Judging from the opening minutes of the second half, few would suspect the game would be determined by the final minute of play as Takhini Gas outshot Feature Foods 39-37 in Sunday’s women’s basketball league.
Coming into the second up 18-13, Takhini (8-1-0) scored 11 straight points, the last of which came from a jumper by Kate Olynyk.
However, with six minutes left to play, Foods (1-8-0) moved within two of Takhini, eventually tying the game 37-37 with a minute left.
“We got sloppy,” said Takhini’s Nat Gionet, of the latter part of the second half. “We turned the ball over a lot (and) they were fast breaking all the time.”
Feature Foods may have had a little extra bounce in their step, still riding the high of recording their first win of the season November 13, beating the Kopper Kweens 48-45.
“Everyone was playing well,” said Foods’ Diedre Davidson, about her team’s first win, in which she led her team with 16 points. “It was a good game all around … I think we just found some of our chemistry, I mean, we were able to drop a few, so it was good in that sense.
“Coming off of our first win, I think we wanted to get something else happening again,” said Davidson. “It’s only going to get better.”
Last week, league organizers shuffled some players to help equalize the teams. Picking up Alcina Banks from the Kopper Kweens, according to Davidson, was a big help.
“I think everything is starting to click,” said Davidson. “We did a switch of some players, so we got a new player. We got a big post — Alcina Banks is now playing for us.”
With just 30 seconds to play, Takhini’s Marie Cairns put up a shot from just inside the arc to sink the winning basket.
Foods’ Angella Ell led both teams in points, scoring 22. Gionet and Sukie Sidhu of Takhini each earned 10 points.
High scoring game
goes to Chalets
In the highest scoring game that the league has seen this season, the Airport Chalets (5-4-0) took an early lead and grew it through the game en route to a 68-53 win over the Kopper Kweens (4-5-0) Sunday at FH Collins Secondary.
“We always have close games with this team,” said Chalet’s Sarah Crane, who put 26 points worth through the steel. “Our shots were really falling well today … So that helped us a lot, especially at the start.
“When we pushed the ball on the fast break, we did really well because they’re really aggressive in the backcourt, so if we could get it out and have one, then we would have 2-on-1s or 3-on-1s.”
The Chalets’ biggest lead came with five minutes left on the clock when May Nyugen, who totaled 19 points in the game, put up a three pointer to put her team up 66-47.
“They’re a big team who can shoot from the outside, so they had an advantage over us both ways,” said Kweens’ Valerie Ireland. “They were tough inside and had great shots from the outside. And so they took the lead early and ran with it and we were trying to catch up and keep up, but not tonight. Maybe next time.
“That’s what’s great about having only four teams: we’ll see them in another three weeks,” she added.
Sharlaina Bain and Ann Jirousek led the Kweens’ charge with 14 and 13 points.
Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com