Girls looking to get offensive in league

Shots were just not falling for the W.R. Myers Rebels varsity girls basketball team in its two Southern Alberta High School Girls Basketball League matches over the weekend.

Nevertheless, the Rebels almost managed to pull out the win in a 65-62 loss to the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute (LCI) Clippers on Friday at home.

“We started off extremely tight and could not find the bottom of the net.  We were taking quality shots, but just not scoring in the first half,” said Kenney Wood, head coach of the W.R. Myers Rebels varsity girls basketball team.  “We took 50 shots in the first half and only converted six of them. The LCI game turned around in the second half and we made 47 points, but just couldn’t get the lead.”

Nina Gansner had 17 points to go with seven rebounds and five blocks. Sadie Lund had 15 points and eight rebounds as the Rebels almost managed to erase a 19-point half-time deficit.

Those second-half points did not prove as plentiful in a Saturday road game against Cardston Cougars which resulted in a 55-40 loss. Caroline Steinborn had eight points and Kelly Hansen chipped in seven.

“In the Cardston, game we continued to struggle scoring, we did get within seven points, but just could find a way to put points on the board. In both games we ended up shooting 23 per cent from the field — that will not win you many games. Both LCI and Cardston have solid programs and to beat them you need to play a good 40-minute game,” said Wood.

Game in, game out, Kenney has applauded his girls hard work on the defensive end, giving the team a chance to win game in and game out, it is the offensive side that remains a work in progress as the team continues to build towards March.

“Without our offense kicking in we are making it very difficult for us to win. We are getting lots of great shots but just not finishing. We are still learning and March is a couple months away so there is time for us to figure this out.”

The team does not return to league competition until Feb. 15 with a road game against Kate Andrews Pride and a Feb. 15 home game against Medicine Hat Kwahommies.