In Lauren Montgomery-Stinson’s final year with the Claremont Spartans basketball team the Grade 12 has some realistic expectations.
“We should be in the city final and the Island final, the goal is to be at provincials,” Montgomery-Stinson said.
The post has the height for post-secondary basketball but has already chosen to go that route on a volleyball court (she’s still selecting which school, while her older brother Taylor, also out of Claremont, is currently on the UVic Vikes basketball roster).
Once again, the Spartans are looking like an Island favourite at the AAA level. In Lower Island league play they started the city senior schedule with two one-sided wins, beating Belmont and Spectrum.
Their point differential heading into Tuesday’s game against Oak Bay was 155 points for and 29 against.
Likewise, Oak Bay entered the game with 160 points for and 30 against.
“Our biggest competition is always Oak Bay, it’s been Oak Bay since Grade 9,” said Spartans point guard Sierra Reisig.
The versatile Grade 11 also plays shooting guard and is the team’s co-captain with Montgomery-Stinson. The two have played together for a long time and have a notable chemistry on the floor.
When Reisig was in Grade 9, their junior Spartans finished second to Oak Bay. Last year, when Reisig joined the seniors as a Grade 10, the Spartans finished second in the city final to Oak Bay, second on the Island, and then sixth at provincials.
“We’re having a fun year, it’s a good group. If we all work really hard we should be back in the city final again,” Reisig said.
The girls AAA city playoffs are Feb. 9 at Belmont secondary.
League play continues Tuesday (Jan. 17) when Claremont, Stelly’s and Spectrum visit Oak Bay’s new gym for doubleheaders starting at 5:45 p.m.
