The Wellington Wildcats made an early statement at the double-A senior girls Island basketball championship on Thursday, devouring the Parkland Panthers 88-36 in the eight-team tournament opener at St. Michaels University School.
Sara Simovic popped in a game-high 29 points and Vicky Brown added 21 as the Nanaimo school went off on their Sidney opponents, who received a respectable 18 points from guard Kristy Gallagher.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 a bad start, our defence still wasn鈥檛 where we want it to be, but it鈥檚 hard to stay in it when you get a big lead like that,鈥� said Wildcats coach Bill Fraser, whose team placed eighth at last year鈥檚 provincials and are favoured to get back.
鈥淚 would never say we鈥檙e the favourite, but if that鈥檚 what people are saying, it鈥檚 nice to hear,鈥� said Fraser. 鈥淲e still like to play with a bit of a chip on our shoulder and try to get our players to think that, too. The minute you start thinking you鈥檙e the team to beat, that鈥檚 when you鈥檒l get beat.鈥�
Simovic is a provincial team player who is heading to the University of Lethbridge. The Wildcats are currently ranked fourth provincially.
In other matchups, Mark Isfeld toppled Lambrick 88-71 and will meet Wellington today at 3:45 p.m. in a semifinal. Host SMUS downed Kwalikum 64-37 and Shawnigan beat Ballenas 67-48 to advance to the second semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
Two teams will advance to provincials and the third-place club will have a play-in game.
Meanwhile, scores from the double-A Island boys championship at Wellington were unavailable, but the triple-A South Island championship is going according to plan.
The Belmont Bulldogs won comfortably, 76-44, over Stelly鈥檚 at Reynolds on Thursday and will proceed as one of four teams at the Island finals (a fifth will earn a shot at a play-in game). The victory sets up a third highly-anticipated clash against the Claremont Spartans today at 5:30 p.m.
Each team has won once in regular-season play, the Bulldogs by seven and Claremont by six. The Spartans also boast a victory in the final of the Cowichan tournament as they won by a handful.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be Round 3 in the city and it鈥檒l be a good game,鈥� said Spartans coach Davey Sundher, who was on hand watching. 鈥淭his one is on a neutral site, so it鈥檚 going to be fun and close.鈥�
As they all have been so far this season.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited and the guys are excited, too,鈥� said Bulldogs coach Kevin Brown. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檝e had a consistent game against them yet, so hopefully that comes [today].鈥�
Erik Spaven led Belmont on Thursday with 18 points, while Owen Vaags added 16.
Mount Douglas defeated Spectrum 70-55 and will face favoured Oak Bay in the other semifinal tonight at 7:30.
Scores were unavailable from triple-A girls Islands at Dover Bay.
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