Gemini junior girls enjoy back-to-back TVRA Southeast hoops victories

Gemini point guard Sophia Monsere (left) closes on College Avenue’s Cat Pye as the latter cuts toward the Tillsonburg basket. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Winning is a habit the Tillsonburg Gemini junior girls’ basketball team could get used to.

“The back-to-back wins came as a bit of a surprise,” said coach Kiersten Sanderson following a 30-18 Thames Valley Regional Athletics East victory over the visiting Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Glendale. “We are pretty green to basketball but the girls have a few plays they could do in their sleep at this point and they are really working as a team more and more each game which has shown through the wins.”

The Gemini kicked off the mini two-game winning streak the previous Thursday at Woodstock College Avenue, downing the homecourt Knights by a solid 33-13 margin.

Tillsonburg built on a 6-2 first-quarter advantage with a 10-4 run in the second period, essentially locking up the victory with a 9-0 shutout through the third quarter.

“It was good all our hard work paid off,” said Tillsonburg’s Kate Bruder, who contributed six points offensively. “Really happy about it,” she continued. “We all played good.”

“I feel like we ran our plays really well,” added teammate Callie Emmerson who scored one field goal from her wing position. “Our passes were really good.

“A nice positive game.”

A. Ivanyshyn, S. Connors and B. VanRybroeck each had a field goal for the Gemini, N. Caperchione had three points, C. Gundry four and Sophia Monsere eight.

“Sophia has been a great leader this season,” credited coach Sanderson. “She plays point guard and has really stepped up to the plate, beginning in practice.”

At home to Ingersoll, the Gemini made it two wins in a row. The juniors had their trademark slower start to the game said Sanderson, but the girls ‘got back in the groove.’

“By the fourth quarter we were a well-oiled machine.”

The coach is pleased to be able to work with a significant number of returnees this season, along with some rookies who are ‘showing great skills.’ A majority play school basketball without additional club experience, and while learning the sport can be overwhelming says Sanderson, it can also be exhilarating.

“I am lucky enough to coach such a positive, friendly and fun group of girls. We can never get through a practice without laughing together and they’re just such a good group.”

There are some games Sanderson expects to present a tough challenge in the team’s upcoming schedule including St. Thomas St. Joe’s and Woodstock CI, but buoyed and encouraged by two victories to date, she is looking forward to see what the second half of the season brings.

“I think it will be a great learning experience and we will gain a lot from the games.”