Spirits Too Strong For Toilers
It was a much improved Peacock Toilers senior girls basketball team that took on the powerhouse Vanier Spirits.
For two quarters the Toilers may have trailed but it was not an insurmountable held by the Spirits.
But the Spirits aggressive play led to many steals and a final 50 - 23 victory over the Toilers.
Photo credit - MJ Independent
Toilers assistant coach Kaitlyn Kitts said the teams were in a defensive battle in the first half.
“It was a hard defensive battle in the first half by both sides. It was lower scoring but in that third quarter things started to change for us. We’ve identified good things and things to work on over the next week,” Kitts said.
She said the Spirits employed a defence the Toilers were not prepared for making it tough to score.
“Vanier had a good zone defence and we weren’t necessarily prepared for that. But we will be next time.”
The Toilers found themselves pressured in deep with players like Madelyn Cruz fighting and stripping the ball literally under the basket.
“When they were doing their half court press, their traps were effective as well,” Kitts said.
Photo credit - MJ Independent
She said the Spirits aggressive play was welcomed despite the fact the number of turnovers that resulted.
“They were pretty aggressive and that’s good. We need to get used to that… that’s something we need to do better at ball handling. Knowing when to reverse knowing when it’s good to pass. What is not a good pass.”
Despite the devastating effect it had on the Toilers efforts to break down court Kitts said ithe Spirits defence was a good lesson to work on
“Their defensive effort tonight was Awesome and it was a great learning experience. It’s a good spring board I would say for the rest of this week’s practises,” she said.
The Spirits’ aggressive attack took advantage of the Toilers slower transition game moving from defence to offence.
“One of the goals taken by the team is they have to work on their transition game. To get the ball out quickly and efficiently so that they are not stripped to the ball in their end of the court.”
Photo credit - MJ Independent
She said the Toilers need to work on their aggressive play to help hem in opponents like the Spirits
“We want to put pressure on the other side because you know it sucks when it’s done to you.”
Despite the need to work on improving the team the coach said there was also positives from Tuesday evening’s game.
It’s not just the improved play from a year ago but also the girls being able to spot opportunities and take advantage of them.
Kitts spoke about the large number of returning players and how it made the team better.
“There are lots of girls that came back from last year Emily (Hansen) is our leader…we’ve got some new girls and they are working super hard. I think with a short time we’ve been together there’s a very cohesive effort and we just keep getting better.”
Photo credit - MJ Independent
Emily Hansen is a grade 11 student with this being her third year with the senior team.
“It feels good to be back. We have a new team so we will have growth in the season. I think we will improve,” Hansen said.
With three grade 11 and two grade 12 students the Toilers find themselves a young team with a bevy of talented grade 10 students.
“There nothing like basketball with the grit and cohesion and athleticism. You need endurance. You need smarts. You need intelligence. There is so much that goes into it…I’m super optimistic that once we can fine tune those little things and little mistakes it’s going to be a different story next time,” Kitts said.
