The Foothills Senior girls basketball squad took a step forward this weekend — on and off the court.
Foothills lost in the finals of the 2011 Falcons Classic basketball tournament on Saturday to Crescent Heights of Calgary, 70-64 in Okotoks.
The loss did not diminish what was a successful outing for the Falcons, who advanced to the finals by going undefeated in the pool portion of the tournament.
The Foothills Composite squad also showcased a new attitude during the tournament, focusing on team play as opposed to individual success.
“We really turned a corner this weekend,” coach Travis Wilson said. “It wasn’t so much anything that we did on the court so much as just the attitude that we have (and) the approach that we’re taking.”
“We are a brand-new team,” added Morgan Hogge, a Grade 12 forward for the Falcons.
The revamped Falcons came into the tournament with the mandate of being a fast break, running team.
Hogge was pleased to see the Falcons’ work in practice actually translate to the game. All season the Falcons have worked on pushing the ball up the floor and the results were evident during last weekend’s clashes.
“We did that a lot this weekend,” Hogge said of instituting the team’s new philosophy. “We actually demonstrated what we were doing at practice.”
Buoyed by the quick feet of guard Noelle Reboul, Foothills was able to push the pace in winning both of their games against two Calgary schools in close affairs. Foothills edged out Rundle College 65-61 and defeated St. Francis 63-56.
“Those are two teams in Calgary that can compete,” Wilson said.
By virtue of winning their pool, the Falcons advanced to the finals and a matchup with the other pool winner, Crescent Heights.
Although they took a two-point lead into the half-time break, Foothills eventually succumbed to Crescent Heights and their superior outside shooting.
The Falcons also struggled with fouls for the entire game and surrendered several free throw opportunities on their way to defeat.
“We kind of got away from our systems a bit,” Wilson said. “That hurt us a bit in terms of our ability to get quick baskets.”
The fact they beat two Calgary schools and fell in a closely contested final was what the Falcons chose to take away from the weekend’s games.
The change in mindset amongst the entire team was evident to coach and players alike. Instead of worrying about individual statistics or playing time, the Falcons have decided to focus on team play to propel them forward.
“What we were able to accomplish was because of a total team (effort). Every single one of the girls stepped up and played incredibly hard,” Wilson explained.
Foothills currently sits fifth in the Foothills Athletic Council (FAC) standings, trailing the first-place Holy Trinity Academy by four victories.
In order to bridge the gap, the Falcons plan to take the lessons learned from this weekend and incorporate them into the remainder of the season.
The Senior girls squad is tired of being underestimated, Hogge insisted. The time is now for them to make a move.
“I want people to say that we are a good team,” she said.
The Falcons will resume FAC play on Feb. 2 at Highwood High School versus the Mustangs. The game will start at 5:30 p.m.
