Girls SPIRIT GAME: Handsworth vs. Aden Bowman (SK)

This Spirit Game game kicks off our annual ‘No Regrets’ Basketball Tournament, seeing Handsworth Royals Senior Girls play Aden Bowman who have traveled all the way from Saskatoon (which is almost the furthest a team has traveled this year-but Australia takes the cake on that one). We aren’t sure how much sleep Aden Bowman got last night as both boys and girls team are staying in the same AirBNB house over in Vancouver, but they look ready to go!

This is Crazy P’s 9th year with the tournament, as he pumped up the crowd before the QKF took over the tournament over four years ago (previously the North Shore Invitational). He hypes up the Handsworth fans like no other and we are lucky to have him back.

WIth a packed house, Aden Bowman got an early lead as they won the tip for an easy lay-in. Early subs came in for Handsworth but, 3 minutes in to the first quarter, they remained scoreless. With 5 minutes remaining in the quarter, Aden Bowman led 4-3. A timeout by Aden Bowman couldn’t rile them up as Julia Strigl went to the foul line twice in 10 seconds, one an ‘And-One’,. Strigl then made a steal but Handsworth couldn’t capitalize on it. Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie with a textbook box-out helped Handsworth gain control towards the end of the first quarter. With the crowd behind them, Handsworth was able to take the lead with a score of 11-7 at the end of the first quarter.

To start the second quarter, Aden Bowman turned the ball over a couple of times, but Handsworth was unable to score off the opportunities. Aden Bowman then had their share of steals off Handsworth and tied the game at 13, three minutes in to the second quarter. Handsworth pulled ahead 16-13 but a three from Aden Bowman’s Hailey Poier would tie the game.

At the half: 19-Handsworth 23-Aden Bowman

Handsworth’s Dance Team put on an incredible performance at half-time. It must have energized Handsworth as Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie hit a banked three 2 minutes into the second half, bringing them to within two of Aden Bowman. Bowman’s Maya Thakore would drain two on a lay-in, answered by Fieldgate-Feenie for another two.

Handsworth tied up the game thanks in part to Sydney Fieldgate-Feenie going to the line and draining two. Bowman’s Anna Wiebe got fouled on an And One but couldn’t make the third point. Fieldgate-Feenie would drain two at the buzzer to put Handsworth up 35-33 heading into the fourth quarter.

Handsworth’s #13 Samantha Mark, who is in Grade 9, didn’t show her age as she played most of the game for the Royals. Her defensive abilities helped her team stay up on Aden Bowman 40-39 with 5 minutes to go in the game. Handsworth’s #12 Michelle Sue would add two points to that lead and then head to the line on the next possession. Bowman’s #3 Maya Thakore would answer back with two, but it wasn’t enough to put Bowman in the lead. Down three with 2 minutes to go, Bowman took use of their timeout to formulate a plan to take over. It worked, as Bowman’s #7 Hayley Poier hit a three to tie the game just seconds later.

Julia Strigl would head to the line and drain both shots with one minute left, tying the game at 47, but Bowman would also head to the line, scoring one putting them up by one, 48-47. With the point differentiation being no more than 4 points throughout the game, Aden Bowman edged Handsworth to take the win in the first round of the 2018 ‘No Regrets’ Tournament here on the North Shore!