The St. Augustine Kings lost its game against the Parkview Panthers, but it was not for lack of trying. “We came out strong, but I think halfway though we were down by 20,” said Adam Bowie, coach.
Half of this year’s team is new Grade 10 players and the other half is returning Grade 11 and 12 students. “They’re working together through the processes. The Grade 10s are taking that advice and going with it.”
It was little mistakes and inexperience that kept the team from capitalizing during the game. “The boys just couldn’t hit any shots, it’s like there was a lid on the basket,” said Bowie.
“Boxing out was a huge issue for us,” he added.
Bowie says as the boys have more practices — which started later in the season than other teams — they will be able to get to an advantage point faster and contend with opponents.
During the game, the greatest strength of the Kings was their refusal to give in. “They worked hard the whole time, they played to the best of their ability the whole time,” said Bowie.
Queens lose momentum in home game
Despite a heavy-hitting performance during the first half of the game, the senior girls basketball team at St. Augustine Catholic School lost its Dec. 10 game by approximately 15 points.
“The first half of the game went fantastic, we had a lot of intensity,” said head coach Katherine Bergum York.
“We fell apart,” she added, referring to the second half. “They lost that intensity they came out of the gate with.”
With the team moving slower on the court, Bergum York says the Queens were giving away opportunities to the Parkview Panthers.
She doesn’t feel the girls were tired physically but as the Panthers began to widen their lead, the Queens’ mentality was defeated.
This was their fourth game into a winless season and Bergum York believes that factored into the loss. “I think they’ve just gotten the mentality that we’re not good enough.”
This year’s team has three players new to senior basketball, with nine returning players. Three girls from last year, who were strong players and leaders on the team, aged out. “I think my Grade 12s are a little lost, but we’ll get there,” said Bergum York.
During the game, the team was also missing its starting point guard. “So that really hurt us a bit. My other two stepped up, but everybody else fell apart,” said Bergum York.
However, the girls’ shooting during the game was strong throughout. “I had a couple of girls make three-point shots,” said Bergum York.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, the girls began to pick up their slack and capitalize on opportunities. “I’ll give them props for battling back, but we shouldn’t have had to battle back,” said Bergum York.
“We can’t choose what period we want to play,” she added.