High-fives and hit threes, a few jump shots and heartfelt hugs sent seniors off into the sunset at the 40th Annual Central Alberta Schools Athletic Association Senior Bowl.
Senior 4A and 3A basketball players from across the region suited up at RDC for one final time to close out their high school basketball careers on Monday night.
After a few years of tough battles on the hardcourt, the Senior Bowl was a chance for players to learn a little bit about the person on the other side of the ball.
Hunting Hills Lighting grade 12 guard Jessie Handley said ultimately that’s what the night meant for her.
”It’s just fun to play with people you’ve been playing against,” she said. “Get to know each other on the court as teammates. Learning how everyone works in a team situation.”
And even though it wasn’t about winning what essentially serves as an all-star game for those seniors, Handley’s Team Dark was able to squeak out a 55-51 win.
Team Dark was made up of players from Hunting Hills, Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Wm E. Hay and Camrose, while Team Light had players from Lindsay Thurber, Lacombe, Notre Dame, West Central and H.J. Cody.
On the Boys side in a game that likely featured the most shot attempts in CASAA history, Team Dark with players from Hunting Hills, Camrose, West Central and Lindsay Thurber, outlasted Team Light 110-86. Team Light was made up of players from H.J. Cody, Lacombe, Notre Dame and Wetaskiwin.
Handley added it was a tough night to say goodbye to a couple of her Lightning teammates, but hopes next season she’ll have a few new ones on the RDC Queens basketball squad.
“It was a fun way to end it, I was really glad I got to play with them. I’ve been playing with them for a long time so it was fun to end it really well,” she said.
“I’m hoping to play with RDC… it would be amazing, I love working with people all around the area and I love playing basketball.”