The Dauphin Clippers junior varsity girls basketball team is set to host the top 'AAA' teams in Manitoba this week.
As hosts of the 'AAA' provincial championships, the spotlight will be on the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (DRCSS). The Clippers have put together a brilliant season to get to this point.
Led by head coach John Marshall, Dauphin opened their season at the Linden Christian tournament where they opened play with a massive 62-11 win. They followed that with another dominating performance, downing St. Maurice, 62-26.
Dauphin battled hard in the final but came up short against the host Wings, the number-one-ranked team in the province. It was a great start to the season, seeing Dauphin finish with silver medals.
"We haven't lost to a AAA team since Christmas and that was Linden Christian," said Marshall. "We played them very well. We are feeling very confident in our abilities."
Next up for the Clippers was their highly anticipated home tournament at the Clipper Dome, and the home team did not disappoint. In front of a great crowd, the Clippers put on a clinic, first demolishing Swan Valley 70-14 with relentless defence and explosive offence. Then, they left the Neelin Spartans in their wake, cruising to a dominant 52-30 victory.
With a championship on the line and the energy of the home crowd behind them, the Clippers faced off against the AAAA Crocus Plains Plainsmen. The game was an absolute nail-biter, but the Clippers dug deep. In the final moments, they made key stops and capitalized on offence to secure a thrilling 55-50 victory, claiming the tournament title in front of their cheering family and friends.
"That was great, we had a great weekend, especially in that final game against Crocus Plains," continued Marshall. "It's always a great feeling to win on your home court, so proud of our group."
Dauphin then went to Crocus Plains for a tournament and lost to Portage in their first game, 52-45. The team rebounded very nicely as they downed Neelin 58-32 and in the consolation final against the Plainsmen grade nine team, Dauphin put on a defensive clinic. They allowed just eight points and won by 57.
The team's busy tournament schedule would conclude in Winkler at the Northlands Parkway event, where Dauphin hammered Morden by 33 and Garden Valley by 36 to advance to the final. The host team got the best of the Clippers.
Four tournaments for Dauphin, one championship, a pair of silver medals, and a consolation title.
"On defence, we're a tough team to beat, we have a great zone press, and the girls work very well together," continued Marshall. "We're averaging like 60 points per game on the offensive side of the ball, so we can get it done offensively as well. This team just wants to win, it doesn't matter about who scores the most, it's a complete team effort."
The Clippers team features Skyla Birss, Aleigha Campbell, Aubrey Carr, Mindy Chartrand, Sidney Derucyck, Elektra Ducharme, Madison Ferland, Avanna Gutek, Desiree Lariviere, Austin Luke, and Arianna Thompson.
Dauphin opens play at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday against the Stonewall Rams. Linden Christian, Edward Schreyer, Morden Thunder, St. Boniface Diocesan, Leo-Remillard, and Sanford Sabres will also be in town.
The Clippers know what they're capable of, they aren't looking past Stonewall, and they're looking forward to playing on their home court.
"To host this tournament, have the fans there, and be the ones everyone is watching is fantastic," said Marshall. "We're looking forward to our battle against Stonewall. We're going into that game confident, not cocky, but confident."
Before tip-off on Thursday morning, John wants everyone to know how hard this group has worked. From day one, they came together and battled together. They're now entering the provincial championships as the second-ranked AAA team in the province and ready to make noise at the DRCSS.
"These girls have worked hard. Sometimes we don't execute as well as we should, but these girls always give everything they have," ended Marshall. "With the effort we put in and the systems we play to, we have secured a great ranking. That was our goal and we have achieved it."
John also wants to give a big shoutout to Scott Carr and Kirsten Vanbeseleare who have devoted countless hours as the team's assistant coaches.
