Team South takes top 20 game
Kaylee Giesbrecht’s first all-star game was a memorable one Wednesday night at St. Catharines Collegiate.
Although her Team North lost 62-54, the Grade 10 student at Saint Francis scored a team-high 14 points and was named her squad’s player of the game in the Top 20 game at the 17th Annual Niagara Girls All-Star Games.
The 15-year-old went into the game looking to enjoy herself.
“It was more of a fun thing. It was to get out and meet girls from other schools and play around. It was an experience learning to play with new people.”
She agreed her focus shifted a little once the game started.
“I did want to win it but I didn’t worry too much about it because it’s really just a fun game.”
Her first all-star experience was a learning one.
“I like to play with new people and get to know them and their style of game. You more or less have to improvise what you do.”
The Pelham Panthers under-16 travel player recently completed her first year of high school ball after missing her Grade 9 season because of a broken ankle.
“It was really hard, especially because it was my Grade 9 year. I was really looking forward to getting out there and getting involved with the school.”
Her first year of senior basketball was an adjustment.
“It was a really fast-paced game but I enjoyed getting to know the girls and playing with them. We developed a really good team experience.”
To take the next step as a basketball player, she plans to continue playing with her travel team and work on her conditioning.
On the other end of the court, Emma Venditelli enjoyed being among the best of the best.
“It felt good playing with players like this. There’s so many good players in the league and in high school so it was a good environment to be in and good to play with all of them,” Venditelli said. “It was fun.”
Venditelli netted 14 points and was named player of the game for the South in the 62-54 win victory.
The 16-year-old, Grade 11 student at A.N. Myer said it took some time for the team to come together.
“Most of us really didn’t know each other so we just tried to just get together as much as we could and do things we could do,” she said. “We talked about passing the ball, moving around to get the motion going which really started to get us going a lot of the time. After that, we started scoring a lot more and talked a lot more on defence after that. Once we got going we started playing more as a team which was hard because we really didn’t know each other.”
Venditelli, who plays Niagara JUEL, has aspirations to play at the next level.
“I really want to go Niagara U or Brock,” she said.
STATS PACK
Team South 62 Team North 54
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: Kaylee Giesbrecht from Saint Francis and Emma Venditelli from A.N. Myer.
For the South: Venditelli 14; Emma Sauer, Centennial 19; Brianna DeMarchi, Saint Michael 11; Camilla Moscato, Notre Dame 9; Addison Thornton, Lakeshore Catholic 8; Taylor Carr, Westlane 2; Riley Mueller, Greater Fort Erie 2. Others selected to participate: Desteny Murawiec, Eastdale; Carly Casciano. A.N. Myer; Addison Vandenberg, Smithville Christian; Amelia Silokowsky, E.L. Crossley.
For the North: Giesbrecht 14; Coco Van Nynatten, West Niagara 10; Sofia Sestili, Denis Morris 10; Shorleigh Burrows, Eden 5; Maria DiFlavio, Blessed Trinity 4; Mikeala Burke, Heritage 4; Morgan Barker, Sir Winston Churchill 3; Maria DiFlavio, Denis Morris 3. Others selected to participate: Annika Rigby and Shaylene Youngblunt, St. Catharines Collegiate; Aeryonah St. Amand-Thomas from Denis Morris; Anna Hammond, Thorold.
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