hard to score. At the end of the game the score was 61-37 for the Tigers. Brenna Schure was the leading scorer of the game with 18 points and dominating the boards with 11 rebounds. Lauren Klatt, was once again stellar for the Tigers shooting for 16 points and collecting 7 rebounds. Bateman contributed 9 points and 4 rebounds. Fedorchuk, Sembaluk-Hart and Black contributed another strong defensive game with rebounding and 4 steals each.
The first zone playoff game will be on February 14, 2018 at Swan Valley Regional Secondary School against Dauphin.