The Stettler Wildcats are meshing well as they host their senior girls’ high school basketball tournament this Friday and Saturday.
“We have improved a tremendous amount as a team and are playing our best games of the year,” said Wildcats coach Charisse McDonald. The Wildcats, who were scheduled to finish their regular season this Tuesday at Camrose, lost a tight decision to Lacombe at home last Tuesday.
“We had a great first half — very few turnovers and shot well,” McDonald said. “We ended the half giving up two easy layups and that turned out to be the turning point in the game. The first three minutes of the second half sealed our fate. They hit three three-pointers in a row and ended up being 6-for-8 from behind the arc. The average for a good team is about 30 per cent.
“We played our best half of the season, but are still working on putting together a complete game. We need to cut down on unforced turnovers and rebound better.”
Stettler’s top scorers against Lacombe were Claire Aspenes, with 14 points, and Jamie Ternes, with 10.
This weekend, Stettler hosts a six-team tournament that includes Barrhead, Ryley, Didsbury, Redwater and Daysland. All of the girls’ action is slated for the Stettler Elementary School gym.
On Friday, the Wildcats play at 3 p.m. against Ryley and 6:30 p.m. versus Didsbury. Their Saturday schedule depends on Friday’s results, with the gold-medal game set for 4:15 p.m. Saturday.
Boys to finish season
Stettler’s senior boys’ team is also scheduled to host a tournament this Friday and Saturday at the high school gym.
In opening-day action, Stettler faces Wainwright at 3 p.m. and Strathcona at 6:30 p.m.
Also in the mix are Daysland, Barrhead and Calgary Phoenix FFCA.
The final is scheduled for 4:15 p.m. Saturday.
“Both the girls and guys have a variety of different teams, and a lot of new teams, coming to our tournament this year,” said Wildcat senior boys’ coach Joe Thibeau.
“We are doing two-pool, six-team draws.”
This weekend’s action represents the high school basketball swan song for Wildcat seniors Morgan Loshny, Mark Meyer, Ty Page, Wyatt Peters and Tyler Stewart.
The senior Wildcats, who didn’t qualify for the playoffs, lost a league game to Lacombe at home last week.
They were scheduled to visit Camrose this Tuesday night in their final league game.