Lakers a Lock for Zone Title ?

By Kelly Sharp

    Coach Ray Bourque talks strategy with Lakewood Junior Lakers

Combine experience, speed, work ethic with solid coaching and no wonder the Lakewood Junior Secondary Lakers are considered the team to beat in the north central zone of junior girls basketball. Coach Ray Bourque welcomed the return of eight players from a Lakewood team that reached the provincials last year after placing second in the north central.  Four of the Lakers gained further basketball experience on the BC Summer Games zone team coached by Bourque.

“We have a lot more depth,” point guard Ashley McMillan said, one of six Grade 9 students on the Lakers.

Emily Kaehn, who will graduate to senior high next school year, brings her highly skilled game to the Lakewood lineup.

“She (Emily) can play any position,” Ray Bourque said in extolling the versatility of number 10.

The Lakewood game plan of tight defense complemented by high-tempo transition could be a handful for most north central opponents this junior girls basketball season.

“We are a very quick team,” Grade 9 guard Kasey Reiter said.

The mutual respect between coach and student athlete is obvious when watching the Lakers during a time-out.

“He (Bourque) treats everybody equally.” Reiter said.

The Lakewood coach and his players do not expect an easy road to the zone championship. The challenge may be for other north central junior girl basketball teams to believe they can compete with the Lakers.

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