A pair of 14-year-old basketball players hoping to make the Belmont junior boys team this fall are carrying the West Shore banner into this weekendB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Summer Games in Abbotsford.
Markus Modrovic and Noah Messelink, both from Langford, are looking to help Zone 6 (Vancouver Island-Central Coast) make an impact on the provincial basketball scene.
Modrovic, a quick and agile player who likes to attack opposing defences, expects to slot into the Zone 6 lineup at power forward or small forward. He hasnB次元官网网址檛 played much basketball on the mainland, but has a simple strategy for the weekend: B次元官网网址淗ave a lot of fun. Meet new people. Win.B次元官网网址
While his Dunsmuir middle school team didnB次元官网网址檛 have the most successful season this past year, Modrovic said he practised a lot to be ready for the Zone 6 tryouts, which just happened to be down the road at Royal Bay secondary and overseen by head coach Davey Sundher, who is also the Ravens senior boys coach.
And the squad has started to come together just in time for the Games, Modrovic said. B次元官网网址淚 feel like weB次元官网网址檙e looking good. In the beginning we werenB次元官网网址檛 looking so good, but now we are because weB次元官网网址檙e starting to build chemistry.B次元官网网址
Messelink, who sees himself as a perimeter shooter who can unleash an accurate shot when itB次元官网网址檚 needed, will line up at small forward or shooting guard this weekend. He admitted heB次元官网网址檚 not as quick as his basketball buddy, but B次元官网网址渨e both contribute in different ways.B次元官网网址
Working with Sundher and other players has been a good way to learn more about the gameB次元官网网址檚 subtleties and other styles of play, the boys said. And having a variety of skills sets spread through the team is important, they agreed.
B次元官网网址淚f driving isnB次元官网网址檛 going well, you can go to shooting, and if shooting isnB次元官网网址檛 going well you can go to defence, or rebounding,B次元官网网址 Modrovic said.
Neither player has attended the Games before, but MesselinkB次元官网网址檚 older sister, Makenzie, played basketball for Zone 6 in 2014 in Nanaimo.
Being close to her situation, he observed how fun it was spending time with the zone team, getting to know them, being able to play a sport you really like and having fun doing it.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just really excited and I hope it can go well,B次元官网网址 Messelink said.
Added Modrovic: B次元官网网址淵ou get to make those friends and have them for life and get to talk about that experience that you had.B次元官网网址
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
West Shore athletes and team officials at the 2016 B.C. Summer Games
Abbotsford, B.C. July 22-24:
COLWOOD
Athletics B次元官网网址 Nico Pryma
Baseball B次元官网网址 Charlie Strandlund (coach), Jayden Cull
Girls basketball (3 on 3) B次元官网网址 Maggie Fehr, Tiana Maat, Hannah Massey
Girls basketball (5 on 5) B次元官网网址 Jordan Scoville
Equestrian B次元官网网址 Rachel Brears
Golf B次元官网网址 Nolan Thoroughgood
Girls softball B次元官网网址 Devon Rees
Swimming B次元官网网址 Sarah MacDonald (mentor)
Girls volleyball B次元官网网址 Jocelyn Sherman
Boys volleyball B次元官网网址 Logan Judge
HIGHLANDS
Girls basketball B次元官网网址 Mikayla Strandberg
Girls softball B次元官网网址 Sierra Gillis
Swimming B次元官网网址 Ella Maureen Lane-Sangha
LANGFORD
Boys basketball B次元官网网址 Markus Modrovic, Noah Messelink
Girls basketball B次元官网网址 Mya Bains, Rachel Gschiel, Emily Brown, Emilie Daitl
Equestrian B次元官网网址 Montana Garrington
Box lacrosse B次元官网网址 Liam Phillips, Ryan Atkinson, Matthew Perry, Brandon McClintick
Field lacrosse B次元官网网址 Casey Wilson, Matthew Atkinson
Sailing B次元官网网址 MacKenna Renaud-Kehoe
Boys soccer B次元官网网址 Ben Ooms
Synchronized swimming B次元官网网址 Mara Lambert-Wilson
Girls beach volleyball B次元官网网址 Hannah May, Olivia Godek
Girls volleyball B次元官网网址 Taylee Pomponio, Gracie May
MALAHAT
Girls rugby B次元官网网址 Alexis Dunning
METCHOSIN
Girls basketball B次元官网网址 Makenna Gargus
Field lacrosse B次元官网网址 Brodie Strugnell, Jacob Mellish
Boys soccer B次元官网网址 Jaydon Hutchinson
Girls softball B次元官网网址 Jade Hadley, Carmen Eilertsen
VIEW ROYAL
Baseball B次元官网网址 Josh Walker
Field lacrosse B次元官网网址 Seve Cordero
Girls rugby B次元官网网址 Elissa Alarie (adult supervisor), Amanda Thornborough (asst. coach)
Towed watersports B次元官网网址 Kristen Leech