Ladysmith Secondary School (LSS)’s senior boys’ basketball team is heading into the holiday break on a winning note.
Ladysmith hosted Woodlands Secondary School Dec. 18 and beat the visitors from Nanaimo 70-64 in the team’s final game before Christmas.
Ladysmith held a close 12-10 lead after the first quarter, and the game was tied 28-28 at halftime. The home team pulled away in the third quarter, going up 53-44, and held on for a 70-64 win.
Nick Hayton led the 49ers in scoring with 18 points, followed by Kurt Olson with 15 points and Adam Taylor with 12 points.
Coach Randy Steel says he expected this game to be a close one.
“[We] seemed to take the game over in the second half, and their big guy kind of got into foul trouble in the second half,” he said. “I thought they played well. They’ll be happy with a win before Christmas.”
Steel was pleased to see pretty balanced scoring from his team, as every player on the court had at least two points, and three were in the double digits.
Steel has about five players from the closed Cedar Secondary on the team this year, and he says that without them, LSS probably wouldn’t have a team this year.
The 49ers are now 1-1 in league play. Their next game is Jan. 6 at home against Barsby.
Ladysmith’s senior girls’ team played a home game in the final week before Christmas holidays as well, losing 24-77 to Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School Dec. 16.
Marika Grubac scored most of Ladysmith’s points, with 15 and at least one point in each quarter. Kelsey Hutt and Amber Swithin each had four points, and Sam Kleininger had one point.
Coach Daryl Rodgers says it’s been a tough year, as they have a lot of young players, and it’s tough getting people out to games.
“We’re improving,” he said. “Our first three games of the season were against the top three teams in the league, but after Christmas, it should get better.”
The girls return to play Jan. 13 in Comox.
