The JPII senior girls, pictured here after opening their season with a silver medal on home court. (Submitted photo/Bruce Yockey)

By Martin Martinson

Basketball’s back

JPII senior girls basketball team confident following strong opening weekend

Dec 8, 2021 | 1:22 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate senior girls basketball team opened their season with a bang over the weekend, taking home a silver medal at their home tournament to start the year.

The Crusaders girls defeated Meath Park and Meadow Lake on their way to the final, where they finished second to Melfort by a 46-34 score.

Head coach of the Crusaders’ senior girls, Bruce Yockey said more than anything, it was just great to see tournament basketball return to the high school after last season was cancelled altogether due to the pandemic.

“It was just really nice to see kids from various centres around the province be able to get together here and play some basketball again,” Yockey said.

“Like anyone, this time of year we have some other things to work on, but it was a really good start and I was pleased with our effort in all three games. I thought we played really well and matched up well with everyone who was here at our tournament.”

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With a strong mix of senior and junior talent on the roster, along with a few sophomore players as well, still just scratching the surface of their potential, Yockey said there’s lots to like about the team’s chance this year as the season moves along.

“Our Grade 12s are definitely going to be heavily relied on for us, but we’ve got a great group of Grade 11s in behind them as well,” he said. “We’re really nine or 10 deep kids with experience, and then we have another four or five others who are younger and going to practice and get better throughout the year as well.

“[As a whole], they’re very athletic; we’ll rely on quickness and I think we’ve got a nice blend of outside shooters and players that can get to the basket, with a little bit of size too.”

In addition to the senior girls, the junior boys and junior girls’ teams also opened their schedule with dual tournament wins in Lloydminster.

The Crusaders senior girls will return to action this weekend at Valley Christian Academy in Osler. The senior boys will open their season in Warman, while the junior teams are both at North Battleford Comprehensive High School.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1