Central Defeats Vanier In High School Junior Girls Basketball Season Opener

Photos and Story By Robert Thomas

There was a large crowd that came out Monday night to see the Central Cyclones defeat the Vanier Spirits 46 - 32 in high school junior girls basketball action.

The game saw the Cyclones carry the lead in all four quarters against the Spirits with the scores being 14 Central - 10 Vanier after the first quarter, 23 Central - 18 Vanier after the second quarter and 32 Central - 28 Vanier after the third quarter.

Although the final score does not show it the Spirits played a very strong third quarter and after a series of unanswered baskets at one time briefly trailed the Cyclones by a single point.

Vanier Spirits Gracelyn Blanchard (far right) heads it up floor on a turnover as teammate Jacie Ruckaber (far right) looks over her shoulder for a pass over her shoulder - MJ Independent photo

Central Cyclones Leiah Delizo attempts to stop the ball from going out of bounds. Delizo was the top point getter on both teams with 13 for the night. - MJ Independent photo

The Central Cyclones were lead by Leigh Delizo who scored 13 points and Brooklyn Watterson and Shay Constable who scored 10 points each.

The Vanier Spirits scorers were Kensington Demassi with 10 points and Madeline Cruz who had nine points on the night..

Central Cyclones Sakina Stationwala finds herself facing double coverage - MJ Independent photo

Central Cyclones Maddison Cayer (right) reaches over the shoulder of Vanier Spirits Kabri Nogue to prevent a basket - MJ Independent photo

“It’s everything you ever wanted out of a first night’s game,” Central Cyclones head coach Todd Johnson said in a post game interview with MJ Independent.

“This is the first time they all played together and so the expectations were probably that. We were going to go back and forth and we would end up pulling it out in the end but the girls played very hard. We have a lot of Grade Nines and we have four grade tens and the rest are grade nines,” Johnson said.

The Cyclones have an 11 member roster.

Vanier Spirits Mia Melgarejo looks to makes a pass - MJ Independent photo

Vanier Spirits Tayler Smith breaks in all alone - MJ Independent photo

Asked about the Vanier Spirits major comeback he said that is was definitely happening.

“They are a good team and they play hard and they match up really well with us. They have a couple of good guards and a couple of people who play inside so yeah (they are tough),” he said.

Vanier Spirits Grace Blanchard attempts to go around Central Cyclones Shaylan Constable on the way to make a layup - MJ Independent photo

Central Cyclones Brooklyn Watterson (left) looks back at a pass from teammate Leiah Delizo as she is covered by the Vanier Spirits Gracelyn Blanchard - MJ Independent photo

Johnson said he was looking forward to the season.

“I think that the good stuff is the girls are getting out here to play. And there is no extra pressure or anything like that and they get to get the games and we are going to go to a couple of tournaments,” he said, going on to add “we have got the Moose Jaw tournament coming up. It should be a good season.”

“I think the girls are looking forward to it. My hope is that the girls have fun this year and just enjoy the whole year.”

Vanier Spirits Tayler Smith attempts to stop Central Cyclones Sakina Stationwala's shot - MJ Indepndent photo

Central Cyclones Taylor Haavisto eyes up a shot - MJ Independent photo

Miguel Cruz, head coach of the Vanier Spirits junior girls basketball team, said despite the loss he was happy with how the team played.

“I just tell the kids keep on going, keep on going and never stop. Go right to the end you never know what is going to happen,” Cruz said.

“The baskets just weren’t falling in for use tonight and I am pleased with their effort,” he said.

Vanier Spirits Brookly Watterson goes through two Central Cyclones defenders - MJ Independent photo

Central Cyclones Payton Krukoff attempts to corral a rebound - MJ Independent photo

The Vanier Spirits junior girls basketball team is a young squad with only two members of the roster in Grade Ten.

Despite the fat they are largely a Grade Nine team the Spirits have already shown some success as they managed to make it to the final at a tournament at Swift Current this past weekend.

Central Cyclones Taylor Haavisto (left) attempts to block the lane on Vanier Spirits Mia Melgarejo - MJ Independent photo

Central Cyclones Shaylan Constable maneuvers around the Spirits key - MJ Independent photo

“I am super excited (about the season). I only have two grade tens. It is mostly Grade Nines. It is a young team but we are going to be OK. We are going to be OK,” he said.

“I am totally confident in their abilities they have just got to gel more as a team and work on some basic things. We just came back from a tournament in Swift Current and we played in the final there. It was a great showing but we haven’t even had a chance to practice since we have been back.”

Cruz said the team needed to “just go back to basics. And we are just looking forward to the season.”