The Okanagan South U14 girls earned a silver medal at the Basketball B.C. zone tournament held last weekend at the Langley Events Centre.
Fourteen regional teams from across the province competed in the three-day event where B.C. team coaches select players for the provincial selection camp.
The team of 10 girls and two alternates definitely brought out their best all-around game and played great team basketball all weekend,” said Okanagan South coach Rob Mitchell.
The Okanagan South girls’ strong team play earned them a berth in the final, before coming up short against a solid Vancouver Island South regional team.
“We set small goals all weekend—playing as a team, not individuals, letting the games come to us, bringing energy to each shift, making good decisions and being mentally strong by not being effected by the scouts, other coaches or officials,” Mitchell added. “But our ultimate goal was to make the final and we did that too”.
“I can honestly say that each and every girl contributed to our success. Everyone got on the score sheet but more often doing all the little things right that don’t often get noticed.”
The local U14 girls opened with a 65-22 win over North Shore on Friday, then defeated Vancouver Island Central 62-29 and Vancouver West 60-26 on Saturday.
On Sunday, Okanagan South beat North Shore 41-32 in the semifinal.
Then, in the championship game, Vancouver Island South defeated the Okanagan girls 51-38.
The Okanagan South U14 girls are:
Reanne Mitchell, Jocelyn Podolsky, Mackenzie Horst, Jordan Robb, Teaghan Wallace, Summer DeGuevara, Jenna Robinson, Deziree Day, Grace Demug and Rachel Hare.
Karleigh Podolsky and Jessica Parker are strong U13 team alternates that will definitely be a force at this tournament next year.
The coaches are Rob Mitchell, Jill Robinson and Brian Demug (manager).
