Ashcroft’s Jr. Girls Anni Tyler-Briggs (8), Rylea Pigeon (7 - with the ball), Ashley Collins (21), Mackenzie Woodburn (5) and Codey Dunbar (15) take on Merritt during last weekend’s high school basketball tournament in Ashcroft.

Ashcroft’s Jr. Girls Anni Tyler-Briggs (8), Rylea Pigeon (7 - with the ball), Ashley Collins (21), Mackenzie Woodburn (5) and Codey Dunbar (15) take on Merritt during last weekend’s high school basketball tournament in Ashcroft.

Ashcroft Jr. Rams place second in tournament

Ashcroft Secondary School's junior basketball teams did very well at their tournament last weekend.

  • Jan. 28, 2015 6:00 a.m.

This past weekend the Ashcroft Secondary Jr. Girls and Boys hosted eight out of town teams from Princeton, Merritt, Chase, Barriere, 100 Mile and Kamloops, and with the seats near full, the whistles often could scarcely be heard above the cheering of the crowds!

Hosting a basketball tournament is very exciting, and the teams look forward to such an event each year: Meeting and challenging teams from around the province, having home court advantage and hearing their fans cheer every time they score a basket is both nerve racking and exhilarating!

Both the Ashcroft Girls and Boys teams played three games and both ended up with Second Place trophies.

Some highlights of the tournament:

– when Jr. Boys point guard #7, Dustin Konrad scored from back of half court just in time to beat the buzzer at the end of the 1st half

– when Jr. Boys guards #7 Dustin Conrad & #9 Hunter Spinks scored three 3 point shots in the first few minutes of the 1st quarter in their final game

– when Jr. Girls, post, #15 Codey Dunbar scored 19 and 20 points in both Saturday games.

– when Jr. Girls, small forward, #8 Anni Tyler-Briggs shut down anyone she defended from scoring, including a player almost a foot taller!

Congratulations to the Most Valuable Players, M.V. P this weekend:

For the Jr. Boys, #10 Colton Sabyan, #7 Dustin Konrad, #9 Hunter Spinks and #4 Juztis Vose; and for the Jr. Girls, #13 Teresa Thomas, #8 Anni Tyler-Briggs, #15 Codey Dunbar and honourable mention to #7 Rylea Pigeon.

Fun-filled sport weekends like this could not happen without the support of so many. So, thank you to the Parents who support their kids in so many ways, including running a well stocked concession all weekend! Coaches who pour their knowledge, care and passion into the teams. Financial sponsors like Second Time Around, Constantia HDI and Graymont who make it possible to provide healthy food, uniforms, referees and trophies. And last, but not least, the Fans, who make it really fun to play the game of basketball!

Vicky Trill

Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal