The John Paul II Crusaders senior girls' basketball team, pictured here after topping the podium in Warman. (Facebook/John Paul II Collegiate)

By Martin Martinson

John Paul II Athletics

Crusaders senior girls look to build on tournament win in Warman

Jan 24, 2024 | 5:37 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate senior girls basketball team is coming off their first tournament win of the season last weekend in Warman, as the team appears to be hitting its stride, as they gain valuable experience as a young squad this season.

Featuring just three returning players from last year’s veteran-laden Crusaders team that fell to the eventual 4A provincial champions from Lumsden in the regional final, this year’s roster features a strong youth movement, with seven Grade 10s and four Grade 11s.

“We’re a talented, smaller team but we’re skilled and improving which is the biggest thing you want this year,” head coach, Bruce Yockey said. “We just want to continue to make steady improvement and learn to play the best basketball we can.”

The Crusaders’ girls won all three of their games on their way to the tourney victory, with wins over Saskatoon’s Bethlehem Catholic in their opening game Friday night, then Nipawin Saturday morning in the semis, and Tisdale Saturday evening in the final.

Serving as a sort of stepping stone for the team in their quest to grow and build momentum over the course of their schedule, the tournament win is something Yockey said the team made possible through their sticktoitiveness and dedication to overcome a bit of early-season adversity.

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“The season started off a little slow for us; it was a big adjustment for some of the younger players and we played some pretty stiff competition with some of the better 4A and 5A teams in our first couple of tournaments, so it was good for us to gain some confidence,” Yockey said.

“The biggest thing is, the girls are learning and improving and gathering more information about how the game is played and what they need to do to be successful, so it was a lot of fun and the kids have been working hard and making steady progress. As a coach that’s all you can ask for.”

The senior girls will return to tournament action this weekend in Melfort, with their opening game against Saskatoon’s Evan Hardy, Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1