GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, N.L. – Friendships can be worth their weight in gold, silver and bronze.
“It’s so much fun for the girls, they’ve grown through this,” said Dawe’s Mechanical coach Darrell Budgell. “To see all the fun that they have, the interacting, it gets them to meet the other girls in the school. The friendships, to watch them grow, it’s fulfilling to me.”
A champion of the Sprucewood Girls Basketball League was crowned on May 26 as four teams duked it out over the course of the morning and afternoon at Exploits Valley Intermediate on Saturday, May 26. In the end, Dawe’s Mechanical took home the gold after a hard-fought victory over Donnini’s in the final match, and Hunt’s Concrete were awarded the bronze medal after defeating Western Star in a tough contest.
“It’s important for the girls to have their own time to shine amongst their friends,” said Budgell. “It’s their time, and I think they excel for that reason.”
Payton Lawrence, a Grade 5 student and player for Hunt’s Concrete, said she’s enjoyed the friendships she’s made by playing in the league. She added that she could see herself continuing with the sport of basketball all the way up through high school.
Donnini’s player and Grade 5 student Kalynn Watts helped propel her team past Western Star in overtime to advance to the gold medal match.
“I just go out and play as hard as I can,” she said after the victory.
Kalynn said she created friendships throughout the league during the year, and added that the sport of basketball makes her stronger.
