Nerves don’t slow St. Mike’s in OFSAA girls’ basketball opener

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After a game-high 20-point performance, Annika Van Kooten said she was nervous prior to St. Mike’s provincial girls’ double-A basketball opener Thursday afternoon.

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The Warriors’ centre didn’t show it, with eight of those points coming in the first quarter when the host team raced out to an 18-0 lead over Monsignor Paul Dwyer at Stratford District secondary school. St. Mike’s went on to win 69-31.

“I thought she chased the ball today,” Warriors head coach Steve Goforth said. “I wish we’d give her the ball more. She could have some bigtime stuff if we’d be more conscientious getting in there. When she competes, she’s as good inside as any kid. She has that athleticism. Sometimes she just needs that little jolt to keep it moving.”

Van Kooten didn’t need any prodding in her OFSAA debut. She made four baskets in the first eight minutes and set the tone for a comfortable victory.

“I was really nervous,” she said. “It was really nice (to take control early). We could take it easy and try things we haven’t tried before. For OFSAA, it’s a big deal. You don’t usually get to do that stuff.”

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Rebounding was the key, Van Kooten said. She dominated under the basket and either finished missed shots in the paint or regained control and kicked the ball outside.

“Just getting in there, being aggressive.”

St. Mike’s defensive commitment translated to points, especially early in the game.

“We fast broke well, made good decisions, then we just got out of rhythm later in the first quarter, and we never really got it back after that,” Goforth said. “I thought we re-established in the third quarter what we were trying to do. We tried to put some more pressure on that first pass. We got passive in the first half and allowed them to move the ball.”

Jensen Pohl added 18 points and Avery Hinds had 11. Alexis Hinds had nine points – and a sign with her name on it in the SDSS bleachers as dozens of St. Mike’s students made the short walk to support their team.

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“It’s really nice energy seeing the entire school decked out like this,” Van Kooten said. “Everyone is cheering us on. We have the drums out. It’s really nice.”

St. Mike’s, which is seeded seventh, will be back on home court Friday at 9 a.m. to face ninth-ranked Our Lady of Lourdes. A win would put the Warriors in the quarter-final Friday evening. Medal games are Saturday.

It’s a safe bet Van Kooten won’t be the only player dealing with nerves as the team moves deeper into the tournament.

“I always tell them that’s a good feeling, because that means you care and you want to compete and you’re looking forward to it,” Goforth said. “It’s a great thing. As (former St. Mike’s basketball star) Laura Vere said last night (at the OFSAA banquet), these are memories you’ll never forget regardless of what happens. You’re at OFSAA, and for some graduating, they’ll never get that chance again, but it will be ingrained in their mind.”

cosmith@postmedia.com