The final score wasn't the best outcome for the Vanier Vikings White team but rather not what they were happy to report.
They lost 89 - 41 to the Peacock Toilers in junior boys high school basketball on Thursday evening.
But in the words of the Vikings assistant coach of what is ostensibly Vanier's “B team”, improving and having fun on the court was well worth what on paper looks like yet another drubbing.
For Peacock's head coach, the game and victory were just what the Toilers needed – a game with two winning teams.
The game saw the Toilers make the first basket in the first minute and never look back.
The score at the end of the First Quarter was Peacock 21 and Vanier 10.
The Half Time Score was Peacock 44 and Vanier 25.
The score at the end of the Third Quarter was Peacock 68 and Vanier 31 as the home team turned up the heat with fast rushes and layups racking up the baskets
The Final Score was Peacock 89 and Vanier 41.
Top Scorers For Peacock
- Kaison - 24 points
- Kayden - 12 points
Top Scorers For Vanier
- R Fortin - 11 points (9 points by three pointers)
- Miguel Fortin - 8 points
Despite the loss, Vanier Vikings White assistant coach Paul Diggins was very happy with his team's play.
“I am so proud of how my guys are doing. We have got a lot of guys who have never played basketball before with very little experience and they are becoming better by leaps and bounds,” Diggins said.
He pointed out how the scoresheets have improved for the team.
Diggins said the team is ready to learn and are easy to coach.
“They just listen so well and try to put into play what we are doing. I can't say enough about the kids.”
Being Vanier's “B Team means there are nine Grade Nines on the 13 player roster.
Diggins pointed out the B team is all about player development and having fun.
“Somebody asked me why…and I said ‘it is not all about winning.’”
“These guys are learning it. They are absorbing it. At the beginning (of the season) we were getting pounded and they were coming to practice with a smile on their face,” he said.
“You can't beat that.”
Diggins said the effort should pay off with more than a few likely headed off to play on Vanier's junior boys “A Team” next season.
Peacock Toilers head coach Kara Rigden said for her team it was two different games.
“I thought in the first half we didn't play very good defensively. And I thought in the second half we had time to regroup at half time. We came out and our defense was much better,” Rigden said.
Thursday evening's game for the Toilers was a split in intensity between the two halves of play.
“In the second half once we picked up our intensity; we actually did some really good things and then we got scores off of it too.”
Both teams - as are other teams in both boys and girls in junior and senior ranks - on an exam week break.
