The Princess Margaret Mustangs senior girls basketball team picked up a third-place finish in Summerland after nearly two weeks off.
Mustangs coach Dave Killick said the team accomplished what they wanted in the tournament.
“Get the rust off, run and compete hard.”
The Mustangs topped the hosts 61-49 with an 18 point performance by Reiley Terbasket on Jan. 30. Along with Terbasket, Caitlyn Neary collected 14 points, while Shinaaz Johal chipped in 11.
“They step up every game and play hard and contributed,” said Killick. “Their leadership has carried us a long way this year.”
Steph Gomes-Ortiz had another strong defensive game to go with five points.
Killick liked how his players moved the ball up the floor and how they spread the court. That allowed them to score several baskets on transition.
The only loss for the Mustangs came at the hands of the Keremeos Sparks, 56-49. The Mustangs were unable to contain Madison Terbasket-Winsor, who exploded for 32 points. Killick said the Mustangs got into foul trouble, a lot of them called while trying to check Terbasket-Winsor. Terbasket again led the way for the Mustangs with 24 points, while Neary chipped in eight to go along with Johal and Gomes-Ortiz each adding six.
The Mustangs recovered from that loss by defeating Seaton (Vernon) 67-23. Johal was a force in the paint with 21 points to go along with Neary’s 16. Harleen Bansoota had a strong game with eight points while Manreet Grewal and junior call-up Cassie Hannon each knocked down five points.
Killick said his team worked hard on the defensive side and rebounded well.
On Monday, the Mustangs were in Kelowna to play the Kelowna Secondary School Owls B squad and won the exhibition match 56-54. Neary drained two free throws to carry the Mustangs to victory. She finished with 26 points.
Gomes-Ortiz collected nine points while Terbasket and Johal each contributed six. Simran Sidhu had a strong game at both ends of the floor recording five points to go with her strong defensive play. Hannon showed exceptional leadership filling in for Terbasket after she fouled out mid-way through the fourth quarter.
The next action for the Mustangs will come on Feb. 12 when they host the Summerland Rockets for the south zone championship.