Basketball season has been over for a few weeks now, and Jas has been enjoying having some spare time - and I'm enjoying having her around more!!! Don't get me wrong, she really loves basketball, but it was a long, busy season for her. Being in grade 11 she was able to play on both the Junior Varsity team and the Varsity team, which usually meant about four hours of practice each day, unless it was a game day. And there were also many weekend tournaments too.
Here's Jas after her very last game of the year - wearing the Varsity uniform for the last time this season. (Hey - less laundry for me!!!)
It was a great learning season for Jas. She got lots of playing time on the JV team as she was one of the older and more experienced players, and she actually got more time playing on the Varsity team than we expected. Unfortunately for Jas, she had a mild flu the week of playoffs. She had a constant headache for about 4 days. We actually took her to the hospital to be checked out because the coaches suggested she might have a concussion from some head bangs in one of the games. It was flu though and we gave her painkillers, but still she wasn't feeling great during the final games.
The JV team ended the season at number 3 in the league. During playoffs they were able to finish in Second place, losing only to the undefeated Cardston team. Great job team - they really improved and grew together as a team!
Varsity is a little different. In league play we finished 5th, but we play a lot of teams with a higher ranking than us. We're 2A by size but choose to play up a level to 3A. During league, a lot of the teams we play are 4A ranked teams (bigger schools). So we don't see most of those teams in playoffs. In Zone playoffs we finished second, losing to the #1 ranked 3A team in the province - McCoy (we're ranked #3). But both 1st and 2nd place in Zones get to head to Provincials.
So the Panda's headed to Provincials in Chestermere!!!
The first game was a huge disappointment. We played the #6 ranked team, McDougall, on their home court in Airdrie. That was a huge home court advantage as the game was during school time and they let their student body get out of class to watch the game. Don't get me started on what a zoo that was - and dangerous as "fans" were throwing pennies on the floor!!! Very frustrating and so loud!!! So we lost that game by 9 which put us on the Consolation side of the tournament.
Our second game was against Chestermere (ranked #10) - again playing on home court for the other team. But this one was after school and we had more fans than they did! Beat them by 43 so it wasn't much of a game!
Our final game, for the Consolation Title, was against Edmonton Christian (ranked #4) and it was played in a neutral gym (finally!!!) at SAIT.
We're the Home team (white uniforms) and this is what the score looked like at half time . . . 
. . . do that math: we're down by 8! Not looking good. My niece Jaime rolled her ankle in the first quarter and couldn't play and she's one of our tall girls! Some others were in foul trouble. But that was good news for Jas because she got to play a lot in the third quarter!!! And did she ever play hard!!!
There's our #5 Jas guarding her gal.
And there she is going up for the rebound!
Who's gonna get it . . . ?
. . . JAZZY comes down with it and goes up for the shot again! And she made the basket - Yay!!! Too bad the camera wasn't keeping up with the action!
And here's another view - Jazzy on the floor under the net! I imagine that would be a scary view from down there with people jumping all around you.
And there's Jas taking the foul shot. That's Jaime in the background walking off her rolled ankle.
Jas got six points in about two minutes. Coach was so pleased with her! He told us after the game that those points came at a crucial time. We were slightly ahead but in a slump, and those baskets brought back the enthusiasm and momentum.
The score at the end of the third quarter was . . .
. . . do the math: we're up 12 points. That was a great quarter for us - from down 8 to up 12 - whoot! whoot!!!
She mostly watched the 4th quarter from this position!
And the final score was . . .
. . . do the math: we won by 11. We WON!!!
And there's the Panda team with the Provincial Consolation Plaque! A great game to end the season with!!!
There's our champ in her lovely new Provincials shirt by the Provincial Banner. Jas had a great time at Provincials. There was a banquet and team photos and two nights in a hotel with water slides. She even won a door prize!!! A great experience for her. Hopefully they'll be back next year!
And there's the proud parents - with me in my Panda shirt!!! We brought the three youngest girls up too, but they stayed and played with cousins at my sisters house - much more fun for them, and us!!!
I delighted in basketball season this year! It was so wonderful to watch my daughter learn and grow at a sport she loves. I delight in the coaches who sacrifice so much time and effort and expense to help our children. I delight in watching kids working hard at something and pushing their bodies to the limit in real life - not on a computer screen! And I delight in the support and enthusiasm from the whole town during this season.
