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JV girls win basketball championship

The Sundre girls junior varsity basketball team finished the season not only with an impressive record, says the team's coach, but league champs as well.
Sundre JV basketball team all smiles
Sundre JV basketball team all smiles

The Sundre girls junior varsity basketball team finished the season not only with an impressive record, says the team's coach, but league champs as well.

This year's team, comprised of Grade 9s and 10s save for one Grade 11, completed the year with a 15-5 win, loss record.

ìThat's pretty good because they were undefeated in league play,î said co-coach Larry Nielsen.

The team took the league championship March 15, beating out teams including Olds, Carstairs and Crossfield.

In zone play March 10 and 11, the team took silver after winning games against Didsbury and Black Diamond but losing to zone champion Strathmore.

Nielsen said he was pleased with the progression of the team's development over the season.

With practically an even Grade 9/10 split, the Sundre team had less experience than the majority of its competitors.

Competing teams in the league and at zones were comprised mainly of Grade 10s and 11s, he said.

ìThere was unbelievable development. Their season was dependent on skill development and they worked hard at it,î he said.

Nielsen said he and co-coach Sue Wiberg quickly realized within the first few weeks of the season, the potential the players had.

Ontop of regular practices, players attended training over the Christmas break, shooting practices during noon hours on school days, sessions during the semester break when exams were done, and extra weekend practices.

ìThey took the opportunity to work on skill development and it paid off for them,î Nielsen said, adding the players were very coachable.

As for what next year may bring, Nielsen said some of this year's team contingent will likely move on to varsity basketball, leaving a core of winning players from this year to be supplemented potentially with new players.

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