THE FREE PRESS SPORTS FEBRUARY 11, 2001 A1S Senior-fueled junior success Brittany Smith lends Trojans senior ambition On the surface volleyball and basketball have only superficial similarities. They’re both played in a gymnasium, they both involve a ball and that’s about it. But for Brittany Smith, her experiences on the volleyball court have become the fuel for her best basketball season ever. Smith is the captain of the DP Todd junior girls basketball team and their leading scorer. The fleet-footed Grade 10 forward averages at least 16 points a game. There hasn’t been a game yet this season that Smith hasn’t been one of DP Todd’s top three scorers, says coach Jeff Goodrich. But it wasn’t always this way. Last season Smith was a rookie. Her high school basketball experience was nil and she admits now the experience was intimidating to say the least. “I was very cautious when I played because everyone was older than me and I was the rookie,” says Smith. “I was kind of a robot that year. I just did what my coach told me to do. I didn’t improvise like I do now.” The first half of this school year the 15-year-old had an eye-opening experience that changed her outlook on her own game and her role on the junior Trojans. Smith took on the role as starting setter for the DP Todd senior volleyball team. Setting, which is the volleyball equivalent of a quarterback, is a demanding job for anyone, regardless of age. Adapting to the intensity of the provincial bronze-medal seniors meant Smith had to play like a veteran. When she rejoined her junior basketball teammates this winter, she found that her senior experience had prepared her to easily take the reigns of leadership. “The maturity level and the seriousness at the senior level is much higher. Senior is the last year for a lot of the players and they’re way more intense,” says Smith. “I feel I’m bringing that intensity to the junior team.” So far it’s working. The Trojan girls topped league play, something that seemed almost impossible last year when the team’s performance was mired in a swamp of self-doubt. “We’re going out there to win now instead of just thinking we’re going to Brittany Smith, in dark, led DP Todd’s 31-26 win over KRSS Thursday. John McKenzie/Free Press lose. That was what our attitude was last year, that we were going to get beat every time,” says Smith. With the end of junior city league and the district playoffs fast approaching, Smith is looking to improve upon last year’s sixth-place at districts. Standing in the way of that are Duchess Park and John Mclnnis, the two teams that have given the Trojans their closest games this season. Smith says that although they’ve beaten Duchess once it wasn’t a definitive game, with many key Condors on the sidelines. And so far a win over John Mclnnis has eluded them. And after districts, hopefully, provincials. And then it’s on to the senior team for Smith. She’s already playing at a level high enough for that jump. The big difference will come from being a rookie again, after a season as a leader. “It will almost be a break, there won’t be so much pressure on me when I go the senior team,” says Smith, who’s already practiced with the current senior squad. “I’ll be able to concentrate more on improving my own skills. I’m looking forward to it.” SPORTS SPRAINS & STRAINS GOT YOU DOWN? CHECK OUT THESE FINE PRODUCTS! PG SURG MED. YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR SPORTS MEDICINE. CHIROPRACTIC AND HOME THERAPY APPLIANCES PG. SURG—MED LTD. 1646 Nicholson Street, Prince George, B.C. (250) 564-2240 1-800-663-2963 Laughter, the Best Medicine00 One question on the health test instructed, “Describe the spinal column.” A keen student of mine answered: “The spinal column is a long string of bones. The head sits on the top, and you sit on the bottom.” - Arden Reimer www.readersdigest.ca SPRUCE CITY MINOR BOYS FASTBALL ASSOCIATION GENERAL MEETING Thur. February 15 - 7pm Prince George Golf & Curling Club (Games Room) Coaches, Parents and Volunteers are encouraged to attend. Positions available for: • Treasurer • Coaches • Scheduling • Concession • Field Maintenance • Sponsor coordinator • Registration • And other... Dry land practices are starting now and are open to returning players and new players ages 6-19 years (bring a friend) For more info call: Judy 964-2083 6-10 years Mites (Tue. & Thurs.) instructors needed nere Mark 562-7390 11-12 years Squirts (Thurs.) Brian 964-6565 13-14 years Pee Wee (Tue.) Ken 564-6351 15-19+ years Bantum/Midget ( Thurs.) Level 1 Coaches Clinic (Technical) Feb. 24th and 25th. Limited space available. Call Brian to reserve a spot 964-6565 The winter release at the Skins Lake Spillway, as set by the Nechako Fisheries Conservation Program, is 1165 cubic feet per second (cfs), or 33 cubic metres per second (cms). This will remain the approximate release until April, 2001. On February 9th, 2001, the reservoir elevation was 2789 feet. The reservoir level is currently about 3.87 feet below the long-term average. Flow measurement in the Nechako River at Vanderhoof is unreliable at this time of year due to ice build-up around the Water Survey of Canada gauging station. For more information, please call Alcan’s Regional Office in Vanderhoof at 567-5105 (Prince George: 561-1189; Burns Lake: 692-4315). Skins Lake Spillway discharges are posted on Alcan's home page at www.sno.net/alcan. Nechako Fisheries Conservation Program information can be accessed at www.NFCP.org. Flow Facts information is provided on Alcan's 24 hour information line in Vanderhoof at 567-5SI2. MOBILITY • FIRST AIDS • INCONTINENT • MASTECTOMY • HOME OXYGEN • SPORT MEDICINE