The JPII senior girls basketball team came out of the gates flying, taking home a silver medal at their home tournament to open the season. (submitted photo/Bruce Yockey)

By Martin Martinson

Hoops and hardware

JPII senior girls open season with silver medal on home court

Dec 3, 2019 | 3:20 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate (JPII) senior girls basketball team kicked off their schedule with a bang over the weekend, taking home a silver medal on their home court to open the new basketball season.

The tournament, which took place over two days, was an eight-team double knockout event that saw the Crusaders’ senior girls storm out of the gate with an electrifying showing for the hometown crowd.

JPII opened the tournament with a thrilling 51-26 win over Warman, in a victory that would set the stage for what was to come from the home side.

Building on their opening win, the Crusaders girls then defeated Lloydminster Comprehensive High School in the semifinals, 58-45. Just like that, the team’s prowess on the weekend had earned them a spot in the tournament final against the Melfort Comets.

While Melfort ultimately edged out JPII to come away with the victory for the gold, edged was the key term. In a back and forth battle that spanned right to the final buzzer, the Comets snuck out a 61-57 final in the gold medal match.

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Although the weekend may have come to a close on a bittersweet note with the silver, head coach of the senior girls’ team, Bruce Yockey said he was proud of how the team played.

“I think just the decision making and ball movement was key [to the weekend’s success],” Yockey said. “Even the shots we didn’t make we still got some of the looks we were trying to get. That was actually impressive. The girls for the most part shot quite well and were finding the shots they needed to, based on what the defences were giving us.”

The coach added while the senior girls may have a bit of a younger group this year, with six Grade 10s on the roster, the team at large has experience well beyond their years heading into the school season.

Many on the Crusaders’ senior team grew up playing basketball on club teams from a young age.

Several have also experienced success the last couple of years on the school’s junior squad, who also took home a silver medal in their own right in their opening tournament of the season in Lloydminster over the weekend.

The senior girls will now get some time off to practice and prepare for the Dec. 13 weekend, when the team will return to action in Yorkton for their final tournament play prior to Christmas holidays.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1