Both the senior girls and boys basketball teams from Charles Hays Secondary School dominated squads from around the region last weekend during zones, and will now be taking on the best from around British Columbia at Provincials occurring in March.
Although the senior girls started off on the wrong foot during zones, they got their stuff together, and managed to take home the number one spot.
“The first game we had a little trouble and lost by three points against Caledonia. Then after that the girls grouped together nicely,” Said coach Sarah Borrows, who has been coaching in the district for the last twelve years.
For the remaining zone games, the 13-player team beat out competitors, earning themselves a well-deserved first place.
The Rainmakers’ own Celina Guadagni was named the teams’ MVP player, with Latasha Brlecic being named the All-Star player.
The ladies will now be moving on to Provincials, which will be taking place in Kamloops starting on Wednesday, March 7, and running until that Saturday.
The first match the girls will be playing in Provincials will be against Victoria’s Lambrick Park Secondary School, a team ranked as the second best senior girls team in the province.
The senior boys also earned themselves the top spot in zones.
“The [boys] played really well, especially defensively in the last game.” Commented coach Mel Bishop, who has been coaching in School District 52 for over thirty years now.
On the boys’ end of things, the only opponent they had to play during zones was Smithers’ team, as in the boys division it was a best-out-of-three competition. In both games, the Rainmakers beat Smithers, conquering them with 91 to 42 in the final game.
Anthony Yecyec, Michael Nequinto, and Doug Faithful were named the Rainmakers’ All-Star players.
“The boys worked really hard… they’re a great group of kids.” Said Bishop.
The sixteen-player team will be taking on GW Graham Secondary School for their first Provincials match, with the boys currently practicing with the Chilliwack-team specifically in mind.