This season's edition of the senior boys' basketball team at Pender Harbour Secondary School has again continued the building of a mighty tradition.
They have built upon the foundation of spirit, which has always been present in the school and in the community. They have also continued the tradition of excellent coaching with this year's tandem, including the return of sophomore Adam Dornbierer and the debut of Bennett Rothenberger -both of whom played successfully for the Sakinaws during former periods of glory.
The players themselves are doing a wonderful job of continuing the spirited tradition in their own right. Each practice they work a little harder. Each pre-game warm-up shows more poise and confidence, and in each game they demonstrate greater skill sets and teamwork.
This year's squad includes seniors Timo Antilla, Michael Pazur, Dominic Foster, Charles Christian and Travis Ramsey-Wall as well as Grade 11s Joel Field, Parker Hohn, Austin Eaton and Luke Roose and Grade 10 Angus Marshall.
When the boys put on the "green" they sparkle in all respects and do their passionate best to make every game they play very interesting.
Officials (like our own Michele Mocellin and Earl Antilla) in exhibition games and tournaments never fail to comment on their "never-say-die" attitude, their sportsmanship and sense of fair play - trophies the team can flaunt proudly.
The team also owes a great deal of thanks for their many opportunities to play exhibition games and tournaments to Antilla, who has taken on the task of managing the team and acting as interim coach when coaches Rothenberger and Dornbierer are not available.
Exhibition games with Elphinstone and Chatelech have gone well, with the visiting teams posting victories. A big win at home 62-60 against triple A Brooks High School from Powell River really boosted the boys' spirits.
Pender has also played successful tournaments at Elphi and at the Bodwell Academy in North Vancouver where they pulled out a come-from-behind victory against Carver Christian. Still to come is a tournament in Ashcroft, and, of course, more exhibition games. The season will eventually wind down (or "up" as the case may be) with provincial preliminary action and zone playoffs in yet-to-be-determined locations.
Regardless of what lies ahead this month and the first weeks of March, the team has been truly successful to this point and will no doubt continue to improve and add to the truly magnificent tradition of basketball and athletics at PHSS.
-Submitted
