A severe lack of playing time against their peers has once again been the downfall of the Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) boys’ basketball squad, according to coach Rick Barker.
“They just don’t get the number of games other schools get, and that really limits our players in terms of confidence on the court,” he noted after an 84-44 defeat at the hands of the Williams Lake Senior Secondary School last week.
“Call it nerves or butterflies or whatever… the guys go out there playing their hearts out, but end up turning the ball over in tight situations.”
Barker noted the PSO Eagles usually play against teams that have been playing with each other since attending elementary school, and squads that play in city leagues or against cross-town rivals.
“We just don’t have that luxury here. Some of our guys have never even played competitive ball before, just lunch-time pick-up games.”
The Eagles held their own in the first half of the game staying within 10 hoops, Barker said. Centre Bharm Pannu and teammate Jesse Granberg led the PSO scoring with 12 points each, which was Granberg’s best showing this year, he added.
Gord Stenerson and Quinn Axelson each added eight points in the loss, with Stenerson going 50 per cent at the free-throw line, and Axelson picking up most of his points off rebounds, Barker noted.
“They don’t give up. I’ll give them that, but it can be discouraging for the boys. They just need more games under their belts.”
Some of the team members have been going out to the men’s league, which has helped, he added.
The team is now preparing for a tournament in Ashcroft next month, and perhaps the zones at the end of February.
