The Salmon Arm Senior Golds’ Basketball Team was extremely busy last week as they competed in one league game and a tournament over the course of four days.
On Wednesday, the Golds fell to 0 – 3 in league play as they travelled to South Kamloops to take on the Titans, who trounced the young Golds for the second time this year 93 to 19. Although their offensive output was poor, the Golds were able to reach their defensive goal by holding an experienced Titan’s team to under 100 points – who, due to team discipline issues, played their starters for nearly the entire game. On Friday and Saturday, the Golds competed in the NorKam Invitational and won two out of their three games.
In their first game on Friday afternoon, the Golds were able to stay close to league rivals Rutland Secondary from Kelowna, but fell short in the end 65 to 53.
“Although the team works hard and competes with a ‘no-quit attitude’ in every game they play, the Golds’ inexperience and inability to score is becoming their Achilles heel,” said coach Aaron Smith. “We have great athletes – players who excel in other sports and hit the weight room hard; however, at this time they don’t do what it takes all year round to improve their basketball skills and do what it takes to compete at the AAA level. I’m hoping our outstanding group of nine Grade 11s will change the culture of basketball in Salmon Arm by working on their games in the off-season, and thus provide us with the chance to be more competitive. We have so much potential – it’s just going to take a lot of sacrifice and hard work.”
The Golds ended up winning the consolation side of the draw at the NorKam Tournament by defeating the Kalamalka Lakers from Vernon 77 to 54, and Thomas Haney from the Lower Mainland 63 to 45.
Daniel Schager led all scorers throughout the weekend and was named as a tournament all-star along with Lee Williams, who played outstanding defence and helped to control the tempo for the Golds. Next action: the Golds travel back to NorKam on Tuesday to take on a tough opponent in league play. They host Kelowna Secondary, the number-one AAA boys team in the province, on Jan. 18 at 6:45 p.m. The Golds end January with two local tournaments (Jan. 20/21 at Vernon Secondary and Jan. 27/28 at Pleasant Valley Secondary in Armstrong).
Towering Titans
The Senior Jewels Girls Basketball Team returned to action on Jan. 4 with a 81-37 loss to sixth-ranked provincially South Kamloops Titans. The Senior Jewels travelled to North Kamloops on Tuesday, Jan. 10, and this weekend the Jewels are participating in the Rutland Secondary School tourney.
Nick of time
In league action Thursday, the Junior Jewels didn’t take the lead until the fourth quarter when they pulled away from Vernon 29-24. The Jewels played very good defence but struggled on offence. Trice Tuaiti sunk 12.
On the weekend at the Kalamalka Secondary tourney, the Jewels placed second overall. They had no trouble in their first game versus Mt. Boucherie from Kelowna, defeating them 40-13. Zahyna Lewis put in 12, player of the game was Haylie Gibb.
In game two the Jewels were down 13-22 at the half versus the Kelowna Owls. In the third Salmon Arm went ahead 32-27 and finished off 47-39. It was a good finish for the Jewels as they lost to Kelowna in their home tournament.
The third game was the team’s best of the season, where they kept number-one ranked South Kamloops to 51.
Today the Jewels host a league game versus Kal, then it’s off to a Penticton tourney on Friday.
