Beavers aim to be division's best

   Disappointed no WOSSAA the senior girls turned their focus on winning

    the region helped with a 32-23 win against Woodstock CASS

  October 20, 2021

By Rob J. Ross 

DORCHESTER - Hearing that schools from Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) would not be participating in WOSSAA or OFSAA events was a gut wrenching announcement for the Lord Dorchester Beavers.

After digesting the news, the Beavers' senior girls' basketball team decided to focus their energy towards being the best in the the TVRA South-East Division.

This year it's a six game regular season for the Beavers, with two games each against Woodstock College Avenue, Woodstock Collegiate and Tillsonburg Glendale.

Then the first place team in the East takes on the South Division's top team, in a one game TVRA South-East final, at both the senior and junior levels.

"When they first heard there was no WOSSAA they were disappointed. You could see it in their faces," Dorchester coach Curt Pollard said. "But then we talked about the fact last year there wasn't even a season. Even though it's disappointing not to have WOSSSA, we do have this regional championship to play for."

Sydney Champion led the scoring with 11 points while Jordyn Patterson had eight, as Dorchester defeated the College Avenue Knights, 32-23, on home court, improving to 2-0.

"We played amazing. Everyone understood where they needed to be and how to get the ball around," said Dorchester captain Ruby Sebinagana, who chipped in with seven points. "Our first game we weren't really playing as a team, but today we ran plays perfectly."

The Beavers opened the season edging the Knights, 35-32.

"Our girls had a very good defensive effort. A lot of our scoring opportunities came off of turnovers. The strength of our team is to play aggressive defence and steal the ball," said Pollard. "Both teams played very hard. It got a little bit scrappy and lots of chippy fouls. In the end both teams played a hard fought game."

The Beavers gave added attention to Abby Miller, who led the Knights with 10 points.

In the South division, the East Elgin Eagles and Voaden Vikings are both 2-0, with victories over the Central Elgin Titans and Glencoe Gaels.