Article By: Brian Smiley
Although Brantford Collegiate Institute is off to an 0-2
start in Brant County high school senior girls basketball action, the Mustangs
aren't pushing the panic button.
That's because, with the amount of talent and experience on
its roster, BCI has lots of time to rebound. The team lost to St. John's
College in the final last season and has welcomed several graduates from last
year's junior championship team.
"We generally progress as the season goes on,"
said coach Ron Jamula. "We're usually better in October."
"Probably Assumption and North Park are in the same
boat but we tend to try to peak for the playoffs."
The reason Jamula mentions Assumption College and North Park
Collegiate in the same breath is because they likely will be the Mustangs'
competition for Brant County's second berth at the Central Western Ontario
Secondary Schools Association AAA championships.
"The league is basically St. John's, which is a top
team in the province, and then there's North Park, ourselves and Assumption who
are really fighting for the second CWOSSA berth," Jamula said.
"Really it's a three-way battle for that second spot.
"You don't want to be fourth. If you're fourth, you
play the semifinal against St. John's and the chances of beating them are very,
very slim."
No one is conceding the league to St. John's but the Green
Eagles are a provincial gold medal threat after winning silver a year ago.
The Eagles proved how good they are by scoring a 71-21 win
against the Mustangs in the season's first game. BCI was then edged 38-37 by
Assumption on Tuesday.
"We had opportunities to win," said Jamula of the
Assumption game.
The coach noted that, with his team at 0-2, Thursday's
contest against North Park "becomes pretty critical."
The coaching staff has faith in its team because of the
talent and experience of the players and the strength its leaders.
"We're getting leadership from our fifth-year
players," said Jamula.
"Summer (Sakaluk) and Victoria (Waud), and we're moving
in a couple of Grade 11s and a couple of Grade 12s.
"We're still finding our way in terms of how we play,
what's the best style we play, whose responsibility is what.
"We all have to find our role within the team concept.
We're still getting to that point, I think."
Along with Sakaluk and Waud, BCI has started Grade 12 player
Madison McBride and Grade 11 Kennedy Pierce, while mixing in Grade 12s Kiana
Madia and Katie Cummings and Grade 11 Lacey Madia as the team's fifth starter.
The Mustangs also receive strong bench support from Grade 12
Hannah Varey and Grade 11s Lauren McManus, Kendra McConkey and Caitlin
Vandertuin.
"With any group, your leaders have to be the ones who
really push and I think we're headed in the right direction with Summer and
Victoria," said Jamula.
"The kids really drive the level of commitment, they
drive the compete level. The coaches are always there to help them (but) it's
up to our captains really to be the leaders and I think they're doing a good
job of that."
Three years ago, BCI decided to build a basketball program
by practising the junior and senior players together. The hope is that a future
senior team can put nine or 10 strong basketball players on the court.
With a strong junior program - BCI is the defending county
champions and looks like a No. 1 CWOSSA seed this season - a provincial
championship is the end goal for the senior team. But, for this season, it's
one step at a time.
"Our goal this year is the same as every other year to
this point, and that is to get to the second-place position, get to CWOSSA and
see what we can do," Jamula said.
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