Staff
The Muskie senior girls’ basketball team didn’t go down without a fight last Tuesday in Kenora.
After going winless during the eight-game regular season, the black-and-gold battled the Dryden Eagles in their NorWOSSA semi-final match before bowing out 28-20.
“It was a good game and team effort,” head coach Dan Bird said in an e-mailed response to the Times late last week.
“I don’t think the score is indicative of the game and effort put forth by the Muskies,” he remarked.
“We [came] out strong and again carried the play.
“Dryden come on in the second [half] and their press caused some turnovers that they converted on,” Bird added.
At the same time, Bird said the Muskies missed some good scoring opportunities.
“Dryden [had] a small scoring run in the third that was the difference,” he noted.
“Ellie Petsnick got into some foul trouble early in the third quarter, which took away the potential scoring combo with Sarah Larson,” he added.
Bird also said Jyllian Westover, Alina Eldridge, and Nadia Webb played well together.
“Nadia ran into foul trouble early in the fourth [quarter] and Alina was forced out with an ankle injury,” he remarked.
Bird also lauded the defensive play of Mykenzie Borger, Taylor Steinke, and Andrea Schram.
Bird said both he and assistant coach Mike Krueger were pleased and proud of the team’s effort against the Eagles, who then upset the Kenora Broncos 34-28 in the NorWOSSA final later Tuesday to snag the gold medal and a NWOSSAA berth.
“The girls understood they had to play their best to get past Dryden and we witnessed their best efforts, but [came] up short,” he noted.
“We did experience some wins in the opening tournament and in Thunder Bay, but the team did deserve more wins in the regular season,” Bird added.
“It is what it was.”
Bird called the team “a great group of young ladies to coach and learn from.”
He also said the future looks good for the Muskie senior girls’ basketball program, with some good young talent moving up from the junior ranks.
“It would be great if we get the spring program going again,” Bird noted.
“It always kept our program strong.”
