W.R. Myers Rebels varsity girls basketball team started the New Year on the right foot, and won a tournament in Brooks on the weekend which featured three provincially-ranked 3A teams.
The Rebels were in tough against the hosts in the final, but Myers was able to win 52-44 over the 10th-ranked Lady Buffaloes.
“We struggled in the first quarter and we didn’t score much and they got some baskets. But we came on throughout the game where we got up as much as 13 and were able to hold them off in the end,” said Kendon Bennett, head coach of the Rebels, as he spoke about a tournament where the Rebels had to overcome some obstacles in two of the three games it played.
“When the adversity comes and things aren’t going right, they just keep working hard knowing if they keep playing really good defence the breaks will come.”
Bianca Gansner had 16 points in the victory and Brittany Hoyt added 12.
Dionne Sawatzky and Kennedy Renner both had six points each.
“Brittany and Bianca are our two returning starters from last year and they lead the team and are our captains and do a great job,” said Bennett. “Sawatzky is our starting point guard and does so many things for us that don’t show up on the scoresheet. She plays great defence, and we trust her handling the ball. Another senior in Martens, had a really good tournament playing great defence and rebounding and she handles the ball for us as well. Sometimes, players don’t think they did very well because they didn’t score a lot of points, but they do so many other good things.”
Rebels made the final by defeating the fourth-ranked team in 3A, Camrose, by a score of 62-54, as the team had to bounce back once again for the victory.
“We got off to a slow start where they got up on us 16-4. We switched to a zone defence where they didn’t have much outside shooting, so we paced in it and they only scored four points in the second quarter,” said Bennett. “We were able to get up by a point and we extended it from there.”
Hoyt hit for 18 points and Kelsie Wood came off the bench to contribute 14 points. Bertoia and Gansner both had seven points. Steph Martens had six points.
“It’s fun. You want to play good teams and have close games and it’s really fun when you come out on top,” said Bennett with a chuckle. “When the pressure is on and you need to make a play, seeing the girls come through is really rewarding for them.”
The Rebels started its tournament run in dominating fashion with an 81-28 dismantling of Crescent Heights, whose roster was filled with Grade 10 players.
Hoyt poured in 20 points and Gansner added 17. Bertoia chipped in nine points and Sawatzky had seven.
The Rebels return to Southern Alberta High School Girls Basketball League play today with a home game against LCI Clippers, and then host Kainai Lady Warriors on Friday. Both games feature junior varsity at 6 p.m. with varsity to follow at 7:45 p.m.