PARKSVILLE — From the hardwood comes word Ballenas Secondary’s senior girls basketball team qualified for the AAA Island Championships for the second consecutive year — and only second time in school history — over the weekend.
According to BSS coach Kevin McMillen, Darcy Bennett earned a First-Team All-Star and Emma Greig earned a Second Team All-Star awards “for their outstanding individual play during the tournament.”
The second place finish in the eight-team tourney, played out at Dover Bay Secondary, improves on last year’s third.
The Whalers opened the tourney with a decisive 79-42 win over Carihi.
Bennett poured in a career-high 40 points including six three pointers.
If that sounds like an astounding offensive output, that’s exactly what it is, agreed McMillen.
“One of the most efficient shooting performances I’ve seen, as she didn’t miss very often and didn’t force any shots,” surmised her coach, agreeing that Darcy’s game “was amazing. She also had 15-plus boards to go with those points as well. One of the best individual performances I’ve witnessed as a coach.”
Marla Catherall chipped in with 10 points in the paint, and Gr.ade11 forward Eden Slaughter contributed eight points off the bench.
In the semi-final against Alberni, “the girls came out very aggressive and focused, running out to a 10-0 lead in the first,” and rolled to a 52-44 win.
BSS led that one 32-13 at the half.
The Armada, said McMillen, “were playing a box-and-one defense on us to effectively hold Darcy to no points in this game. She knew there was a bullseye on her after such an outstanding first game (and) she held her composure throughout the game and just rebounded and facilitated for the other players.”
Emma Greig stepped up to lead the Whalers with 17 points; Jenna Peachey chipped in with 9, and Olivia Virs “played her best game of the season” and scored eight big points.
“The girls really gutted this one out as Alberni put on a run in the third quarter to close within seven points,” said McMillen, adding his squad, “played with a lot of intensity in the first half and really took Alberni by surprise. This was a real team win with different girls stepping up their game offensively.”
In the final on Saturday against the perennial North Island champion Dover Bay Dolphins, the locals battled hard but came up on the short end of a 66-41 final.
“We just couldn’t get a scoring run during the game,” said Ballenas’ longtime b-ball coach. “We had great looks that we usually make but for some reason in that gym our shots just don’t fall. Hopefully we’ll get another crack at them in the Island Championships (slated for Alberni Secondary School this weekend).
Bennett led Ballenas with 18 points including four three-balls, and Greig added 10.
“She (Greig) was using most of her energy defending the best guard on the Island in Cassandra Knievel,” said her coach, adding, “Emma had an outstanding game defensively against her, and she (Knievela) still scored 23 points.”
Also having a strong final game for BSS was Ked Nuamthanong who was aggressive at both ends of the floor. Peachey was steady at the point guard position “and Kim Watson had a fantastic weekend defending.
“A lot of the girls are just getting over this flu/cough and it really affected their endurance this weekend,” said McMillen, adding the hope is to go into their Island opener on Thursday against South #3, the Stelly’s Stingers, as healthy as possible.
McMillen also wanted to mention “the unbelievable fan support the team had at the finals as quite a few Ballenas students, including recent grads, former players, many teachers and community members,” made the trip to Nanaimo to cheer the girls on, which was “a nice addition to the always supportive parent group of these girls.”
“I’m really proud of what the girls have accomplished this season,” he said. “And I believe we are peaking at the right time and know we’re going to be a tough out for whoever we face next weekend.”
