It’s been kind of a wacky return for the Oilfields Drillers to Senior girls’ high school basketball.
After a two-year absence and bouncing through a coaching conundrum to begin the season the program returned and capped its resurgence with an unexpected trip to the 2A Senior girls’ provincials last weekend in Three Hills.
Although the Drillers lost both games, co-coach Barb Binkley said the girls proved they deserved to be there.
“The top four teams were above everybody else, but the teams from five to 12 were all quite close in school level,” Binkley said. “We were competitive with all of them.”
The Drillers opened the tournament with a 57-54 loss to Notre Dame High School on March 17. Oilfields was then eliminated when they were downed 73-53 by Central Alberta Christian on March 18.
“We played one good game and a good half,” Binkley said. “We were tied in the second game at half-time and then the wheels fell off.”
Binkley said the Drillers’ lack of experience at the provincial level hurt them.
“This experience will do them a lot of good,” Binkley said. “We went in there so ga ga it was overwhelming. What was really exciting is they went to watch Prairie Christian (the host school) play and it was just packed.”
The Drillers had every right to be a little gaga. Oilfields hasn’t had a Senior girls team for two years. As well, their season got off to a rocky start when the coach pulled the pin because of family commitments just days before the start of the season.
Binkley and boys’ basketball coach Randy Heidebrecht stepped into take over the team. They also received assistance from the boys’ JV coach Bruce Orr.
“We did it because we wanted the girls to play basketball,” Heidebrecht said.
Heidebrecht and Binkley worked well together.
“Randy can see the big picture while the game is going on while I was more focused on talking to the girls individually on the bench about their skills and what they should be doing on the court,” Binkley said. “It worked out well.”
Heidebrecht agreed.
“I am more focused on the game, I might be thinking about substitutions, but I know Barb is talking to the girls on the bench.”
Heidebrecht admitted Binkley might have a slightly softer touch when speaking to the young ladies. However, both coaches said the credit for any success goes to the Drillers’ players for sticking the season out.
Senior Jessie Elliott said the year surpassed her expectations.
“At the start of the season, I didn’t think we could get to provincials because we haven’t had a Senior team for two years,” Elliott said. “But we really grew as a team.”
The Drillers finished third at the 2A South Central Zone tournament in High River on March 12. They got the word they qualified for the provincials as a wildcard early last week.
“At first we thought only the top two teams would get to go,” said Grade 12 student Kayla Hughes. “This is especially good for our younger players because they have worked so hard.”
She credited the coaches for making it happen, adding she was concerned when the first coach announced he was stepping down.
“I was really happy when Mr. Heidebrecht and Ms. Binkley stepped in,” Hughes said. “I had worked with Randy one-on-one before and I know he can push (people) really hard. I always liked Barb, she knows a lot about basketball.”
Binkley – or “Mom” as some Drillers call her — played basketball at the University of Toronto while Heidebrecht played for the University of Manitoba Bisons.
