Wolves girls basketball team splits pair of games on home floor

North Star’s Lexi Gignac puts up a shot in Thursday’s game played in Amherstburg.

The North Star Wolves senior girls basketball team are now 4-1 after a pair of games over the past week.

The Wolves’ first of two games was last Thursday at home against the L’Essor Eagles. North Star won 51-26 led by 14 points from Lexi Gignac and nine points from Olivia Petro.

Things started out very strongly for the Wolves, as they had a 19-0 lead after one quarter. L’Essor didn’t get its first basket until there was 2:29 left in the second quarter and North Star had a 33-4 halftime advantage.

“I thought we really battled,” said Ashley Mongeau. “They are a good team but we picked up the win in the end.”

Mongeau pointed out everyone got a chance to play and they showed good effort when they got in the game.

“Our defense was stellar,” said Mongeau after last Thursday’s game. “Our first half was probably the best we’ve played so far this season. It was great to see.”

Mongeau said the team is bonding, getting to know each other and they bring what they learn in practice into games.

Wolves coach Dom Silvaggio noted the team is young, with three Grade 11 players and the rest in either Grade 9 or 10. He said they are progressing well.

“The first quarter was probably the best first quarter we’ve played all year,” he said. “L’Essor is a good team and we made them look ordinary.”

While the Wolves have to improve their shooting, particularly open layups, Silvaggio said the coaches like the team’s defensive intensity and the way they respond to pressure. He said as long as the players stay committed, they should continue to improve.

The Wolves have only lost three of games this season, two in tournaments, with their first WECSSAA loss coming Monday at home versus Erie Migration.  

The Wolves almost overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit but lost 42-41.

“In the first half, we didn’t play to our capabilities,” he said. “It was one of those games where if we played better in the first half, it would have been a different outcome.”

The Wolves again missed layups, he added, but believed it was a learning experience for them. They made mistakes but with experience, Silvaggio believed they can cut down on them.

Tyler Lamarche agreed they missed too many layups and she said they have to be better looking down the floor as well. 

“All things we can fix,” she said. “I feel we played good and stayed with them.” 

There are three more games this week. They were at Walkerville Tuesday after this issue went to press. They return home Wednesday (Oct. 22) for a 5 p.m. game versus Assumption and they head to Essex Thursday for a 4 p.m. game.

Wolves girls basketball team splits pair of games on home floor

By Ron Giofu