Simcoe Reformer: Sabres Simply Solid

Article By:  Jeff Dertinger

Retrieved From:  http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2777928

There's really only one way to describe the opening night performance of the defending champion Simcoe Sabres senior girls basketball team.

Solid.

It wasn't a mind-blowing performance by any means. Heck, it wasn't even particularly fancy. Last night's 38-17 home court victory against the Port Dover Lakers was workmanlike, it was efficient -- it was an all-around good base on which to build another championship season from.

"We played pretty well," Sabres centre Chloe McConnell said afterwards. "We had lots of crisp passing, we moved up and down the court quickly, and we played good defence."

McConnell's sentiments were bang on. Simcoe controlled the flow of the game, dominated both the offensive and defensive boards, and worked through their plays competently. The most impressive aspect was that all 14 players in the lineup saw action, and the Sabres never missed a beat no matter which group of five was on the court.

It wasn't all sunshine and roses, of course. Simcoe struggled to make any shots from outside the key, with the exception of Jordan Vanderhaegen, who drained a few 15-footers and led all players with 13 points. But that's to be expected in the first game of the season.

"They weren't them all, but they were taking good shots, and that's what I like to see," SCS coach Bill Macovik said. "We have been emphasizing hitting the boards, and they did a real good job of that too. Our big girls -- Chloe, Sarah (Allemang), Alyssa (Becque) and Jade (Ebdon) really came through tonight."

Simcoe jumped to an early 9-1 lead in the first four minutes and never looked back. The score was 22-10 by halftime and 30-12 by the end of the third. Allemang was a force inside, finishing with 12 points.

For the Lakers, last night's game wasn't really about winning and losing. Port Dover is a team featuring just nine players. Two of those are exchange students (Cassandra Dupias of France and Mizuki Fujimoto of Japan) and one is a junior-aged athlete (Justine Shortt). All three played their hearts out Tuesday.

The Lakers do have two standout shooters in Laura Clyne and Robin Beemer. Beemer hit a couple deep shots in the first quarter, but left the game at halftime due to an ankle injury. Clyne was left as the only real offensive weapon, and she finished with a team-high 10 points.

This season is all about learning and improving from game to game, and coach Pawnee Pepper had no qualms with the way the girls in green played last night against a tough Simcoe squad.

"They did all right," Pepper said. "They ran some plays, sunk a few baskets -- we definitely need to work on our defence -- but that's just the first game."

Port Dover does not have a junior girls team due to lack of players, so the SCS juniors had a bye.

The senior Lakers will host Delhi on Thursday, while the Sabres welcome Valley Heights to SCS. For Simcoe, there's no doubt what the goal for this season is.

"I think we have a very good team from top to bottom," McConnell said. "We all played together as a group two years ago (in junior) and won it all. Hopefully it turns out just as great this time around."