The Wellington Wildcats had strong starts at their own tournament as they try to repeat as Superball champions.
The school’s senior AA boys and senior AA girls were both winners on the basketball court Thursday and Friday. In Thursday’s tournament openers, the boys defeated the Gulf Islands Scorpions 61-51 and the girls won their game 78-23, also against Gulf Islands.
Wellington’s boys led comfortably for most of the game. The Scorpions got hot to start the fourth quarter and cut an 18-point deficit to a six-point margin, but the Wildcats kept calm and sunk enough free throws to hold off the visitors. Tyler Radelja was his team’s top scorer with 16 points and Aaron Copley added 14.
The girls’ game that followed wasn’t ever close. The ’Cats didn’t allow the Scorpions a field goal until the dying seconds of the first quarter and led 31-3 after one. Montana Mjaaland finished as Wellington’s top scorer with 15 points and Olivia Mjaaland ended up with 12.
Friday morning Sara Simovic led Wellington with 16 points and Natasha Jensen was ND’s top scorer.
In the boys’ game, Radelja again led the ‘Cats with 19 points and Keenan Daniels and Ethan Schulz scored 11 apiece. For Dover, Wes Richardson scored 22 points, Dan Heppt had 17 and Christian Wigmore added 15.
GAME ON … The Superball tournament finals are Saturday (Jan. 12) at the Wellington Secondary School gym, with the girls’ final at 2:45 p.m. followed by the boys’ final at 4:30 p.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
