Dragons invicto: Senior Girls basketball

St. Michael's Sr. Girls Dragons
C. Davis photos and videos

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice


The St. Michael's Senior Girls basketball squad defeated local rivals the Livingstone Sabres and the Halton Hawks in games they hosted at the Dale Wentz Memorial Gymnasium this week.

Dragons vs Sabres

The Dragons were recovering from a weekend spent at a big "Sweet 16" tournament in Calgary. More about that later. The Sabres played an away game against Nanton on Wednesday, February 6, winning that one 48-38.

Sr. Girls: Dragons vs Sabres

Dragons vs Sabres

On Monday evening, February 11 the Dragons hosted the Livingstone Sabres for what turned out to be the most closely contested game of the week that I saw.   One final time before graduating for some members of these teams.

This one truly could have gone either way.  The two teams battled to a draw in the first quarter, tying it up 9-9 and then 11-11. Sheanna Schamber scored 7 points for the Sabres and Kelli Potts scored 6 points for the Dragons.

Wocknitz vs Schamber

The Dragons had the edge in the second quarter.  Carlee Fitzparick of the Dragons had a great quarter, and Kelli Potts and Catherine DeCock scored 5 points each (including a beautiful 3-pointer from DeCock).  On the Sabres side it was Raelynn Rutledge's turn to shine, scoring 6 of the Sabres' 8 points in the quarter.  At the halfway mark the Dragons were ahead 25-19.

The Sabres managed to outscore the Dragons by 1 point in the third quarter.  Kelli Potts scored 5 points for the Dragons, including two penalty shots.  Going into the final quarter the two teams were still very close, with the Dragons ahead 33-28.

Josie Naumczyk 

The final quarter showdown, both teams still battling hard for supremacy.  At 3:33 on the clock the Dragons were ahead 38-32.  The last minute and a half or so saw the Sabres within 5 points.  With only 42 seconds left the score was 40-35.  Then the Sabres dropped one in the basket, a no-goal due to a travel call.  Back and forth still.

Reagan Bousquet

With 14 seconds left in the game Kelli Potts scored for the Dragons, securing their victory.   The two teams tied for points in the final quarter with 9 apiece.


Final score: Dragons 42, Sabres 37

Top scorers for the Dragons were Kelli Potts with 18 points, Catherine DeCock with 11 points, and Carlee Fitzpatrick with 8 points.

Top scorers for the Sabres were Sheanna Schamber with 13 points, Raelynn Rutledge with 12 points, and Reagan Bousquet with 6 points.

Sr. Girls: Dragons vs Hawks

Dragons vs Hawks

On Wednesday evening, February 13 the Dragons hosted the Matthew Halton Hawks.  The Hawks have been struggling this season, and unfortunately for them this game was no exception.  The Dragons had a very strong first quarter, scoring 19 points to 2 by the Hawks.  Elise Wocknitz scored 6 of those Dragons' points.  The Dragons seemed to make it a habit to contain Alyssa Barbero, usually one of the Hawks' stronger scorers.

The Hawks won the second quarter 16 points to 12, with Kate Nicas scoring 6 of those points, but were still down 31-18 at the half.  The Hawks have a small bench, which has been a problem for them all season.  The Dragons, on the other hand, have a surplus of players.  It was nice to see some of their newer additions getting some court time during this game.

The Dragons had an edge again in the third quarter, scoring 19 points to 12 for the Hawks.  Kelli Potts scored 6 of those Dragons' points.

The final quarter played out much like the first, with the Dragons scoring 20 points to 6 for the Hawks.   Kelli Potts again with 6 points.  Dykota Latourneau, new to the Senior Dragons bench this season, also scored 6 points.

Final score: Dragons 70, Hawks 36.

Top scorers for the Dragons were Kelli Potts with 22 points, Tamara Parkin and Elise Wocknitz with 10 points each, and Amelia Woodard and Josie Naumczyk with 8 points each.  Parkin and Wocknitz are to be feared out there, solid players that can be counted on to drive the ball to the net at every opportunity.  Potts really came into her own this season, making her shots with regularity and confidence.  Woodard to has been having a good season, particularly in the last few games, getting it to the basket and in with much improved consistency. Naumczyk really shines out there, and during this game it seems to me that she's made a big leap forward recently in terms of confidence and assertion.

Laressa McGlynn was the top scorer for the Sabres with 12 points, followed by Alyssa Barbero with 6 points.   McGlynn's got a spark that will carry her far in this sport if she so chooses.  Barbero, well, basketball can't have her, music's got dibs!  Seriously now, Barbero is a big spark for her team, demonstrating confidence and a never-say-die attitude.  Kudos to this team, all 8 of them. Underdogs all season, no subs to speak of, and yet still out there every time giving it their all.

Dragons at Sweet 16 Tournament 

Last weekend, February 8 and 9, the Senior Dragons Girls were in Calgary at Rundle College for the first annual "Sweet 16" tournament, where they played 4 games.

The tournament consists of the top Provincially ranked teams in 1A, 2A and 3A basketball.

Catherine DeCock

According to Coach Sally Woodard the 1A Dragons lost to the second-ranked 2A team (who went on to win the tournament) in the first game.  "That was a good experience for us.  Then we beat Canmore, which is a 3A team, and then we beat Fort Macleod in overtime."  The Dragons were up by three and then a Fort Macleod girl shot a three pointer. "Fort Macleod wanted to win and we wanted to win. And then we lost to Bow Valley, which is a 3A starter team with a tall girl, two tall girls, but one in particular was blocking everything we did."

Zones are coming up in the first week of March.  Woodard said "We needed to beat each other, because the way Zones are set up it's Stirling, Foremost, us, we're the top four.  Top is Stirling.  Fourth place is going to end up playing them... you don't want to be fourth place.  So (now) Livingstone is in fourth place, we're third, and Foremost is second.  We want to stay in third."

"We've played Stirling, they're good.  We haven't played Foremost.  They're good.  They're both good."

Chinook League Tourney
The Chinook League Championship Tournament is scheduled for March 1 and 2, with Girls teams to play at Matthew Halton School and Boys teams to play at St. Michael's School.  More information as it comes.