The senior girls' basketball team from Port Coquitlam’s Riverside Secondary embarks upon its regular season schedule with a boost from the Arizona desert.
The Rapids, ranked third among AAAA girls teams in B.C., won its division at the prestigious Cactus Jam Phoenix Hoop Classic that was played Dec. 26 to 31.
Riverside won two of its three games in the “Jam” division. The Rapids defeated Shorecrest, from Washington State, 73-61, and the Sturgeon Spirits from Alberta, 67-39, but lost to Washington’s Mercer Island, 59-52.
Riverside’s Jorja Hart and Annabelle Neufeld were named to the division’s all-tournament team.
Earlier in December, the Rapids made it to the top four at the Tsumura Invitational tournament, but its bid to secure third place in the Super 16 bracket was blown out by a power outage at the Langley Events Centre.
The Heritage Woods Kodiaks from Port Moody also participated in the 27th annual Cactus Jam tournament that features top high school teams from across North America.
The Kodiaks finished fourth in the “Tempe” division after losing its opening game 51-30 to the Monroe Bearcats from Washington State then dropping subsequent games to Mercyhurst Prep from Erie, Penn., and Scottsdale Christian from Arizona.
Heritage Woods senior guard Anita Tavaszi was named to the division’s all-tournament team.
