The Eagles won their fifth consecutive game and seventh in eight after defeating Pender Harbour 67-31 on Jan. 21 in a game much closer than the final score suggests.
"Pender came out stoked and outplayed every member of our team in the first quarter," said Chat coach Sean Smith after Pender opened a 17-9 first quarter lead. "After we had a not so calm team meeting at the end of the first quarter, our players realized they'd have to play their best to get back in the game and they eventually found the will and the rhythm."
The Eagles never looked back after going on a 24-2 run to end the half. High scorers for Chat were Avery Payne with 17, Connor Weatherston with 14, while Luckner Bakwell added a season high nine points and led the team in rebounds with eight.
Be sure to check out Coast Reporter sports next week (Feb. 4) for an extended look at the senior boys team from Pender.
In league play, Chat defeated single A ninth- ranked Bodwell of North Vancouver 65-60 last Wednesday night, Jan. 19.
The Eagles played stingy defence against Bodwell, which had averaged 84 points prior to the game. Connor led the Eagles with 19 points, while Avery and Justin Hickey had 15 apiece. Kurtis Fernandes contributed 12 points in his sixth man role.
In other action last week, the Elphi senior boys dropped their latest league game, 66-34 to Sutherland on Jan. 20.
It was a tough week for the Elphi senior girls as they battled through flu and injury bugs.
Elphi lost 47-32 to Rockridge on Jan. 18.
Coach Lynn Moran said the team was not able to handle the Rockridge press very well and that hurt their shooting -only 35 per cent from the field and one of 13 from the foul line.
"It was a game that we probably should have won," Moran said.
Ellen Fallis led the way with 24 points.
On Jan. 20, Elphi had a good bounce back game against Seycove, currently ranked ninth in the province. And despite losing 69-42, Moran said it was one of their best efforts of the season.
Lauren Fallis had an outstanding game on the boards and lead all scorers with 16 points. Ellen added 10 and Gillian Sanders took some good open shots for six points.
On Jan. 21, Elphi played Caribou Hill in an exhibition game at Chat winning 43-19. Karli Davies had an outstanding game after recovering from the flu, leading Elphi with 20 points. Lauren once again was a force on the boards and chipped in with 10.
"In our recent games, we have been able to get more minutes from our least experienced players and we are really pleased with the improvement in their play," said Moran.
"We are a young team so the future looks good as long as the girls continue to work hard and improve their skills."
In bantam boys action, the Elphi Cougars dropped to 1-6 in league play following a 51-28 loss to Argyle on Jan. 19, while the Chat junior boys are still looking for their first win following a 57-7 loss to Collingwood on Jan. 18.
The juvenile (Grade 9) boys continue to roll right along with a perfect 6-0 league record following a 39-31 win over Seycove on Jan. 19. Up next for the Cougars is a game against Argyle and then a likely first-place battle with St. Thomas Aquinas on Monday.
The Cougars also played at the Sentinel Open High Tournament last weekend where they lost to the West Vancouver Highlanders in the championship final.
The Elphi juvenile girls split their games last week, dropping a 47-35 decision to Argyle in league play, while beating Chat 45-18 in an exhibition game. The Cougars are 2-3 in league play and 4-4 overall.
