GFSS girls basketball team most sportsmanlike in the province
By Michael Wirischagin
Hang another banner in the rafters of the Grand Forks Secondary School’s (GFSS) gymnasium as the GFSS Wolves Senior Girls basketball team has finished off their monumental season with a fifteenth place finish at the “AA” high school basketball provincials this past weekend in Kamloops. Running Mar. 9 – 12, the tournament hosted sixteen total teams representing all geographic regions of the province of British Columbia. Entering the draw Grand Forks was ranked 12 out of those 16 teams and had the unenviable task of taking on the Sa-Hali Sabres in their first game. Amanda Thate led the way for the Wolves scoring 24 points off of 10-17 shooting from the field while adding 10 rebounds. This, however, was not enough as the Sabres wound up winning the contest 79-55. Sa-Hali jumped out to a 30-7 lead after the first quarter which proved costly as the Wolves were only outscored by one point 49-48 in the next three quarters. Sa-Hali finished the tournament in fifth place. Next up for the Sr. Girls were the Windsor Dukes on Mar. 10. Maya Wold scored 14 points for Grand Forks while adding 14 boards and Thate had another great game dropping 23 points with eight rebounds. But once again one bad quarter of action was the difference maker for GF who wound up losing 71-54 to the Dukes of Windsor. The Kalamalka Lakers were next in line for the Wolves as the two faced off on Mar. 11. Wold and Thate once again led the way for GF – Wold scored 16 points and 17 rebounds, as Thate registered 28 points with nine rebounds. The Lakers came out the victors winning 75-65 in a close game. Grand Forks entered their last game with an 0-3 record, looking to get their first victory of the provincials as they took on the Smithers Gryphons. Megan Tiller dropped 17 points while Thate added 31 and 14 boards. This time it was enough as the Wolves won their first game in their last game of the tourney, 65-62. With the Grand Forks win, the Gryphons dropped to sixteenth and the Wolves placed fifteenth. Thate finished the “AA” provincial basketball tournament averaging 26.5 points-per-game and 10.25 rebounds-per-game. Those statistics were good enough to garner her an “All Tournament All Star Team” honorable mention selection, a very high honor at a very high level of basketball. To top off the weekends festivities, the GFSS Wolves Sr. Girls basketball team was also given the award as the “Most Sportsmanlike” team in the tournament – another great honor to finish off their season. The Grand Forks Wolves Sr. Girls team was coached by: Head Coach Shayne Konar and Assistant Coach Sheryl Williams.
For complete box score information visit: www.aabasketball.org
