It began with the understandable nerves, which gave way to memory. And from there, the St. Thomas More Knights were in control.
Wednesday’s opening 68-41 win over Okanagan-Mission at the B.C. AA senior girls basketball tournament was more than just the first big step towards a hoped-for date in Saturday’s championship final.
For Gabrielle Laguerta,
the Langley-played game provided more space and more floor time in what has been an incredible journey.
The 17-year-old continues to demonstrate talent and resilience after what were two lost seasons due to a pair of knee reconstructions. And as she holds back any tears upon reflecting on what she’s overcome, Laguerta says the next few days represents all she has worked towards.
“I missed two full seasons. That is what’s kind of nerve wracking, because this is my first B.C. tournament (playing), but also my last,” Laguerta told the NOW. “I feel a ton of pressure to play well but I also just want to go out there and finish the game.”
Nothing can replicate the feeling of playing and contributing alongside your best friends. A year ago, she was here cheering, worrying and consoling these same teammates after a heartwrenching 82-77 semifinal loss to eventual B.C. champion Immaculata.
A year later, the team is unified in focusing on this weekend, the next game and each moment.
Laguerta appreciates that determination like few others.
“All we want to do is try and bring home a championship,” she said. “I feel like it was something we could have done last year and we felt like it was kind of taken away from us. This year we want to bring it home.
“(Last year’s semifinal) was tough, we were all heartbroken and crying at the end. Now we know what we have to do to get what we deserve.”
If that game is now converted to motivation, consider Laguerta’s own timeline, where the one-time Canadian under-16 candidate and Team B.C. force saw the game come to a halt, not once but twice.
“It was at nationals in 2013 – August 6, I remember the exact date,” she recalled. “I was coming off a really good game, my first game (for Team B.C.). We were playing Ontario and I was really ready to try and be part of the team that beat them, then it happened on almost like the second play. I was devastated.”
Her left knee required ACL surgery, and the rehabbing, training and comeback was virtually completed when the knee gave way again, in the first practice after receiving the doctor’s green light. It put everything up in the air.
It required a second surgery, and starting from Square One.
Muscle memory has a remarkable way of reclaiming what was before, thanks to the team of surgeons and therapists, as well as family and friends.
The mind’s memory doesn’t heal quite as quickly.
“The confidence part is pretty tough, especially having done it a second time. It’s always in the back of your mind even if you feel confident. You kind of get out there and realize, I feel good and I’ve done everything I could. I’m ready to play.”
Her first game back with the Knights came last December in a tournament – she recalls a blow-out loss and feeling rusty. For someone who had led the St. Thomas More junior girls to a second-place finish at the 2013 provincials, it was just the first steps in a long marathon.
“I know I wasn’t going to get it back in the first game, the first tournament. I think it took me a couple (of games) to feel back… It felt really good. I wanted so much to help this year,” she said.
STM coach Joe Thierman said Laguerta’s impact continues to grow with each contest.
“She has come back like gangbusters and you wouldn’t know she’s been out for two years but she’s got way more upside and can even be better as she gets more and more confidence and playing time,” said Thierman.
“She had done all the proper steps, all the proper rehab and then did all the things necessary. She’s a very smart person, very confident person so she was able to overcome any fear and get back on the floor right away. It’s a great story and hopefully we can finish it.”
For now, Laguerta is eager to contribute to the team’s run and believes this lineup – which includes a few teammates who she first encountered as a scrawny Grade 5er learning the rudimentary steps of the game – can go all the way.
“We’re so close. I think we all played since Grade 8, and even some of us were together in elementary on a little house league,” she said. “When we graduate it will be pretty emotional but we all have one goal and we’re going to try and get it.”
KNIGHT NOTES: STM overwhelmed Okanagan-Mission with a stealth like first quarter defence, and led 34-9 early in the second quarter.
“We had a very good first quarter, we were very aggressive and intercepted the ball a number of times. We got in for some good shots,” said Thierman. “Our defence in the first half was excellent… The second (half) we took it a little off, conserved some energy and slowed things down a little bit.”
Zion Coarrales-Nelson led all shooters and was named the team’s player of the game. The Knights played No. 5-seeded Vernon on Thursday (past the NOW’s deadline), with a win catapulting them into the semifinal at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. All games are at Langley’s LEC.
