Senior girls from Black Lake getting into the game

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If you think sports is just a fun thing for students to do instead of studying, check out the senior girls' basketball team from Black Lake.

Ten girls coached by Ryan Land have formed the first ever girls' basketball team from Father Porte Memorial School. On Feb. 7 and 8, they were in La Ronge, where they attended their first tournament ever, and they lost their first game ever. And they couldn't be more pleased.

"My old teacher came to see us here, and he was so impressed with us," said Jessica Robillard, who co-captains the team with Carrie Toutsaint.

"We've done a good job in this tournament. Lots of people from Black Lake are happy for us," added Toutsaint.

The girls registered three losses, but everyone involved honestly believes the team is successful. Considering this was their first competition, goal number one was to have fun, said Land. Mission accomplished-just talk to the girls.

Goal number two was to get better, and that took only minutes. Black Lake was down 12-0 to Senator Myles Venne School after the first quarter in their first game, but they lost by only 14 points total. "We learned how to play basketball in one quarter," marvelled Land.

The team's roots extend to last year, when Land (who says basketball is in his blood) started a drop-in basketball program Thursday nights. At first, it drew a lot of young men. And then hockey began.

"As soon as the rink was open, the gym was empty. The girls came to me and asked me why they couldn't have a team," recalled Land. He gave them a day to come up with enough players. Led by Toutsaint and Robillard, they turned up nearly a dozen names.

The team was starting nearly from scratch. Without any previous teams to watch or lend experience, the team is essentially all rookies, many of whom knew very little about the game. Land had to teach basic skills and rules before he could even think about teaching them positioning and strategy. On the other hand, they were an empty slate, just ready to learn things the right way. "This is a team that can be coached," said Land.

There were growing pains, and there was some peer pressure not to try to be so "special," said Land, but the girls stuck with it. They adopted the team name Nunie, "Wolves" in Dene, and when their uniforms came in, the enthusiasm really spread.

"We did a pep rally, and (other students) started to want to play, even little kids," said Robillard.

Another benefit is the change in the players-more determination, more enthusiasm, more commitment to make themselves better. "I've had a couple (of players) who have quit smoking," said Land.

Students are already questioning Land about whether he will be back. Teachers, as he points out, "never retire in Black Lake."

"I wanted to have a stake in their lives, and I wanted them to have a stake I mine," he said.