Getting back into action after the Christmas holidays, Ladysmith Secondary School (LSS)’s Grade 10 basketball teams weren’t very kind to visiting teams.
The LSS Grade 10 girls’ team has won both its home games in January. The 49ers held on to their lead right from the beginning to beat the Woodlands Eagles 33-22 Jan. 14 at LSS.
Meryssa Joyce led the 49ers with 12 points, while Amber Swithin scored six points in the win, and May Fleming and Natalie Kwas each had five points.
“They played a strong defence and got a lot of rebounds, so that definitely saved us in this game,” said coach Melinda Joyce.
It wasn’t nearly as close the week before, when the Grade 10 girls hosted the John Barsby Bulldogs Jan. 7 and dominated the game, winning 57-19.
Swithin led the home team with 16 points, scoring at least three points each quarter, while Meryssa Joyce had 13 points and also scored in each quarter.
“With the amalgamation of Cedar and Ladysmith, it sure has brought a new element to the school team,” said Melinda Joyce. “A lot of great leadership and great skills are coming out as the games go on and lots of great teamwork.”
Ladysmith’s Grade 10 boys’ team was victorious on Jan. 14 as well, beating the Woodlands Eagles 75-22.
LSS jumped ahead 18-5 in the first quarter and kept the visitors to single digits in the second quarter to go up 38-9 by halftime. The 49ers led 54-20 after three quarters and then held the Eagles to two points in the fourth quarter to win convincingly.
Trevor Olson scored 18 points in the win, while Ben Pakosz had 10 points, and Tyler Mackay had nine.
On Jan. 6, LSS’s senior boys’ team lost 81-52 to the John Barsby Bulldogs at LSS.
“They’re one of the better teams,” LSS coach Randy Steel said of the Bulldogs. “They play well; they have a nice team. We stayed with them for the first quarter but didn’t have the legs.”
Kurt Olson had 12 points in the loss, while Cam Rasmussen scored eight points.
