For the New Westminster senior girls Hyacks, the 2016-17 season held a lot of promise, hope and expectations – as it does nearly every year.
But while the majority of players were Grade 11s, the goal of reaching the B.C. High School 3-A girls basketball championships proved to be a moving target.
New West saw its season come to a close Tuesday, one-win shy of punching their ticket to Langley, when they fell 77-69 to Yale in a must-win wildcard game.
Despite a 42-point performance from Grade 11 guard Sarah Forgie, the Hyacks were unable to stymie Yale’s three-point shooting game, which accounted for 33 of the Abbotsford team’s points.
Grade 10 guard Natalie Nastase counted 14 points and senior Jaime Lee chipped in nine in the loss.
Head coach Doug Woodward said the loss came down to one missing element.
"We had a great game but it came down to two words -- Devin Strome," said Woodward of his starting post. "She was very sick and didn't play the last four games for us and we really missed her."
Good for double digits and a handful-plus in rebounds, Strome's illness put pressure on other players who valiantly tried to fill the spot.
In the wildcard contest, New West found itself in a hole for most of the night and only overtook the Valley rival, getting ahead by four, midway through the fourth quarter. But Yale's outside shooters proved too hot to stop.
"We got the lead finally but (Yale) came down and shot a couple of threes. We thought maybe they'd crack but they just kept hitting their shots. They had some outstanding shooters."
The squad was devastated with the season ending a tournament short. The coach, meanwhile, said the lessons learned could pay off next season.
"The season really came down to (last week's) Argyle game. We kind of had it in our hands but in the fourth quarter only scored six and they scored 13 or something."
New West demonstrated all year why they were constantly in the mix and a serious challenge to their Lower Mainland rivals.
They posted a 27-7 record, including a perfect 7-0 mark in Burnaby-New West league play. Outside of the league, they flirted, with some success, with many of the top-ranked teams from the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley and the Island.
They also captured Collingwood, St. Thomas More and Bob Gair Classic tournament titles, while finishing second at a Hawaiian tourney in December.
The team will graduate Keja Davis, Sean He and Lee, but will potentially have 12 returnees, battling junior grads from the second-best district squad, for spots on the roster.
He noted the three grads will be missed, especially Lee's on-court leadership.
"(Lee's) leadership the whole year was excellent," said the coach. "She was also just an incredible hard worker."
Someone who never waivered in on- and off-the-court leadership was Forgie, who received numerous awards and recognition during the season.
"She did so well this year and there's going to be some growth in her game," said Woodward. "(Forgie) does so much, she's into track and field as a high jumper and that's given her so much in timing and vertical extension.
"She blocked more shots this year and her timing is so great. We have a shot next year (to get to the B.C.s) but everyone has to step up."
