The Grand Forks Secondary School (GFSS) senior girls’ basketball team is back from provincials and though they didn’t come out on top, they all agree that the experience was worth it.
The tournament is the first a senior girls team from Grand Forks has qualified for in over 30 years.
For co-coaches Shayne Konar and Sheryl Williams, the provincials capped off a great 15-4 season.
“The provincials were an amazing experience. They played against some very good teams. Grand Forks faced teams that played very intense defense and had lightning quick guards,” Konar says.
“The whole week was an awesome experience - from the team banquet, to the Opening Ceremonies before the large Sa-Hali crowd, the noise and action of the games to the final awards.”
Konar adds that this is something that will stay with the players for a long time, which fellow coach Sheryl Williams agrees with.
“Seven out of the 10 girls are in their senior year and this is their last big hurrah,” Williams says.
The girls say that going to the provincials was a great experience.
“It was awesome, definitely different than we’re used to,” says co-captain Lindsay Pauls. “It was a lot more intense.”
The whole team agreed that the biggest challenge was adapting to the games of the other schools and getting into a rhythm.
The team played four games at the tournament that started last Wednesday.
They lost the first game against Sa-Hali 79 – 55. Then lost against Windsor 71 – 54. On Friday, Kalamalka, narrowly beat them 75 – 65.
The girls won their final game against Smithers 65 – 62.
In that game, Amanda Thate tied it up 62 – 62 and Megan Tiller won the game on a layup and foul shot with only seconds left in game.
Thate was the highest scorer from both teams in three out of the four games and was given an honourable mention all-star award for her outstanding play.
She scored 108 pts during the four games.
The girls received a trophy for most sportsmanlike team and got it with one of the highest scores for the award in the past 10 years from the tournament committee.
This award really points out the kind of quality, generous and respectful players that the senior girls are. Refs commented, game officials noticed.
The team would like to thank the supporters, community groups, businesses who stepped forward to help the players financially.
Along with their record in the postseason, the GFSS girls amassed a record of 16-7 for the season. The team had taken the Kootenay AA girls championship earlier in the month, defeating the David Thompson Lakers at the Grand Forks Secondary by a final of 67-40.
That win earned the team an invite to the provincials in Kamloops this past week.