The KVR Grade 7 girls and Okanagan Hoops under-13 team hosted Rutland Middle School grade 7s last weekend.
Rutland brought two teams, Blue and White.
The KVR Express defeated Team Blue 33-20. Ella Simmons led the offensive charge with 10 points and five steals, while Marissa Lemioer and McKenna Robson scored six and five points, respectively.
“The girls had a scrimmage before the winter break, but this was their first real game action,” said coach Chris Terris. “They did remarkably well.”
Terris added that Simmon’s great anticipation and aggressiveness is a combination that leads several steals and transition opportunities.
Game two featured the Okanagan Hoops handily defeating Rutland White, 50-6.
Olivia Devito drained 13 points, while Rylee MacDonald netted eight, Liev Elder, Emma Terris and Kayley Davies with six. Kate Coombes added four.
“Olivia has developed a nice touch and she’s doing a good job of finding ways to score,” said Terris. “Rylee had her best game of the season. She was rewarded for some great cuts and her willingness to attack the basket.”
The Okanagan Hoops then handled Rutland Blue much the same, winning 52-4. Devito was at it again with 16 points, while Elder and Davies sunk eight and Terris, six.
“Given the disparity in scores, we tried to just slow the pace and execute our offense,” said Terris. “The girls showed some good patience and moved the ball well.”
Rutland White then got in the win column with a 38-28 decision against the Express. Lemioer scored eight, while Simmons had seven, Calissa Stewart six and Cassidy Thomsen, four.
Terris said the Express had a lull in the third quarter, but the players kept battling.
“We’ve got the first local middle school tournament next weekend, so it was a great chance to get a couple of games to try and execute what we’ve been practicing,” he said.
The tournament at KVR this weekend starts with a game between McNicoll Park and Skaha Lake Middle School 2 at 9 a.m.
SMS plays SLMS 1 at 10 a.m., KVR faces McNicoll at 11 a.m., SLMS is against SMS at noon and the final game is at 1 p.m. between KVR and SLMS 1.
On Jan. 27, the Okanagan Hoops are at McNicoll at 3:15 p.m.