Simcoe Reformer: Tip-Off For the Title Chase

Article By:  Jacob Robinson

If nothing else, this year's NSSAA senior girls basketball season should be an interesting one. With Port Dover out, the remaining five schools all have something to shoot for.


Holy Trinity returns with a young group, fresh off taking down the previously undefeated Sabres in last season's final. Though they've lost four strong starters, the Sabres have the tools to once again challenge for a championship.

The veteran-laden Delhi Raiders will be looking to improve on their .500 record from a season ago, and have been moved up to a double-A classification this season.

While the Waterford Wolves and Valley Heights Bears will battle for the title of best single-A team in Norfolk, both teams will also be searching for a top playoff spot. With a record of 5-5 last season, Valley Heights went to the final four and has many returnees throughout their lineup, but Waterford was strong in their first outing this season and despite a shortage of numbers, will be a tough opponent for anyone all season long.

HOLY TRINITY TITANS
Last year's finish : Won NSSAA title.
Last year's record: 8-2
Key losses : PG/SG Sam Mitchell, C Annessa Casier
Leaders: C Jenna West, SF Bianca Koop

Strengths: With West -- a Grade 11 that played up a level last season -- leading the charge, the Titans are a athletic group that can run the floor with the best of them. Holy Trinity has been one of the best teams at moving the ball in the county, and don't appear ready to relinquish that status.

Things to watch for: With Mitchell gone, the Titans are without one of their pillars from recent seasons and lose their overall leader. This year's version is young, and has been known to be at their best with the season on the line, they'll need more of that to go back-to-back.


SIMCOE SABRES
Last year's finish: Lost in NSSAA Final
Last year's record: 10-0
Key losses: PG Stephanie Potts, G Kendall Warboys, Olivia Richards, SG Kristen Clendinning
Leaders: PG/SG/SF Jordan Vanderhaegen, C Alyssa Becque, F Amber Deeleebeeck

Strengths: With a tournament already under their belt, the Sabres come into the 2011 campaign with plenty of experience. They lost their distributor in Potts, a scrappy defender in Warboys and good shooter in Richards, yet Vanderhaegen may be the sharpest shooter in the league, and Becque is a force in the paint.

Things to watch for: With plenty of focus early in the season being spent on offence, Simcoe is quickly shifting its attention to defending. The team got all they wanted from a scrappy Wolves team with just six players in Game 1 thanks in large part to a slow start.

VALLEY HEIGHTS BEARS
Last year's finish: Lost in NSSAA semifinals
Last year's record: 5-5
Key Losses: Savannah Dewdney
Leaders: PG Savannah Shea, F Kelsea Lloyd

Strengths: With four starters back from last season, the Bears have shown an ability to work well as a group early on this season. The team is strong in the paint and has one of the league's top point guards/athletes in Shea.

Things to watch for: Though they suffered a lopsided loss to Delhi in their opening contest, the Bears were without two of their better players. The team will need to shoot the ball more in order to stick with the higher scoring teams in the league.

DELHI RAIDERS
Last year's finish: Lost in NSSAA semifinals
Last year's record: 5-5
Key losses: Kathleen Reeves, Aleisha Christo
Leaders: C Mandy Mahler, PF Emily Brooks

Strengths: There's no lack of athleticism on the Raiders roster this season, or chemistry for that matter. Much of the DDSS squad has suited up together in the past, and the team has some strong rookies joining the pack from the junior ranks. This team could be real good if they keep working to get better every game they play.

Things to watch for: The Raiders have had limited practice team early in the season, and although they didn't show it in an opening season victory against Valley Heights, will need to learn on the fly to begin the year.

WATERFORD WOLVES
Last year's finish: Missed the playoffs
Last year's record: 2-8
Key losses: N/A
Leaders: PG Gillian Bergsma, G Stephanie Ionita, C Rachel Szymezko

Strengths: As evidenced in their opening performance, the Wolves don't have many players, but the ones that are on this year's squad are going to pour everything they have into each game. With Bergsma, Ionita and Szymezko, Waterford has a foundation that can be a handful for opponents at both ends of the floor.

Things to watch for: With just seven players on the roster in Game 1, the Wolves will need to be a well conditioned, disciplined bunch if they hope to stay in games, especially during the second half. They've already shown they won't give up, but more players would certainly help.

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