Regals feel they're up to the hardcourt challenge

It remains to be seen whether a very young Marymount Regals senior girls basketball team can take the next step in the years to come, providing a very real challenge to the likes of Lasalle and Lo-Ellen.

But with all of the SDSSAA squads entered into a single division this fall, it is clear that the Regals are not that far off. Marymount improved to 8-3 earlier this week with a 50-24 win over the St. Benedict Bears, earning the all-girls school a fourth place finish behind the two aforementioned powerhouse teams, as well as the Macdonald-Cartier Pantheres.

Sidney Smith paced the Regals attack with a 23-point outing, with Sterling Vaillancourt adding ten, and Gabrielle Schwabe chipping in with six.

"We've only got one Grade 12, and we even brought up some Grade 10s to play with us," said Smith after the game. "But we've been playing together for a lot of years, so we're all really good friends and have that team chemistry."

Still, the Regals have traditionally remained a Division B entry since the days of the Faiella girls a few years back, with a gap still to be closed before the team can battle tooth and nail with the likes of the Lancers and Knights.

"We're fairly confident with how we play, because we know we work well together," Smith said. "We knew that it would be harder this year than last year, but we kept a positive mindset, and we have a really good coach (Colin Lapalme) as well."

There is always much debate about the proper distribution of senior girls basketball teams in the city, though Smith and her cohorts don't appear frazzled by the status quo.

"We thought that it was good that we would get more practice playing harder teams, because that would help us get better," she said. "We were excited to have that new challenge."

Building up a 25-9 lead at the half, Marymount controlled this contest from start to finish, as many thought they might.

"We were nervous to play Lo-Ellen and Lasalle, but we were more at ease against St. Benedict's, because we know we play better in our home gym," admitted Smith. "There were some times when our passing was off, but we were good at noticing our mistakes and correcting them. I think that we can only get better."

Daniella Valle was the top scorer on the night for the Bears, netting eight points, with Delaney Pearson adding six. Playoffs kickoff off next Tuesday, with the championship games slated for Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.