Simcoe Reformer: Hustling Hard No Matter the Score

Article By:  Jacob Robinson

WATERFORD -- While the Waterford Wolves junior girls basketball team is lacking in some areas, it makes up for it in others.

The squad doesn't boast high levels of experience, player numbers or height, and it would be a stretch to consider them a favourite in the NSSAA league. Those points were evidenced in the squad's 42-7 loss to Holy Trinity yesterday, yet the team also showed something else -- they don't understand the word "quit."

Despite a lopsided score and seven players doing yeoman's work, the Wolves kept digging, got their final three points late the fourth and could certainly hold their heads high after the final buzzer. That type of effort, said WDHS point guard Nicole Armstrong-Smith, comes from the man at the top.

"Its our coach (Dan Avey) -- our coach is amazing. That's one of his things is, he's never, ever negative with us and I think that's our motivation," she said.

"Our team is mostly brand new, I'm the only one coming back from the junior team last year. We all know each other from school and stuff so we're just putting our relationships together and using that as a team."

Even the Titans gave a tip of the cap to the effort of their opponents. Even holding a large lead at the half, Holy Trinity's Lindsay Kalliokoski saw no less effort, no woe-is-me faces on the part of the Wolves roster.

"I think they worked really hard and every team has been there. Every team has had that experience of, 'We're so far behind, we're not going to catch up.' But I think it was really awesome -- they ran the whole time," she said. "They just pushed it and kept going the whole time and I think they had really good sportsmanship as well."

Like the Wolves, Holy Trinity entered the contest carrying some adversity. Following victories in their opening two contests, the Titans lost 41-31 to Delhi Tuesday in an early-season battle for top spot in the league standings. Thanks to several forced turnovers and sharp shooting, Holy Trinity got themselves back into the win column.

"Since Delhi is infamous for being so good at what they do, we weren't too torn up by it. We were just happy that we had played so hard and we had done the best we could, just like Waterford did tonight," said Kalliokoski. "We just wanted to come out with a positive mindset -- a new game, whole new playing field and have a good time."

While Holy Trinity will enjoy a bye on Tuesday, the Wolves will take on Simcoe in a game that tips off the second half of the schedule. Despite some bumps in the road, Waterford is taking a calm and collected approach as they search for their first victory.

"We just have to get our plays down. Once we get our plays down, then we're good," said Armstrong-Smith.

"One thing that I would work on is just getting it out of our end. They were pressing us at the very beginning, it's frustrating when people do that but you just have to stick with it and you have to be patient. Patience is very key."

The Titans, meanwhile, are keeping pace with the top teams in the league, and will be looking for much of the same during the stretch drive.

"I think we have to keep focusing on our team building, keeping up our positive attitude and learning little things like new plays," said Kalliokoski. "I think we're all starting to become really close friends, so that's obviously very beneficial. As long as we keep trying hard and working hard then we'll be OK in the future."

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