The Oak Bay High junior girls basketball team was shut out of the top three in the provincial tournament last weekend. The local high school girls placed ninth overall.
Despite winning four out of five games, the Oak Bay girls needed to win their second match to place higher than ninth. Instead, they lost to Lord Tweedsmuir, 40-36.
Coach Richard Fast said normally there are 16 teams in provincials, but because there was 17 this year, the first game was a “play into” game, making the second match the deciding one on whether the team would go into the championship or conciliatory bracket.
“You can lose two games and still be in the top eight,” Fast said. “It’s a matter of when you lose.”
Oak Bay was originally disqualified due to a clerical error. Registration and fees were submitted late to B.C. School Sports, which governs high school sports. A last minute reprieve was granted after intensive lobbying by the school, which received heavy media coverage. Oak Bay wrote a letter accepting responsibility for registering late and paid a $500 fine, which will go towards a scholarship fund.
Fast was just glad the girls were able to compete.
“I’m really grateful for the change of heart and the alternative punishment the girls got,” Fast said. “They got the opportunity to go and I’m really proud of them.”
