Getting another look
Erin Wiersma has caught the eye of RDC Queens head coach Dawn Smyth and this weekend will show how she stacks up against college level talent as the Central Alberta Christian High School star will attend the Queens ID camp Friday and Saturday.
“I’m planning on attending the camp and, although I haven’t decided definitely what I’m going to do next year, but it would be a great experience and opportunity to play college ball,” said Wiersma after dropping in 17 points for the Light team in a 56-47 loss to the Dark squad in the girls’ game in the 12th annual 1A-2A Senior Bowl at RDC Wednesday.
Meanwhile the Light squad downed the Dark side 72-64 in the boys’ contest.
At six-foot-one Wiersma is one of the top post players coming out of high school in Central Alberta, something she showed Wednesday with a solid inside game.
“Rebounding is one of my strengths because I am taller, but I’ve also worked on my post moves,” she said. “I also hope to get better. You can always gain experience and learn new things.”
Wiersma, who lives on a farm near Lacombe, has been playing basketball since she was six and playing competitively since junior high. She also attended a number of summer camps over the years.
“All my older siblings played so I started when I was six,” she explained. “I did play some soccer and volleyball, but basketball tops them.”
Wiersma, Nahani DenOudsten and Jill Weenink represented CACHS at the Senior Bowl. The trio have been together since Grade 7 and were instrumental in leading to the Knights to a 2-1 record at the provincial championships.
“It’s the first time in about 10 years we’ve been to the provincials,” said Wiersma. “We lost our first game and won the next two. It was good and exciting.”
She said it took some time last season before they knew they had the cohesion to win the zone 2A title.
“We weren’t sure at first how we’d do as a lot of the Grade 10s didn’t step up at first, but as the year went along the girls put their heads down and went for it.”
Wednesday was the final game together for the CACHS trio.
“It’s kind of sad as it’s the last time together, but this was a lot of fun to play with and against a lot of the other girls.,” she said.
Chantel Went of Rimbey led the girls’ Dark team with 13 points while Morgan Richardson of David Thompson added 12 and Brittany Taylor of David Thompson seven. Brooke VanWolde of St. Augustine of Ponoka added eight points for the Light team.
The Light squad led from the start in the boys’ contest, although the lead was down to six late in the game.
Riley Proeprzi of Rimbey led the Light team with 12 points, all on three-pointers, while Dylan Hanwell of Pigeon Lake had 11 points and Kevin Vandenhoven of Rimbey, Steven Schmidt of Pigeon Lake and Gerald Schenk of Buck Mountain of Buck Lake eight each.
Gabe Greening of St. Dominic’s of Rocky Mountain House had 18 points for the Dark squad while Jonathon Scholz of Koinonia of Red Deer added 15 and Sam Hankins of Koinonia 14.
COMMENTS
Let's keep comments:
We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters.
We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.