Slivers...

Borderite basketball took to the hardwood in earnest last Saturday. Actually, it was in Bellingham’s Squalicum high school gym where both teams each played two games against the host and Lynden.
Though both teams lost their two exhibition matches they acquitted themselves well while playing without some starters. Only seven girls came with coach Rob Adams for the Lady B’s contests. Sophomores Natasha Place and Kristen Ellsbree were absent but will be in uniform once the regular season gets going to join classmates Tessa Baker and Bailey Richardson on the young but energetic team. Expect a fast pace from this group of girls and some spectacular play from all-league guard Alyssa Hendrickson in her final season coupled with Richardson in the back court.

The boys were missing Cole Avery and Joey Paciorek, both still healing from earlier injuries. The team brings back some good experience and welcomes some needed height from the JV ranks in 6’2” Cody Barthlow and 6’4” Dee Kean, Jessica “Stretch” Summer’s little brother, along with guard Justin Kirkwood who’s enjoying a fair measure of athletic success this year. The pull-up jumpers of junior 5’11” guard Connor Oldham were a pleasant surprise as was the penetrating, even irritating (to the bad guys) defensive efforts by senior Mike Pianki. Look for the Dodgson brothers, junior guard Vince and senior post Nate, to put in yeoman duty game after game, consistency and honest effort the hallmark of their play.

Schedule changes:
At press time there had been only two changes to games missed by this week’s snow dates. For the boys, they’ll now play Elgin Park on Friday, December 8, at 7p.m. The girls game with Meridian will now be played on Monday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m.