Their shooting reflected a team that hadn’t played a game in nearly three weeks.
At the same time, the coach felt for the first contest of 2018, they were a little slow.
Still, by winning 78-18, the New Westminster senior girls Hyacks appear to be on track for a serious playoff push.
Although their competition on Tuesday, Steveston-London, was a younger, smaller rival, it was an opportunity to restart the season after the holiday break.
Despite signs of rust, Hyacks head coach Doug Woodward called the overall effort a good sign.
“We played well enough and got a good workout,” said Woodward of the game. “That was kind of our focus going in.”
Devin Strome counted 22 points in just over 20 minutes of floor time, while Mia Obrovac chipped in 18 points. Kanon Imachi scored 12 and Tianna Gough counted seven.
“Our shooting wasn’t very good, and I don’t know if we hit any threes,” said Woodward. “I knew it wasn’t going to be any good because at the last practice it was awful.
“If you don’t have that rhythm then, it carries over.”
New West improved to 13-0 on the year with a 79-26 victory over Burnaby North a day later in just their second league game. Strome led the way with 18 points while Khadija Allen netted 12. Contributing 11 each were Sarah Forgie and Imachi.
In Tuesday’s game, Woodward had Forgie work at distributing the ball and get it to the paint for Strome.
“(Strome) could have scored a lot more but she only played half the game,” he noted. “She has this shot from the paint area, she just puts it up, no backboard, just straight in. (Strome) has a great touch around the hoop.”
And while he needed to utilize his bench depth, Woodward was impressed by how international student Imachi ran the court.
“(Imachi) can play the whole game; she doesn’t get tired. She looks tired, but she sprints the whole game.”
The margin of victory for the Hyacks continues to be fairly comfortable, with an average of nearly 34 points between them and their opponent. Only on two occasions – a seven-point win over Little Flower Academy, and a 10-point decision over St. Thomas More – has the difference been less than 17 points. Seven times they’ve won by more than 40 points.
That’s one reason why Woodward is excited about this weekend’s schedule at the Heritage Woods tournament in Port Moody, where the competition will help gauge their progress in the hunt for a top-three Lower Mainland tournament finish -- and a berth to the provincials. If they beat Handsworth in the opening game, it will likely line them up against the host Kodiaks.
Heritage Woods was ranked No. 7 in 3-A at the last poll, while Carson Graham – who are on the other side of the draw and one of New West’s rivals at the Lower Mainland level – are rated 10th.
A strong effort likely will provide the players some context in regards to the battle ahead, he said.
“I want to play (Heritage Woods),” said Woodward. “What I’ve seen shows a solid team, they’ve been ranked and they will give us a good test to see where we’re at. If we play them, it won’t be easy.”
