The Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs senior girls’ basketball team is looking to continue their upward trend.
Jessie Smoliak, head coach of the Elecs, said they began the season with a championship victory at an early December tournament in Caronport. She said that result bodes well for the young but familiar team of six Grade 10s, four Grade 11s and three Grade 12s as they try and build upon last year’s success.
Smoliak said they only lost two veterans from last season’s squad who put together the most competitive campaign of her seven-year coaching career highlighted by a McLeod Series win over the Weyburn Comprehensive School Eagles. She noted the Caronport win translated into a finals showing at a later December tournament in Swift Current and the hope is that success continues this week with an exhibition game tonight at Regina Belfour Collegiate followed by a Moose Jaw tournament on the weekend.
“Last year was our most competitive year,” said Smoliak. “The girls really gelled with one another.”
Playing summer ball together has helped the players get to know each other’s tendencies on the court and helped the team come together for a singular purpose, said Smoliak. She added each member of the team knows their role, is respectful of their captain Tess Lindquist and is motivated towards making this an exciting year.
“Our goal is to obviously take the McLeod Series again and then to get to regionals and hopefully get to Hoopla,” she said. “Hoopla is always our main goal of the year. We just have to make sure we peak at the right time and that will be conferences and regionals.”
