The Estevan Comprehensive School’s junior girls basketball team was confronted with a number of big lineups and senior players during their annual junior invitational tournament on the weekend, and despite the heightened challenge, still kept games very close.
The Elecs lost their first game to Radville 43-41. Mackenzie Park scored a team high 10 points for the host team. The next day, they took on Weyburn Comprehensive School and lost another heartbreaker 51-48. Jasmine McKnight poured in a game high 22 points for the Elecs.
Head coach of the Elecs, Kevin Kobitz, said a number of Grade 11s and Grade 12s were playing on the other teams, which resulted in some mismatches on both ends of the floor. Only two Grade 10s are on the Elecs’ roster, one of whom wasn’t playing on the weekend.
“The girls did very well considering the competition they faced,” Kobitz said. “We absolutely could have won both of those games.”
Assistant head coach for the junior girl’s team, Melissa Holman, said the older players they faced should set a new standard for how the play against other teams their age.
“They came across some big girls on the court, hopefully they can use that experience and improve,” she said.
The Elecs finished their weekend play with a 33-26 win against Weyburn Junior High. Sammy Wade led the way with nine points.
“We were able to run some plays and I saw some great individual talent developing over the weekend,” Kobitz said.
He noted, however, that their shooting was something that would have to improve.
“The team gave all their effort though, which I was really proud of,” he added.
Gladmar, who defeated Radville in the final game by a score of 39-36, won the invitational tournament.
The ECS junior girl’s basketball team is now preparing for their next tournament in Canora on Jan. 16 and 17.
