Waterloo Chronicle: Vikings Team On a Mission

Article By:  Bob Vrbanac

It was the first time in a decade that the Waterloo Vikings senior girls basketball team didn’t have its name engraved on either the WCSSAA or CWOSSA titles.

And that doesn’t sit well with returning veterans like Alyssa Shortt, the team’s starting point guard, who still thinks back to the championship game against the KCI Raiders that broke their decade-long streak.

“It showed us that you have to come out strong in every single game because you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said the 18-year-old finishing up her last season with the Vikings. “We didn’t give the effort we normally give.”

That’s won’t be the case this year as the Vikings take nothing for granted as they look to start a new title run. The Jacob Hespeler Hawks were the unfortunate victims of that renewed sense of purpose last Thursday as the Vikings opened up the WCSSAA regular season with a dominating 58-13 win.

That domination was even more pronounced in the first half as the Vikings built up a 35-5 lead by halftime before liberally using their bench.

Shortt had 10 points in limited action, while Lindsay Taylor led all Vikings scorers with 14 points.

But Shortt, the Vikings’ floor general, will set the tone for the Vikings this year.

She’s determined to go out on a high note before making the leap to play basketball at the university level.

“My style is lead by example, and if I work hard the rest of the girls will follow,” said Shortt, who also plays club ball for the K-W Lightning basketball program.

“This is my last year of high school basketball, and I know I will be disappointed in myself if I don’t leave everything on the floor.

“After last year’s disappointment at WCSSAA, we have to win it, and if I don’t work hard and push myself I’ll regret it the rest of my life.”

The Vikings are also getting a push by playing an extensive tournament schedule to bring up the level of consistency they’ll need to compete in the postseason. They only have two weekends off during the season as they travel to tournaments around the province.

That’s already paid dividends as they won the John F. Ross preseason tournament last week, defeating the defending OFSAA double A champions, Bishop Macdonell, in the finals.

Co-coach Doug Ranton, one of the architects of the Vikings’ decade of dominance, said it was a great run but last year made the girls even hungrier.

“This might be one of the hardest working groups we’ve had in a few years,” said Ranton. “We definitely have more depth this year.

“We also have more balanced scoring this year, and some kids who can put up big numbers.”

-----------
Retrieved From: http://www.waterloochronicle.ca/sports/article/220205