“It was our first local loss so it was quite upsetting,” said Cameron. “Koinonia has improved a lot throughout the season and we went into the game with the wrong mindset. Our girls just weren’t mentally present or prepared for the intensity that OKCS brought to the game.”
Cameron is hopeful the players learned the valuable lesson of the strength of the mental game.
“It’s just as important, if not more, than the physical game,” she said.
The Spartan girls start the South Central 3A Zone Championships today as the fourth seed against fifth-seeded Croxford at home. They then head to Airdrie on Friday and Saturday for the rest of the zone tournament.
The top two teams from zones qualify for 3A provincials.
Cameron said the toughest competition at zones, aside from Croxford, is expected to be Brooks Composite (ranked fourth in the province), Strathmore (ranked eighth) and Bow Valley from Cochrane (ranked honourable mention).
“It’ll be a great experience for the girls,” she said. “They will have to be prepared throughout the entire week, as there is the potential to have a game every day next week other than Monday and Wednesday.”
The most important thing for the team and players is to go out and have fun and enjoy the experience, she said.
Cameron said this season has been a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the Spartans.
“We’ve definitely had our highs and lows,” she said. “We have improved a lot over the season yet still find ourselves returning to old habits and mindsets at times, which can be frustrating as a coach. But, honestly, seeing these girls’ willingness to learn, their desire to get better, and their passion for the game grow, makes it so worth it.”
Cameron said that many players have stepped up this year.
“We’ve had players come off the bench and turn games around for us, leading us to victory,” she said. “Every single player at some point or another has stepped up and assumed a leadership role on this team.”
