North rules Top 10 all-star game
Eden’s Katie de Vries capped an excellent season of high school basketball by being named Team North player of the game Wednesday night in the Top 10 game at the 17th Annual Niagara Girls All-Star Games at St. Catharines Collegiate.
“This was a great experience. The whole season was so much fun for me,” the Grade 10 student at Eden said. “I had a great team this season and I loved that I was able to play against some of my friends. And I had good coaching overall.”
The 15-year-old, who plays travel ball with Niagara Prep’s junior team, didn’t play high school basketball last year because of her travel commitments.
She had a blast playing for Eden.
“It was a lot of fun I am glad I got to do it this year.”
She enjoyed her first chance to play in the all-star games.
“I thought it was a lot of fun. I got to play with a bunch of really good players and got to learn how they play and how it goes on the bench being with all those good players.”
She was excited to play in the game.
“I was expecting a good game which it was and I was expecting to make some friends while I played.”
She wasn’t expecting to win player of the game honours.
“Coming in as a Grade 10 I wasn’t expecting that but I’m glad I got it.”
She has high hopes for her basketball career.
“I am hoping to get as far as I can get maybe university would be fun but I am taking it year by year.
Meanwhile, a late start on the court hasn’t prevented Ava Froese from becoming a top tier high school player.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Smithville Christian District High School was named player of the game for the South after netting 10 points.
“I’ve always been tall but I only started playing basketball in Grade 8,” the Niagara-on-the-Lake resident said. “It’s only my fifth year playing but I love it so much.”
Froese admitted it took some time to develop.
“My first year was very difficult playing outside of school. School basketball in grade school isn’t the best and it was a little difficult but then I caught on in my second year I was way better.”
Froese, who plays at the club level for Niagara Juel, has hopes to continue her career beyond high school.
“I’m still looking into some schools. I’m hoping to play post secondary,” she said. “We’ll see where my applications takes me.”
Froese, who also plays volleyball for the Storm, enjoyed her experience as well as being named player of the game.
“I feel like I played pretty good,” she said. “It was really fun.”
Froese felt her squad came together quickly.
“We obviously don’t know each other so it was a little difficult at first but then I felt at the end of the game we started working together and got to know how each player plays and were able to adapt to that.
“It was really nice. I felt like we played some really good basketball and the team was welcoming.”
Froese tried to approach the game like any other contest.
“The way I think about it is to play like I always play, try my hardest, and don’t worry about mistakes because everyone is human and they make mistakes,” she said. “Play like you always play and don’t sweat it.”
STATS PACK
Team North 66 Team South 47
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: Team North’s Katie de Vries (Eden) with 22 points and Team South’s Ava Froese (Smithville Christian) with 10 points.
For Team North: de Vries 22; Anya Namestnik (Sir Winston Churchill) 13; Kaydence Hales (Thorold) 7; Keira Teske (Governor Simcoe) 6; Magdalena Vukojev (Blessed Trinity) 6; Mairead Newhouse (Holy Cross) 3; Kate Smyth (Sir Winston Churchill) 3; Riyana Chahoud (Saint Francis) 2; Jenna Berry (Denis Morris) 2; Brianna Davis (Blessed Trinity) 2.
For Team South: Cadence Seredine (Port Colborne) 11; Froese 10; Ava Briggs (Notre Dame) 10; Jenna Saddler (A.N. Myer) 6; Sam Dino (Saint Paul) 4; Nicole Dixon (Notre Dame) 3; Sara Lowry (E.L. Crossley) 2. Also playing were L’Jayah Simmonds (E.L. Crossley), Mya Pierini (A.N. Myer) and Reagan Cassan (Lakeshore).
