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No title, but Rams return victorious

Rams finish 9th at Provincials because of first-game loss.

The girls representing Ashcroft Cache Creek and the surrounding area, did an outstanding job at the Provincial A Basketball Championships in Sparwood last week.

They finished with a record of three wins and one loss, in 9th place.

It saddens me that they will have the same record as the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd, but because they lost their first game, were relegated to the consolation side of the draw, meaning that 9th was the highest they could finish. The team finishing 8th will have a record of one win and three losses and the teams finishing 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th will have records of two wins and two losses. Ashcroft is a far better team than the final Provincial rankings will indicate.

The girls opened with a heartbreaking loss to Unity Christian from the Fraser Valley 87-74. Their second game was against Pemberton, one that they won fairly easily, 74-63. They then faced Southside in the consolation semi final.  This proved to be a real challenge and was a nail biter. Ashcroft trailed 13-9 at the end of the first quarter and 29-28 at the end of the half. They fell further behind in the third quarter 48-41 before rallying in the 4th quarter to defeat them 71-65.

The consolation final matched them with Charles Bloom Secondary of Lumby, a team which they had defeated earlier in the Okanagan finals. The girls obviously saved their best game for last as they defeated Charles Bloom 92-58, thus bringing the high basketball career of nine of our girls to an excellent end.

Those graduating this year are Chrissy Cumming, Christyn Dost, Marlie Rittinger, Shanna Paulos, Ginelle Talerico, Miranda Smith, Megan Bohn and Chelsy Vought, who was unable to attend the Provincials because she was enrolled in a carpentry program at Thompson River University.  Each of these girls will be really missed next year.

Returning to anchor next year's team will be Christina Hayes, Anne Lim, Hannah Minnabarriet and Catalina Oitzl.

They will be joined by the girls from this year's junior team. You're number one in our hearts.

A special thank you to Vicky Trill and Patty Kinvig for all the hours they have given teaching and coaching this special group of athletes, helping them to realize their full potential.

I was once told that if you have it in you to dream you have it in you to succeed, and this group of girls have definitely proven that dreams can come true with lots of hard work and discipline.

Way to go Rams.

Mike Baldwin