lig school girls prepare for tournament Annual North Shore Firefighters’ basketball tournament is set for first week of new year WITH THE biggest local tour- nament only two weeks away, North Shere high school senior girls’ basketball teams are preparing for more than just a new school term this holiday. HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS by A.P. McCredie The annual North Shore Firefighters’ Tournament will be held at five local high schools from Thursday, Jan. 6 to Saturday, Jan. The six North Shore teams com- peting are Argyle, Carson Graham, Sentinel, Seycove, West Vancouver and host team Windsor. All but Argyle will host games on their home courts. Here is a preview of this year's local crop of girls’ basketball talent. ARGYLE Though a physically small team, the Triple A Pipers, coached by Mary-Lou McDonald, are anchored by a number of experienced seniors. “This year’s seniors are strong leaders that are setting the pace for the rest of team,” says McDonald. The “pace” McDonald refers to is punctuated with: “Count on these girls to never give up for the full 40 minutes.” CARSON GRAHAM The Eagles are led by 5°2” senior point guard Mandy Henderson. Other. players to watch on this. Triple A squad include cet- tre Claudia Cusano and forward Madeleine Lemaire, also Grade 12 students. “Our strong defence will be our best weapon against opponents,” the Eagles’ coach, Vicki Shanks, says. “We're looking forward to a successful season.” COLLINGWOOD ‘Last year’s skilled ball-handler for this Single A squad, Amie Gibbins, will be missed by coach Jim Burnett this season, but Grade 1{ Janet McLachlan has stepped up her game and is averaging 20 points per game. “We are a tal] team this year, bui lack offensive power.” Burnett reports. His starting lineup includes two new players, sisters Claire and Jen Hinnell. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS This year’s edition of the Fighting Saints has made the jump from Single A to Double A compe- tition, after a second-place finish to West Vancouver last year. Led by senior players Marian Anderson, Jamie MacKay and Miranda Ortiz. St. Thomas Aquinas, coached by Rob Ros, is in good shape to main- tain their winning ways from last season, including a fifth-place fin- ish at the provincial Singie A tour- nament. “As always, the North Shore will have some very compet- itive teams,” comments Ros. ‘We hope to be in contention come play- off time.” SENTINEL Boasting the Junior, Juvenile and Bantam Girls tities from last season, it’s no surprise that Sentinel head coach Stu Hall says, “the prospects look good for this basket- ball team.” Hall adds that this vear's squad, featuring seven Grade 12s, is a dght-knit, hard-working team thal blends height with quick- ness, “With a difficult schedule ahead of us, we could be very dan- geruus come playoff time,” Hall believes of his Triple A team. SEYCOVE With no Grade 12 players, an injured starting centre and a 5°9"° forward his tallest player, coach Don Gordon isn’t kidding when he uses the cliched “building year” to describe his young Single A team. A bright spot is the addition of members of last year’s runner-up Seycove junior team. “This year is definitely a building year.” says Gordon. “We hope to come on near the end of the season and be stronger next season.” SUTHERLAND With only three players return- ing from last year’s Sabre team, coach Chris Weimer is counting on last year’s starters Erica Weimer and Jennifer Woodward to lend experience to an otherwise young team. “We play with intensity and have good balance,’ netes Weimer. “By the end of the year we expect to be very competitive.” WEST VANCOUVER Another team in the building- year category, the Highlanders, reigning North Shore champions, have five new starters this season. Coach Mike Smith describes his team as hard-working and with some speed, but adds that they have their work cut out for them. “Molly Spencer is providing us with good leadership. and there is some promise in the Grade 11s,” says Smith, adding, “Who knows what might happen in March?” WINDSOR The Dukes. coached by Jim Harrison, have the tallest player in the league with Grade 11 forward Lindsey Sidwell. at 6°1°. Another team Jacking experienced depth. Windsor’s Double A team consists of three Grade 12s, six Grade I 1s and four Grade 10s. Next week we'll have the loca- tions und times of all the games in this yvear’s North = Shore Firefighters” tournament. Opening round games for girls’ tournament OPENING ROUND games for the North Shore Firefighters” senior girls basketball tournament (all games listed are for Thursday. Jan. 6): : # 3:15 p.m.: Sentinel Litde . “Flower Academy, at Sentinel: West - Vancouver vs. Queen Elizabeth, at West Vancouver: Carson Graham vs. Killarney, at Carson Graham: Windsor vs. Rick Hansen, at Windsor. @ 5 p.m.: Vanier vs. P.H. Collins, at Sentinel: Port Moody vs. Stevestin, #t West Vancouver: Argyle vs, Lambrick Park, at Carson Craham: Seycove vs. Woodlands, at Windsor. NEWS photo Cindy Goodman ARGYLE PIPER Sam Audley (right) tries to get a pass by Sentinel defenwer Breanne Werbes during a North Shore high schooi juvenile Pipers won the contest 37-17. league game last Thursday night at Argyle. The Stretching a must before skiing SINCE THIS time of year is for most of us the beginning of our ski season, it’s impor- tant to get off on the right foot. By Dave Hughes Contributing Writer After spending the summer lazing on bout and pool decks, the muscles we worked so hard last ski season have had a nice long rest. What we need to do is wake these Ieg muscles up smoothly, using proper stretching exercises. When you get to the hill for a day of skiing. remember to take the time to stretch out your mus- cles. This is especially important xi the beginning of the season to avoid muscle pain or season-long injuries. To start, work on your shoul- ders by holding your arms out from your body and rolling your shoulders forward and backward. Next. work on loosening up the muscles in your neck. Gently roll your head to the right and the left to work the neck and upper back muscles. Follow with hip circles. Plant your feet shoulder-width apart and roll your hips in both direc- tions. Try touching your toes after loosening your hip muscles. Most importantly, spend time stretching out your leg muscles. Plant your poles beside you and swing, like a pendulum, each leg. froward and back. Stretching of the legs and lower back helps reduce knee pain and lessens muscle pain, especially during the first few days of the new sea- son.