Maybe its the Mountain air.
The Burnaby Mountain Lions sit tied for first place in the senior girls Burnaby-New Westminster basketball league standings, with a spotless record.
Although the big match-up with fellow undefeated New Westminster is circled at the end of the month, this group of talented, hard-working players won’t look any further than the next tip-off.
Burnaby Mountain head coach James Morton says the squad has embraced the team concept and the hard work necessary to be competitive in an eight-team league.
“We’re very fortunate to be undefeated, but at the same time we have worked for it,” said Morton, one of the school’s vice-principals.
Wednesday’s 41-26 victory over Burnaby North put them at 6-0, a run all the more impressive when you learn that the squad is a melange of mostly Grade 11s who a year ago went through the junior season with few if any scoreboard rewards.
The team’s offensive leaders are at other ends of the spectrum. Senior Martina Pettenon has put up an average of 10 points per game – impressive when you see how the team is winning with an average of 48 points per game.
Pettenon is a stabilizing force who is one of the few Grade 12s on the roster, says Morton.
At the other end is Grade 9 dynamo Sophia Vivero, the team’s top offensive contributor who plays a smart, disciplined game, says Morton.
“(Sophia) is an outstanding player for us, she’s a very good ballhandler who can shoot and drive the ball up court... And she never fouls.”
The team also gets a strong contribution from Grade 11 Taran Jhuti, who dominates the boards by averaging eight rebounds a game.
But Morton notes that in basketball, everyone contributes.
“We play a lot of different players, some new to basketball with only three returnees,” he said. “They’re battle tested.”
The previous few years the team relied a great deal on Team B.C. member Jacey Bailey, who is on a full-ride scholarship at Florida Atlantic. There was expected to be an adjustment period and a bit of a rebuilding process after Bailey graduated, Morton said.
“The reality is, without Jacey we are just trying to establish consistency and build a program,” he noted. “I’ve talked with other coaches (in the district) and on how to build a basketball culture, but it’s an in-progress thing.
“I like the fact that this group is working for each other. It’s a neat mix.”
They’ve had some tight tests during the year, beginning with the season-opening 54-53 win over Burnaby Central – the only loss the Wildcats have suffered to date. Burnaby Mountain also topped Alpha 61-42 and Cariboo Hill 56-39.
Earlier this week they nudged Moscrop 38-32, trailing by four points in the first quarter. But for the most part, Mountain has been in control and winning comfortably.
While New Westminster will be the season-ending hurdle – the Hyacks at one point were among the honourable mentioned in the Triple-A rankings, and have primed their game by playing a steady stream of provincially ranked opponents – Burnaby Mountain’s best measuring stick may have came a week ago at the Britannia Bruins Invitational.
There, the Lions topped Alberni District 49-43, suffered their first loss, a 56-49 thriller to McNair in the semifinal, then took third place with a solid 61-49 decision over R.C. Palmer.
Vivero, who didn’t register a single foul in the tournament, was named to the first all-star team.
Of course, getting back to the B.C.s, where the school made its inaugural debut in 2015, would be the topper. But Morton aims to keep his squad grounded before each leap.
“Our goal is to get to the Lower Mainlands and just keep playing. I like the passion they’ve shown for the game.”
