SG Basketball: Coming Together with BCS

 

Coming up from the BCS locker room into the gym, their red team uniforms wore a black patch in memory of Coach K. He had quickly become an important role in their lives and a few tears were shed right at that moment. The team will wear the memorial patches with pride for the remainder of the current basketball season.

 

Then, in an extremely classy and caring moment, the next thing the team was confronted with was a bouquet of flowers and a card from the BCS senior girls team and their school community. They were sitting on the head coach seat on the Spartan bench. After absorbing that with even more emotion, we took a photo of the SC team around the chair with the flowers on it, and then one of both teams together.

 

It is at times like this that you really understand the unique relationship between our schools. We all have many friends, past and present, among both communities. We know students, siblings and cousins who have studied at both schools. Many faculty members have worked at both schools over the years. Many graduates end up in a university residence or sports team and become friends with students they competed against in SC-BCS sports over the years.  We are more alike and definitely connected in so many ways.  We compete valiantly in sports against one another, but we also understand the challenges each have had to face over the years. We share an almost exclusively respectful and friendly relationship that has lasted over 150 years. Both schools have also experienced tragedy and have been supportive if each other through these times.

 

The gesture of the bouquet by Mr. Bray, the BCS Director of Athletics, and Coach Ally Bray (who also both wore red today in our honour of the Spartans) will long be remembered by those of us who were there to live it, and hopefully those of you who read about it here. Thank you so much for your kindness, your classy gesture and your continual supportive nature.    
                        

As for the game, the Spartans were a little shaken and got off to a weak start while the Bears seemed unable to miss all shots thrown toward the basket from any angle or location. They knocked down several 2-point baskets and one 3 early on. As a result, BCS led after one quarter by a score of 11-7.

 

The second quarter saw an 8-7 score in the Spartans’ favour to end the half with the score at BCS 18 - SC 15. At this point at least, the game seemed a little more two-sided and a potentially winnable one for the Spartans. Coach Davis calmly emphasized the we had overcome the initial jitters and just needed to work collectively. Some better work on defence, some inside offensive play and a few made shots would help fix any issue going forward.

 

That proved correct as, in fact, after that point BCS would end up scoring only one more basket in the second half. The Spartans managed 19 points over the same span. Final score: SC 34 - BCS 20.

 

Maya led the team with leadership, athleticism and grit, scoring 12 points in dominating the second half; Clara chipped in 10 points in the key; Addy willed her team to success with great effort, especially in the first half, adding 8 points; Charlotte and Zoey each had a 2-point basket; finally Sarah sunk two key free throws to round out the team scoring.

 

Tomorrow the Spartans travel to Seminaire de Sherbrooke and then turn around to receive them at SC on Thursday. That will mean three games in three days, and five in five days this week with the RSEQ playoffs scheduled for Saturday. 

 

Congratulations to the Spartans on a challenging but successful day. Thanks again to our hosts from BCS.