The Aces Senior Girls Basketball team played some of their best basketball of the season, coming up just short 57-60 to Koinonia out of Red Deer.
“It was a tough ending,” Grade 12 forward Delaini Gillett said. “All of our veterans were fouled out so we ended the game with all rookies. We are hoping to come back in the playoffs and beat them.”
The game came down to hotly contested free throws, many of which came from Gillett who was happy to have the opportunity to win the game at the line.
“It is nerve wrecking, but people find the most success when they are under pressure,” she said, adding that the game was particularly important since it was senior night and will be one of the last times she dons the Aces uniform.
“It is definitely sad, not just not playing in the gym again but also to not be able to play with these girls,” she said.
The game, according to Cody Magneson, came down to some first half miscues that led to a closer then expected finish.
“We didn’t take care of business at the beginning,” he said. “We should have made some shots and put them away early but we didn’t. We said if we take care of the ball and make our shots - we could blow them out; but if weren’t going to do that - it would be a battle.
“We didn’t take care of the ball and we didn’t make out shots.”
He also credited the Aces foul situation with not adjusting to the tight whistle.
“Our girls do play aggressive and sometimes with refs you have to feel them out and hold back if they are calling fouls,” he said. “The refs were consistent and we have to learn from that.”
The game though, will likely only serve as the appetizer to a future playoff game against Koinonia, which Magneson hopes will be very different.
“We didn’t show them everything,” he said. “We only showed them one offence the whole game and that was a little strategy. We have some different defences to show them. We do this every year against them. Last year, we beat them in league and then they beat us in playoffs. This year, they beat us in league so hopefully we can beat them in playoffs.”
He added that this close game will hopefully serve as a momentum driver to spur the girls forward in the playoffs.
“We need to do out own thing, get in the gym and get some confidence back,” he said. “We shouldn’t have any issues.”
Gillett added “we are hoping to come first, second or third in zones” and that the residents of Eckville should “come out and support.”
reporter@eckvilleecho.com