Sim contributes substance and style to Team Blue Captains/Veterans basketball victory

Bella Sitko (centre) looks for an outlet as Myla Reissner (left) and Julia Baer (right) close in. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Kyleigh Sim contributed both substance and style to a 52-51 Captains/Veterans Senior Girls’ Basketball Team Blue victory over Team White on Nov. 28 inside Woodstock CI’s Devildome.

The substance was an eight-foot baseline runner in the final minute, which would stand as the game-winning basket. Important, yes, but the stylistic points of a buzzer-beating first-half three-pointer still resonated for the Woodstock College Avenue Knight.

“I mean, they were both important,” she smiled. “But hey, the three-pointer felt better.”

Annual Captains/Veterans basketball games are a rich and lengthy tradition inviting players from each Oxford school team plus Lord Dorchester for a final ‘friendly.’ In effect, a celebration of the season that was, the games also provide a fond farewell to the sport for graduating veterans.

“It’s nice to play one last game with the girls I started with,” said Team Blue senior Kacie Bourgeois of Ingersoll DCI. “Nice to start and end with them.”

Team Blue, made up of College Avenue, Woodstock Huron Park, Ingersoll and St. Mary’s Catholic High School, came out gunning, taking a 23-10 first-quarter lead fueled by eight points from Chloe Jones and six by Peyton Cowan. Team Blue was up 30-22 at the half and led 43-31 heading home, before a late Team White, Woodstock CI and Dorchester, run closed the gap.

“It made it intense in the last minutes,” said Cowan.

WCI’s Morgan Smith was playing with a broken pinkie finger on her shooting (left) hand taped to her ring finger. She managed the unusual combination of an off-hand three-pointer and layup as part of her nine-point total, as well as a pair of left-handed lay-ins, including a go-ahead bucket with 32.9 seconds to play.

Sim countered with a tough game-winning shot which established the final outcome, but certainly didn’t spoil the experience for any involved.

“It was a good end to the season,” summed up Smith, happy to play one last time with her own teammates, along with teammates and friends from other teams.

Jones led Team Blue with 19 points, Cowan and Sim - who added a halftime ‘bump’ challenge victory to her night - had 10 apiece, Olivia Elias five and Maryam Siddiqui, Oriana Belmonte and Aliya Anthony two each. Claire Harmer paced Team White with 15 including a trio of three-point field goals, Smith added nine points, Thea McLelland seven, Jocelyn Pollard five, Ava Thistlewaite, Autumn Vance and Claire Currie four each and Mya Steller one three-point field goal.

JUNIOR

Team White 81, Team Blue 26

Team Blue’s Jada Laird did not cap the game with a long three-point field goal and whether she made it or not would not have affected the outcome. But the crowd-pleasing attempt underlined the fun and festive atmosphere permeating WCI’s Devildome through both Captains/Veterans games.

“It was close,” said the St. Mary’s Warrior. “But like… it’s sad I didn’t make it,” Laird added, a smile refuting her words. “This is very fun,” she added.

Laird did knock down a free throw to hit the scoresheet, teammates Reagan White, Ava Stahle and Mila Kowalski each adding one basket, Callie Ireland and Avery Bradly four points each, Bella Sitko five and Ema-Leigh Hamilton six to capture Team Blue - Huron Park, St. Mary’s and Lord Dorchester - MVP honours.

“I think it was just fun to come out and play ball one last time,” summed up the latter. “It’s nice to get to know girls on the other teams too.”

A potent Team White - WCI and CASS - attack was led by Natalie Sutherland, who finished with 23 points and a victory in the halftime ‘highest points any way’ challenge. Brooklyn Donais added 17, Brooke Halward added 15, Emily Pye nine, Myla Reissner and Julia Baer six apiece, Jill Strik three and Eden Fraser one field goal.

As well as a chance to meet new people from opposing teams, the evening provided an opportunity for reunions with former or current elementary school, Woodstock Oxford Minor Basketball Association and Oxford Attack club teammates, said Team White’s Avery Molinaro.

“A very good, positive atmosphere with everyone.”

“Good memories,” agreed Halward, adding the night also provided an appreciated showcase for girls’ basketball in Oxford County. “It doesn’t get recognized very often.”