The junior varsity basketball teams from R.D. Parker Collegiate both made it to the championship games at their latest tournament in Dauphin Feb. 12-13, but only one walked away a winner.

The Trojans girls went undefeated in the tournament, opening with a 51-34 win over Goose Lake, then beating Dauphin #1 66-39 before outscoring Swan Valley 72-40 in the final.

“The girls’ team defence was phenomenal over the past two weekends and has been their biggest improvement since the beginning of season,” said coach Kristin Donovan. “They are beginning to function as a unit as opposed to individual players.  They need to continue to work on their scoring abilities and their confidence to take the ball to the hoop.”

The boys' team beat Swan Valley 58-55 to start the tournament and followed it up with 51-32 and 58-52 wins over Dauphin #2 and Dauphin #1 before falling 52-23 to Dauphin #1 in the championship game.

“The level of competition was high and all the guys responded,” said coach Wes Braun. “We lost in the final by quite a bit but we had two key players unavailable.  We really struggled to score but held Dauphin to 19 at the half, leaving us only six points back.” 

Both teams are now preparing for the Zone 11 championships in Flin Flon, which start Feb. 26.

“The girls are very focused and keen to improve on their weaknesses,” said Donovan. “The girls were each given cards outlining what they need to work on as individual players and they will continue to work on those until the zone weekend which we are hoping to win so our season can be extended another couple weeks until the provincials in Steinbach.”

Braun says the zone tournament will be a tough challenge for his squad.

“We face a strong team from The Pas this year and will have to play our best ball to beat them.”

Donovan says she hopes her team doesn’t take its foot off the gas pedal.

  “My hope is that they do not take their successes thus far for granted and that they continue to push themselves as hard as ever in the event that they do make the provincial championships and have an opportunity to play for the gold again,” she said, referring to the provincial championship the girls’ team won last year. “They are a very deserving group of individuals who have showed much heart since the beginning of the season and I hope that their efforts will pay off.”