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Williams Lake Falcons host junior girls basketball tournament, win 3rd place

"We couldn't be happier with the team this season," said coach Kaylee Billyboy

Athletes from near and far converged in Williams Lake for the Columneetza Queens of the Court Junior Girls Basketball Tournament Jan. 17 and 18. 

Teams came from Vanderhoof, Princeton, Bella Coola, 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Barriere, Hope and the host team - Williams Lake. 

Hope Secondary took first place and Barriere Secondary got second. 

The Columneetza Falcons placed third after winning 40-20 against Nechacko Valley Secondary School in their final game. 

Falcons Molly Murphy, Farrah Ferguson and Kesley Camille were awarded the Heart and Hustle award, Anna-Sophia Vasquez-Gebert, Joey Neuman and Emily Hutchinson were each chosen as player of the game in each of the three games respectively.

Anna was also named to the tournament All-Star Team. 

"We couldn't be happier with the team this season," said coach Kaylee Billyboy, who is a teacher at Columneetza and co-coaches the team with her mom, Bridgette Peel. "They are a Grade 9 team that includes three Grade 8 players. With a small registration of Grade 9 girls school teams, we have had to play a lot of junior teams that are made up of Grade 9s and Grade 10s." 

Girls grow so much at this age, Billyboy added, noting one year can add a lot of strength to a girl and the team. 

Regardless, she said Columneetza has held their own with a 10-win and three-loss record in the season so far. Twelve of those games were against junior teams with only one against another Grade 9 team, which Columneetza won.

Next up the Falcons are headed to Hope Secondary for a five-team round robin tournament Jan. 25 and 26. 

Following that, the team will take some time to prepare for the junior regional playoffs with a hope of earning a berth to the Junior A Zones in Prince George. 

Billyboy said they are hoping to also qualify for the Grade 9 Girls Provincials scheduled at the end of February in New Westminster. 

"Our season has been full of action," said Billyboy. "Coach Bridgette Peel and myself couldn't be more excited to stand behind this group of girls as they work so hard in dedicating themselves to the goals of the team. They have represented Columneetza so well." 

 

 



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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