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On and off the court with the Wild senior girls basketball team

Our correspondent reports from the Provincial Championships

Shaylee Rutledge/Special to the Daily Townsman

Friday, March 7th, 2014

On the third day of our trip, we had to get up at 6 a.m. in the morning to play our second game against Penticton at 8:30 a.m.

During this game we did a better job of executing our plays and stopping the other team on defence.  It was a successful game for us because we accomplished many of the goals we have been aiming for all season.

The score was closer compared to our first game, but we have yet to come out on top.

After the game, we went to a laser-tag arena. This activity was one of the most fun-filled experiences I've ever had.  The arena had different levels to climb up and down, bridges made of netting to navigate across, and bright neon lights to confuse us.

We played three rounds, fifteen minutes each, and it was exhilarating.  Refuelled by dinner, our next activity was go-karting at a place called Fast Track.  They had only been open for three weeks.

We underwent a safety briefing through a video explaining all the rules of the track.  Once we were allowed to race, we had a blast.  Both our team and the parents were smiling ear to ear.

For some girls, this was their first driving experience.  The karts were so fast because they were low to the ground and many of us learned how to drift around the tight corners.  Overall, we had an incredible day packed with experiences that created everlasting memories.

Saturday, March 8th, 2014

We played our third game against Argyle on the fourth day of our provincials.  It was another early morning game, but this time we played in a different gym.

The gym was in a separate building called the Fieldhouse and a basketball court was laid down on a rink.  This game was the best game we had played so far.  Unfortunately, our efforts became effective too late in the game.  We lost, but now we know exactly what we have to do going into our last game.

After the game, we were in for an adventure.  Every year Coach Nutini has set up an "Amazing Race" for us.  The race takes us all around the city by using clues that require us to find various locations.  We travel by foot, sky-train, and even sea bus.  Usually we have to to question locals for information in order to solve the clues and get ahead of the other teams.

This a great way to grow outside of our comfort zones.  Sometimes we have to eat gross foods, videotape a team member doing something silly in a public place, or ask strangers to take pictures of us by monuments.

The teams this year were: 1) Heidi, Brette, and Ine.  2) Claire, Reili, Megan Tadey, and Megan Sternig.  3) Shaylee, Marlize, and Hunter.  Hannah helped organize the race this year because she was injured.

Some of the challenges we had to do included taking a picture by the Gassy Jack statue, getting into the Langara College gym, and eating black fungus, squid tentacles, and tofu.

Heidi, Brette and Ine won this years race but I know everyone had fun in the competition.  Coach Nutini's "Amazing Race" has always been one of my favourite parts of provincials and it will be a memorable experience for our entire team in the years to come.

Shaylee Rutledge is a member of the Mount Baker Secondary School senior girls basketball team. She will be documenting the trials and tribulations of the Wild during their trip to the provincial championship in Vancouver.