By Nathan Kanter

Vikings junior girls top Crusaders to win districts

Feb 13, 2018 | 7:00 AM

The North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings junior girls basketball team topped their cross-town rivals from John Paul II in the final of the Battle West District Championships this past weekend in Macklin.

Thanks to some adjustments, both before the game and during the final, the Vikings took the gold medal thanks to a score of 43-34.

“Both teams playd very hard. It was very intense. Very aggressive on the part of both teams,” Vikings head coach Kara Wilkinson said. “I think we had some really good, well-balanced play and I think that was the difference. When we saw things that we could take advantage of, we did.”

Wilkinson said guard play and mis-matches in the post were two specific areas where adjustments proved fruitful.

“John Paul was putting a lot of pressure on our ball handler and that adjustment worked well,” Wilkinson said. “And then when we saw mis-matches inside, I think we did a really good job of getting the ball to those people and then taking advantage of it.”

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The win was extra special, she said, because the Vikings were a relatively inexperienced team to begin with.

“I honestly think in all my 20 years of coaching at the Comp, this was the most growth I’ve ever seen,” Wilkinson said. “The girls worked hard. They did what I asked them to. Practised hard. Amazing attendance as far as practice went and no excuses. I have high expectations, and honestly, this was a phenomenal group of girls to work with.”

The junior girls will lose five players to graduation next season.

nathan.kanter@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @NathanKanter11