Finishing second best is not an option for the Bellerose Bulldogs in metro Edmonton division three women’s basketball.
The Bulldogs were bridesmaids instead of the brides in the last two season-ending ceremonies for championship honours.
“We don’t want to make it the third year curse,” said head coach Triawna St. Germain, after the first-place Bulldogs improved to 7-1 in Monday’s 63-29 thumping of the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs at Bellerose.
“I wouldn’t say it’s great to be number one because everyone is coming for you and everyone wants to knock you off but it’s a good place to set the present like that,” St. Germain said. “We’re here to play and we’re not going to take it easy on you just because we’re number one.”
The Bulldogs are pulling out all the stops in their bid to join the 2001 city conference team as the only senior women’s metro basketball champions in Bellerose history.
“What I’m doing is making them play and compete in practice. The last two years that we’ve been practising and getting to finals the road there has not had that urgency,” St. Germain said. “We practice like we’re in a game. We're scrambling for the ball on the floor and we’re doing every little thing that we have to do to compete and we have to give it all we’ve got.
“I told them at the end of the buzzer if it doesn’t fall for us we’ve got to look back at the end of the whole year and say, ‘Did you give it all you had?’ And if that doesn’t drive them, I don’t know what will.”
Last year’s Bulldogs won 12 games and the only loss was a biggie: 55-45 to the Parkland Immanuel Penguins (8-5) with six returnees from the 2017 team that finished 8-4 after dropping a 52-43 decision to Lazerte (7-5).
“It’s kind of motivation that they didn’t make it,” said Anelia Ayotte, a Grade 10 point guard. “They made it so far and then just to let it all go kind of sucks, so we want to make it all the way.
“We’re not just playing hard to not go anywhere. We want to make it to finals and win.”
Four players are back from last year to lead by example.
“After tasting defeat and realizing yeah that stings, it’s all about coming into every single game playing like it’s the final championship game and not letting up and this is how everyone is going to play every single game,” St. Germain said.
The Bulldogs are also playing in the large shadows of the St. Albert Skyhawks and Paul Kane Blues, division one powerhouses and perennial 4A provincial championship contenders.
“We’re kind of like the underdogs so we want to work hard and get up there and become more of a basketball school like the rest of St. Albert,” Ayotte said.
As for the division three banner, the Bulldogs are headed in the right direction.
“We can do it,” Ayotte said. “We’re just going to keep working.
“Our defence is really strong and we have good chemistry. We’re all good friends so on the court and off the court it works.”
The fifth win in a row after losing 55-58 to the host Lillian Osborne Legends (6-1) Dec. 17 was against Lazerte (4-3) and the period scores were 12-6, 29-16 and 49-20.
“Everybody had a good game. We all played really strong,” said Ayotte, 16, who compiled 24 points, including 13 in the third quarter and 19 overall in the second half.
“I like driving to the basket so that was fun.”
Zoe Zurowski posted nine of her 17 points in the second quarter and Ella Burch scored seven points in the first half.
Monday the Bulldogs visit the W.P. Wagner Warriors (1-5) at 5 p.m.
