No Regrets Tournament: Day 1

Handsworth Comes Out on Top of Day 1 of No Regrets Tournament
December 7, 2017

Game 1: Handsworth Royals vs New West Hyacks  (Boys)

The Annual North Shore Spirit Games of the “No Regrets” Tournament are always an anticipated event in the North Shore basketball community. Walking into the gym 20 minutes before the game, both teams had taken the court and were warming up, but were classes still in session. 5 minutes later the bell rang and students swarmed to the gym right until tip-off and well into the first quarter.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

Handsworth called out all the stops, inviting Local Super Fan Crazy P, who armed with a t-shirt gun, smoke machine and an array of strobe lights got the crowd pumped up! By the time tip-off came around, there was standing room only as the bleachers were full and courtside seats were all occupied by senior students and parents.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

In a hostile gym the New West Hyacks came out and won the jump ball, but it was #11 Ben Grant and the Royals who lit up the scoreboard first, opening the game with a three ball. Handsworth was off to a strong start with a equal dose of inside scoring from Grant and a couple of 3’s that put them up 15-6 early causing New West to call a time-out. The Hyacks responded out of the time out with a bucket from #7 Luka Cuk followed by a three ball from #10 Ramadan Ali. The crowd was electrified once again by #11 Ben Grant for the Royals as he had a huge chase down block in transition. The score after one quarter was 26-17 for the Royals.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

The second quarter opened and both teams had clearly calmed themselves down from the energy in the gym and were settling into their half court sets. Crafty guard, #10 Ramadan Ali of the Hyacks was pushing the ball every chance he got, but the Royals size inside was proving tough to score on. The score at the half was 45-31 for the home team.

At halftime, spectators were presented with two high energy performances from the Handsworth Dance Team that kept the crowd engaged before the teams returned from the locker room ready to make adjustments for the second half of play.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

Whatever the Hyacks talked about clearly worked as they forced four consecutive turnovers by the Royals to open the second half. As the Royals got back to their style of basketball, #10 Josh Butler picked up right where he left off in the first half, attacking the rim and getting easy buckets. Handsworth’s adjustment came in the form of a 2-3 zone that caused some early troubles for the New West team. New West soon started penetrating the zone and finding the gaps forcing Handsworth back to a man-to-man defence. Upon the defensive change, #10 Ramadan Ali of the Hyacks hit a deep two point jump shot that certainly looked like he was fouled as well. The Hyacks had closed the lead to a nine point game with 3:19 left in the third quarter. Handsworth answered and the score entering the fourth was 60-45 for the Royals.

Royals guard #3 Blake Mclean opened the fourth with a three pointer and transition lay up, but despite the clear home court advantage, Handsworth was missing it’s free-throws which allowed New West to stay in the game early in the 4th. #13 Manny Phangura had stayed steady inside and #11 Alex Tehkle knocked down back to back triples which brought the score to 71-58. That last run was as close as the Hyacks could get in the 4th as the Royals closed them out to a final score of 75-61.

No Regrets Player of the Game: Handsworth Royals #10 Josh Butler

Scoring Leaders:

Handsworth Royals:

#3 Blake Mclean - 20 Points

#11 Ben Grant - 19 Points

New West Hyacks

#10 Ramadan Ali - 13 Points

#13 Manny Phangura - 10 Points

Game 2: Handsworth Royals vs Sturgeon Heights Huskies(Winnipeg) (Girls)

Game 2 of the “No Regrets” Tournament Spirit Games double header at Handsworth featured the home team Royals playing the Sturgeon Heights Huskies who made the trip out west from Winnipeg. The girls landed in Vancouver and came straight to their game! After a quick lunch break following the boys game, the home gym quickly filled to capacity with standing room only again. Crazy P, still armed with his t-shirt gun, smoke machine, and an epic light show ignited the crowd for the starting line ups.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

The Royals won the tip off and quickly got on the scoreboard from the free throw line. #6 Cayla Sagan opened the scoring for the Huskies with a nice bucket off of an inbounds play. Drawing energy from the crowd, the Royals put up a quick 6-2 lead behind a big block from Handsworth’s #24 Julia Strigl that led to a fast break lay-up followed by a three from Strigl on the next possession which caused the visitors to call a time-out. The full court pressure from Sturgeon Heights gave Handsworth some troubles early as it appeared the Royals weren’t used to playing at that pace. Luckily for the Royals, the Huskies struggled facing the 2-3 zone defence of Handsworth. After one quarter the Royals led 13-6.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)\

Shots that weren’t falling for the out of town visitors immediately started to fall in the second quarter with #9 Trish Kanu and #1 Britney Blunderfield each knocking down a triple. With 7:20 left the score was all tied up at 15 a piece. Handsworth came back aggressive on the defensive end forcing a turnover that put Royals Guard #11 Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie out in transition. Driving to the rim with players all around her, she managed an acrobatic euro-step finish that got the crowd on its feet! The Huskies hot shooting continued as #1 Britney Blunderfield knocked down another triple followed by #10 Kayla Dau with a triple of her own. At the half the home team Royals were up 27-22.

Following two more electrifying performances from the Handsworth Dance Team, the teams returned to the court ready for the second half. The visiting Huskies put two baskets in to open the half but Handsworth responded with a 4-0 run of their own. Sturgeon Heights was relentless pushing the pace and forcing the Royals into turnovers with their full court pressure, however Handsworth’s ability to get offensive rebounds and second chances had the home team up 35-28 with 3:00 minutes to go in the third quarter. The Royals were being led by #24 Julia Strigl who continued to do a bit of everything whether it be rebounding, defending or scoring. The hot shooting of the Huskies continued though, and #6 Cayla Sagan had a euro-step in transition of her own to close the visitors within three to end the third. Royals led 39-36 entering the fourth.

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo)

With the final school bell having gone, most of the students had gone home except for the faithful fans that made their way courtside to accompany Crazy P who was still going strong! A couple quick buckets from Handsworth were once again answered by Sturgeon Heights #6 Cayla Sagan who hit another three for the Huskies. Down 51-43 with four minutes left, the Huskies called a time-out and drew up a play for #4 Anna Kernaghan who knocked down the open free throw line jumper. #11 Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie of Handsworth took over in the final minutes scoring a number of driving lay-ups in transition. With the lead up to 10, Sturgeon Heights #1 Britney Blunderfield continued her attack and hit back-to-back lay-ups to pull the Huskies within six. The Huskies got it within in four, but when it came down to foul, Handsworth’s #6 Jenelle McComb knocked down a pair of free throws to ice the game. The Royals defended their home court to a final score of 61-55.

No Regrets: Player of the Game: Handsworth Royals #11 Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie

Scoring Leaders:

Handsworth Royals:

#11 Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie - 15 Points

#10 Elizabeth Marks-Worling - 12 Points

Sturgeon Heights Huskies:

#4 Anna Kernaghan - 17 Points

#1 Britney Blunderfield - 11 Points