Saving its best for last landed the Spartans on their own podium.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir’s senior girls basketball squad rode breakthrough performances from a trio of players to a 55-35 victory over the Hugh Sutherland Kodiaks to claim the bronze medal Saturday at the Spartans Invitational Tournament.
“It was close, but we had the lead throughout and controlled it,” said Spartans head coach Ken Zelez. “We did really well with our press actually. We had three players play the best they ever have.
“That was fun for those kids.”
The three standouts Azeeza Randhawa, Annabelle Hicks and Okotokian Arzina Jaffer gave the Spartans a push in the bronze-medal match.
“Annabelle took a year due to injury and had her best game this year,” the coach added.
Offensively, the Spartans keyed in on using their speed both with and without the ball.
“We moved the ball so much better,” Zelez said. “We stuck to pushing the pace and that helps out a lot getting easier baskets than running a half-court set.”
STS opened the competition in a 46-42 triumph over the Didsbury Dragons.
The Spartans played with fire in letting the Dragons scratch and claw back into contention.
“We were up by 15 or 20 and they came back,” Zelez said. “We totally let them back in the game. We had a horrible third quarter. The girls are really good, I’m kind of intense when I coach and expect a lot out of them and they were talking ‘holy cow, was that awful.’”
STS then met Rosemary School with a spot in the gold medal game on the line. The Rockets, who ended up winning the competition at the expense of silver medallist Springbank, grounded the Spartans in a 62-33 final.
“Rosemary was very consistent and we weren’t,” Zelez said. “They got tons of lay-ups on us due to our air balls and turnovers.”
Emy Udoh was named the Spartans tournament all-star.
The Grade 11 post stood out with her persistence throughout the competition.
“Her tenacity and her quickness were really impressive,” Zelez added.
More than a chance to pick up wins, the tournament broke up what is a bit of a lull in league play during January which sees a small number of Foothills Athletic Council contests while students are in the midst of exams.
“It doesn’t effect us so much in that we only have some kids writing exams otherwise we’re full year,” Zelez said. “I stacked the practices and take this time of the year to build individual skills.”
The Spartans get back into league play on Feb. 1 in a 2A battle with the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves. Tip-off is 5:30 p.m. at the STS.
For schedule information go to fac.teampages.com
