Short on numbers but deep on heart, the Moscrop Panthers continue to push the envelope that is the basketball season.
The senior girls basketball team demonstrated this week that they have plenty of desire and talent, and what they lack in a deep bench is made up with a hard working attitude.
Moscrop earned a spot into the Burnaby-New West league's top-four finalists, beating the Cariboo Chargers 54-48 on Monday to advance to the playoff semifinal.
With an overtime loss just two weeks prior still fresh in their mind against the gritty Chargers, Moscrop put together a game plan and worked on the necessary adjustments to prepare for the big game -- for the loser, the season would be finished.
That regular season encounter supplied a framework for the Panthers' playoff strategy, Moscrop coach Boaz Wong said. In the earlier match, co-captain Teodora Cosovic capped a 9-0 run with a three-pointer to force overtime, only to see Cariboo Hill corral momentum in the extra frame.
"When we saw that our first opponent in the playoffs was Cariboo Hill, the team was determined to avenge the loss and worked very hard at practice to make adjustments to our game so that we could achieve a better result," said Wong, "with excellent coaching from Fidel Hodge and our sponsor teacher, Anthony Colaiacovo."
Also contributing valuable coaching assistance were Michella Domo and Stephen Klyne.
The Panthers, who carry just nine players, started well and led entering the fourth quarter before Cariboo Hill put in a good rally to close within three points. Buckling down, Moscrop protected its lead and out-rebounded the Chargers to collect the critical win.
Putting in stellar work were co-captains Jessica Hu and Cosovic, while Pinar Armağan Kahraman proved a force on offence to lead the team in scoring. Setting the tone on defence was Suzie Zhong.
It catapulted Moscrop into the semifinal against undefeated New Westminster. While the host Hyacks were in control for most of the game, the Panthers became just the second league rival to score more than 40 points against New West. Armağan Kahraman, an exchange student from Turkey, lead the squad with 21 points, while Hu counted 16 points and Cosovic chipped in with 12.
Making major contributions the past week and throughout the season was the team's four Grade 12s - Melanie Leung, Maddy de la Rama, Hu and Zhong,
On Thursday, past NOW deadline, Moscrop played the winner of Burnaby Mountain and Burnaby Central, with third place advancing to the Lower Mainlands.
