It generally stands to reason that when a high school basketball team wins a provincial championship, there’s a tremendous amount of turnover the following season as players graduate and move on.
That’s anything but the case for the Vanier Spirits -- and if the result on opening night of Moose Jaw High Schools Athletic Association play is any indication, repeating as 4A girls provincial champions isn’t just a goal, it’s very, very likely.
The Spirits took the court with all but two players returning from the team that won the first city title for Vanier since 2010 last season and went on to an 83-33 victory over the Peacock Toilers at Peacock.
Vanier’s entire line-up from 2022-23 -- with the exception of high-scoring guard Feona Tolentino and fellow graduate Olga Ruberwa -- was on the court Wednesday, and the results showed against the youth-laden Toilers.
The Spirits roared out to a 22-0 lead to start the game and the Toilers weren’t able to get on the board until Jakson McAuley hit a jumper from just inside three-point range with a minute remaining in the first quarter.
At the other end of the court, the Spirits almost couldn’t miss, with their experience and ability to get inside the paint leading to a handful of lengthy runs. That all led to a 26-4 lead Vanier after the opening quarter, and the Spirits would keep things going after the break.
The Toilers found their range as the half progressed, but Vanier would take a 48-13 lead into the half and eventually go on to their 50-point win.
Waverly Demassi led Vanier with 22 points, while Ava Kindiak scored 16 and Cady Olson nine. Mattaya Coupland scored nine for the Toilers, McAuley added eight.
The Central Cyclones found themselves in a defensive battle in their opener in Assiniboia against the Rockets, eventually going on to a 35-29 victory.
The contest was close throughout, as Central eked out a 10-8 lead through the first quarter and the two teams were tied 23-23 at the break.
Ellah Flanagan led Central with nine points, while Addison Simpson scored eight. Madeleine Simonson topped Rockets scored with 10 points.
The Swift Current Ardens made their Moose Jaw league debut on Wednesday night in Swift Current and looked every part the tough 5A team they’re expected to be, rolling to a 104-16 win over the Lumsden Angels.
Danica Jackson led the Ardens with 18 points, while Kylee Michaluk scored 17. Kierra Winquist scored five for Lumsden, Jocelyn Young had four.
The Peacock Toilers had a solid showing in the first boys league game of the season, pouring in an incredible 37 points in the first quarter and going on to a 113-26 victory over the Vanier Vikings.
The Toilers’ offence was firing on all cylinders throughout the opening 20 minutes, as they led 70-10 at the half before cooling off a touch and ‘only’ putting up 45 points after the break.
Mukungu Mutabazi led Peacock with 23 points, while Jordan Selensky added 17, Luke Andrew 13, Riley Johnson 12, Kayden Lang 12 and Owen Varjassy 10.
Jared Mana was Vanier’s top scorer with nine points, Cruz Pambrun put up six.
The Swift Current Colts opened their inaugural Moose Jaw campaign with an 83-39 win over the Lumsden Devils.
Thad Holliday was the top scorer for Swift Current, Duncan Gevana added 13. Ben Pollack topped Lumsden with 25 points, Aiden Hill had seven.
Teams are back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 5, with girls league play seeing Central at Vanier (7:30 p.m.), Peacock at Lumsden (5:30 p.m.) and Assiniboia at Swift Current 6 p.m. Central is at Lumsden (7:10 p.m.) and Swift Current is at Vanier (5:50 p.m.) in boys action.
