GREAT SECOND HALF

Friday night we played Kwantlen University College. Kwantlen is a good team with quick players that can shoot the ball well from the 3 point line. I thought this game would be a really good test for our girls and it was. Most of my pre game talk was in regards to their 3 point shooting. I felt if we could control this part of their game then we could have a good chance competing with them. They started pressing us right from the start which we were ready for and seemed to handle well. It increased the pace of the game which we enjoyed and we found ourselves down by 5 at the quarter. The difference was their three point shooting. They hit 4 shots for 12 of their 18 points. Maybe the girls did not believe me in my pre game talk. That was the difference in the first. Our second quarter was the worst quarter of basketball we have played at Quest. We were terrible. We turned the ball over and over and over and of course we couldn't convert any layups. After an atrocious quarter where we were beat 15-2, we were down 33-15 at the half. This type of play was absolutely unacceptable to me and I let the girls know this fact at half time, no x and o's talk was required.  I was very frustrated and upset since I know flat out we are way better than that.  The game was now pretty much over against a Kwantlen team who we can compete with but not if we do not show up for a quarter. We had 18 turnovers at the half and 33 for the game mostly on travels and bad passing. We were 23% for 2pt. FG's and we were 1-6 from the three point line in the first half. Kwantlen shoot 40% from beyond the arc and 83% from the free throw line. Well after our "discussion" at half we came out and played the best half of basketball to date. We found our offensive touch, and played even with Kwantlen through the second half. Kwantlen did not change anything they did, we just stepped up and started to play like we know how. We ran the ball really well in the second half and had a number of fast break opportunities. Over the course of the game though we gave up 27 points in three point baskets. A concern of mine which was not addressed. It is tough to give up 27 points in threes, have 33 turnovers and hope to win ball games. This we will need to change if we are to win some league games. This evening we lost 71-52. Bad start, bad finish.

We were really excited to have Allie Chalke back in the line up. After some initial nervousness she settled in and played well offensively for her first game back contributing 8 points on 4-6 shooting. Britt Harteveld had another good game for the Kermodes pouring in 20 points. Chelsey Forsberg finally found her outside shooting touch towards the end of the game and contributed 7 points. It was a great way to finish this game, coming off a great second half. As i have said before we are not good enough to take any quarters off. Whatever hole we dig for ourselves requires huge efforts to get out of. We are looking forward to our final exhibition game against Langara this Saturday. Hope to see you out and thanks to all of those parents and families who supported us at the Kwantlen game.......Coach  Hann