The Summerland Secondary School Grade 9 Rockets basketball team finished the provincial championship tournament in sixth place.
The tournament was held in Vancouver on the weekend and featured 16 teams.
Going into the tournament, the Rockets were ranked eighth in the province.
In the first game, Summerland faced R.C. Palmer Secondary School from Richmond.
The Rockets controlled the game from the opening tip, as Olivia Harrold put up six quick points to begin the game.
“R.C. Palmer, although quick, had difficulty with our size and power inside” said Coach Jason Corday. “The girls came out ultra-focused and it showed.”
Lexi Corday, a Grade 8 student, was named player of the game. She ended with 18 points to go with 10 steals and nine rebounds.
Brinay Burdick, also in Grade 8, scored 10 and both Summerland posts, Karrah Roelfsemma and Jacqueline Mansiere hit double figures in points as the Rockets won game easily 60-17 and advanced to Round 2 to play top ranked St. Thomas Aquinas from North Vancouver.
Summerland started slow, struggling with Aquinas’s massive size and matchup zone.
Burdick, led Summerland with several three-pointers, but overall, Summerland struggled to finish inside.
Laska Hughes and Navi Hughes played strong from the guard spots, and Burdick was named player of the game in a 56-24 loss.
“We were disappointed with the loss, as we have never lost a game by 30 points,” Tama Corday said. “In retrospect, Aquinas has done that to every team they have faced all year, as they ended up beating KLO in the Tournament final by 25.”
In their third game, Friday afternoon, Summerland played Heritage Woods from Port Coquitlam.
“Heritage Woods would put is in position to play for fifth or sixth,” said Tama Corday.
Navi Hughes and Alyssa Robinson stepped in with key defensive minutes with Harrold in foul trouble.
Heritage Woods climbed back in and pulled to within five points at the end of the third quarter making it 35-30 for Summerland.
Robinson, who was named player of the game, stepped up with others in foul trouble, hitting several clutch jumpers and attacking the rim to open up some cushion in the fourth quarter.
Summerland pushed hard towards the end and Burdick hit for nine points in the third quarter to finish with 20 as Summerland won 48-38 to move to the fifth and sixth place game.
Jaqueline Mansiere chipped in eight points and Corday had 10 to go with eight assists and seven steals.
On Saturday, the fifth and sixth place game was a match up against last year’s provincial Grade 8 champion, Lord Tweedsmeer from Surrey.
“We came out against a very fast Tweedsmeer playing overly aggressive on defence and unsettled on offence. They are a very athletic squad and we did not settle in very well in the first half,” said Tama Corday.
Oliva Harrold, was able to contain Tweedsmeer’s all-star point guard, holding her to single digit points.
“Olivia is one of the best defenders in the province, her quickness and tenacity are unparalleled, we always know she can hold the other team’s top scorer in check on her own,” said Jason Corday.
Summerland went into half time down 19-8. In the second half, Summerland found an offensive spark, with Corday hitting for eight points and Rolefsema, who was named player of the game for her strong defensive efforts, adding six points.
Summerland lost to Tweedsmeer 32-22, finishing the tournament in sixth place.
Lexi Corday was named to the tournament all-star team, the only Grade 8 to receive this honour.
Players Rowan Knowles and Paige Russill were unable to attend the tournament due to hockey and drama commitments.