Owls bring home silver and bronze from NORWOSSAs

By Ken Johnston
Editor

It was a heartbreaking final game of the year for the Rainy River High School Jr. Girls Basketball team.
Last week they travelled to Kenora to play for the NORWOSSA championship. Finishing the season 10-2, they were ranked first in the league, giving them a bye to the Gold Medal game. St. Thomas Aquinas of Kenora defeated Red Lake in the semi-final game and faced RRHS.
Coach Rebecca Tolen said it was neck and neck the entire game with RRHS leading by four at the half. “But as close as we were all season with them that is not a lead,” said Tolen Monday. It continued to be close the rest of the game with RRHS losing 34-37 and winning silver medals.
“We beat them in the regular season but it was close,” explained Tolen. Their first meeting of the season RRHS won in over time and the second game RR won by one point.
While they lost the Gold Medal game, Tolen said, “The girls handled it well with a great deal of class. I am very proud of them.”
Tolen noted that she expects to only lose three of the team members next year and that she expects it to be another great season. “This team has great chemistry. They all contribute and are willing to feed other players. It is a well balanced team and one of the most exciting coaching experiences I have ever had.”
The senior girls team from RRHS also travelled to NORWOSSA’s. However, they ended up second after a three way tie breaker for first place was done. So they faced St. Thomas Aquinas in the semi-final and lost a close one to them, hence finishing in third place.
At present teams are gearing up for the second court sports season which has the boys playing basketball and the girls playing volleyball.