Lasalle hunts OFSAA medal

BY SCOTT HADDOW

For the graduating players on the Lasalle Lancers senior girls' basketball team, the 2007 OFSAA Championship is their last kick at the can for earning a provincial medal.

For many returning players, it might be their only chance at an OFSAA medal.

The girls are currently competing in Brockville against the best AAA schools in the province. They played Thursday against the fourth-rated team and play their second game today at 1 pm.

The team finished fourth at OFSAA last year.

Lasalle earned the right to go to their ninth consecutive OFSAA event by winning NOSSA a week ago in Sault Ste. Marie.

This experience ensures the girls know how much is at stake.

"We are taking nothing for granted," guard Alyssa Ferreira said. "We're there to get it done. We're going to take care of business."

Last year, Lasalle was seeded second. For 2007, they didn't crack the rankings chart, which got the bristles stiff.
"It was a huge shock for me," Ferreira said. "We didn't do well at out-of-town tournaments, so we didn't really deserve a top ranking, but there are some questions about teams rated higher than us...I think there will be a lot of upsets this year."

Lasalle is using the snub as extra fuel for their fire.

"Not being seeded is a big motivator for everyone," said Ferreira. "Our defence is working great for us right now. It helped us win NOSSA, so we will have to keep playing string defence."

The 2007 version of Lasalle isn't different from last year's squad, but still deadly.

"We're not as big as last year, but we're a lot faster," said forward Laura Furchner. "We have a lot of depth. It's vital at the OFSAA level. The games are a lot faster and players need breaks. You need someone to step in and perform all the time."

Lasalle will need to push the tempo of each game for success, among other elements. "The big key for us will be to not turn the ball over and take advantage of every offensive chance we get," head coach Bill Gordon said. "We have to concentrate on what we do well and keep it that way. We'll get what information we can about our opponents and then from there, we scout other teams. Then it's all about making on the go adjustments...sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. The girls have worked hard to be here...it's up to them now."

The Lancers feel fully prepared to take on Ontario's best AAA schools.

"We're ready for sure," Furchner said. "We've been more intense recently than we have been all year. We're out to prove we can win."