The start of a new season is a good time for players and coaches to shrug off any disappointment from the previous year and move forward toward a new goal.

The Belmont Bulldogs senior girls basketball team is very much in that mode as they embark upon the 2014-15 season. With six returnees in a lineup featuring good speed and size B次元官网网址� five players are nearly six feet B次元官网网址� the teamB次元官网网址檚 head coach is already feeling optimistic about the new season.

B次元官网网址淲ith our versatility and our depth, we should be able to be more competitive,B次元官网网址� says Brad Lidstone, one of a roster of five specialists who work regularly with the team.

Last year late-season injury problems to key players left the Bulldogs on the outside looking in for the Island AAA girls tournament. The two finalists from that event, Oak Bay and Claremont, are once again the pre-season city favourites, ranked No. 2 and 9 in B.C., respectively.

But Lidstone, whose team is one of several to host this weekendB次元官网网址檚 Christmas Classic tournament, is excited about the opportunity for Belmont to show they belong in the conversation about top teams on the Island.

B次元官网网址淭his is one of the first years that we can play both big and tough or small and fast,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭riple A girls on the Island is so competitive B次元官网网址� and being able to adapt on the fly is huge.B次元官网网址�

As such, the team doesnB次元官网网址檛 really run with the traditional guard, forward or post positions, preferring instead to see virtually everyone as potential perimeter shooters or inside drivers. Grade 12 Hannah Allen is considered the closest the team has to a post player, but even she moves away from the middle if needs require it.

The Bulldogs finished fourth at last weekendB次元官网网址檚 Vanier Towhees tournament in Courtenay (see below) and plan to use this weekendB次元官网网址檚 experience to get a further sense of what they need to work on, Lidstone says. The city league opener is set for Dec. 16 at Belmont against defending Island champion Claremont.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be a great gauge for how our season will go and for finding roles for different players,B次元官网网址� he says.

The squad has 15 players, which on some teams might mean precious little floor time for certain individuals. But the coach insists every player will need to contribute B次元官网网址渜uality minutesB次元官网网址� for the team to have success late in the season.

He also points to the teamB次元官网网址檚 chemistry, not to mention the emotion surrounding the upcoming move to the new school, as key intangibles that may contribute to that success.

Grade 12 player Isla Swanwick shares LidstoneB次元官网网址檚 optimism. B次元官网网址淚 think our chances (to make Islands) are really good; weB次元官网网址檙e really competitive this year,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲hen it comes to the top teams I think weB次元官网网址檒l have a really good chance against them, possibly not to win, but to have a good fight.B次元官网网址�

Fellow senior Frelen Gorst, a true guard and defensive specialist, sees tournament play as being a good team-building experience. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 excited to see how far we can get as a team,B次元官网网址� she says.

Claire Church, a skilled Grade 11 shooter who Lidstone expects big things of this season, says the team has already made strides since the Brentwood game.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been playing with each other for a while, and thatB次元官网网址檚 going to (create) an advantage (and help) our outcomes playing this year,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got good chemistry and good knowledge of each otherB次元官网网址檚 skills.B次元官网网址�

Lidstone sees his team matching up well with the likes of Oak Bay, Claremont, Mount Doug and Spectrum locally and other AAA teams up Island.

B次元官网网址淚f we can stay healthy and control what we can control, weB次元官网网址檒l be fine,B次元官网网址� he says.

The Bulldogs open the Christmas Classic at noon Friday (Dec. 12) against Nanaimo District Secondary. Twelve teams from around B.C. are competing at Belmont, with Spectrum, Lambrick Park and StellyB次元官网网址檚 also hosting games.

Watch this space soon for the Belmont senior boys season preview.

B次元官网网址橠ogs close, but wind up fourth

After handing Edward Milne of Sooke a lopsided loss in last FridayB次元官网网址檚 opener at the Vanier senior girls basketball tournament in Courtenay, Belmont dropped a three-point decision to the host Towhees in the semifinals. The Bulldogs, playing their first tourney of the season, lost by 12 to Carihi in the game for third/fourth.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com