Powerful Raiders shooting for three-peat

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This article was published 21/1/2019 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just five games into the season, the Oak Park varsity girls basketball team is already focused on the final game of the year. 

"I think everyone on the team shares the similar goal of wanting to win provincials again," said Grade 12 player Claire Signatovich. 
The Raiders have taken home the provincial banner two years in a row and, if early season performance is any indication, the team could be poised for a three-peat. 
Oak Park is ranked first in the Manitoba High School Athletic Association’s AAAA category and boasts a 5-0 record — at press time, none of the Raiders’ opponents had managed to score more than 60 points on the team in regular season or tournament play. 
The girls have suffered just one defeat this year, during a pre-season tournament in Victoria, B.C. Even then, the loss was only by two-points. 
Head coach Murray Brown says the out-of-province tournament was an opportunity to play against some of the best high schools in Western Canada. 
"It was a great experience for the kids, especially early in the season, to be challenged to that level they had to really step up their game — and they did, it was quite an impressive performance," he said. 
The Raiders have eight returning players this season, including four starters. Brown says the experienced bench and solid teamwork on the court has contributed to the team’s success.
"Nobody is out there looking for themselves first, it’s a team-first mentality. They share the ball really well, they share defensive responsibilities really well," he said. "It’s just a really good cohesive team right now."
Signatovich and teammate Emily Johnson have played for Oak Park since they were Grade 10 and are in their last year of high school ball. They both agree the team’s familiar roster has been an advantage this year. 
"We have a similar team to what we had last year, so we all know each other very well, we work well together," said Johnson, who plays forward and was named MHSAA urban athlete of the week on Jan. 16. 
Signatovich said that the players who have come up from junior varsity this season are also making their presence felt. 
"As you get older you’re able to communicate better on the court, but there’s lots of people who are in Grade 11 who are contributing just as much to the team," she said. 
With playoffs in the back of their minds, Brown says it’s important to keep the momentum up for the remainder of the year.
"We’d like to be playing in the last game of the season and give ourselves an opportunity to win provincials but a lot happens between now and then," Brown said. "We’re constantly talking about identifying weaknesses and improving on those."
Signatovich and Johnson both say that practising six days a week helps them maintain their edge. 
"The coaches try to keep the practices competitive so that way it carries over to games," Signatovich said. 
The 6-1 forward also says the high level of commitment expected from the Raiders coaching staff is helping her get ready for next season when she heads to the University of Alberta to play for the Golden Bears women’s basketball team.
"I am super-excited about next year," she said. "I think that the way we run things at Oak Park is already helping (me) prepare." 
Johnson is planning on playing university basketball in Winnipeg but hasn’t yet committed to a team. 

Just five games into the season, the Oak Park varsity girls basketball team is already focused on the final game of the year. 

"I think everyone on the team shares the similar goal of wanting to win provincials again," said Grade 12 player Claire Signatovich. 

The Raiders have taken home the provincial banner two years in a row and, if early season performance is any indication, the team could be poised for a three-peat. 

Oak Park is ranked first in the Manitoba High School Athletic Association’s AAAA category and boasts a 5-0 record — at press time, none of the Raiders’ opponents had managed to score more than 60 points on the team in regular season or tournament play. 

The girls have suffered just one defeat this year, during a pre-season tournament in Victoria, B.C. Even then, the loss was only by two-points. 

Head coach Murray Brown says the out-of-province tournament was an opportunity to play against some of the best high schools in Western Canada. 

"It was a great experience for the kids, especially early in the season, to be challenged to that level they had to really step up their game — and they did, it was quite an impressive performance," he said. 

The Raiders have eight returning players this season, including four starters. Brown says the experienced bench and solid teamwork on the court has contributed to the team’s success.

"Nobody is out there looking for themselves first, it’s a team-first mentality. They share the ball really well, they share defensive responsibilities really well," he said. "It’s just a really good cohesive team right now."

Signatovich and teammate Emily Johnson have played for Oak Park since they were Grade 10 and are in their last year of high school ball. They both agree the team’s familiar roster has been an advantage this year. 

"We have a similar team to what we had last year, so we all know each other very well, we work well together," said Johnson, who plays forward and was named MHSAA urban athlete of the week on Jan. 16. 

Signatovich said that the players who have come up from junior varsity this season are also making their presence felt. 

"As you get older you’re able to communicate better on the court, but there’s lots of people who are in Grade 11 who are contributing just as much to the team," she said. 

With playoffs in the back of their minds, Brown says it’s important to keep the momentum up for the remainder of the year.

"We’d like to be playing in the last game of the season and give ourselves an opportunity to win provincials but a lot happens between now and then," Brown said. "We’re constantly talking about identifying weaknesses and improving on those."

Signatovich and Johnson both say that practising six days a week helps them maintain their edge. 

"The coaches try to keep the practices competitive so that way it carries over to games," Signatovich said. 

The 6-1 forward also says the high level of commitment expected from the Raiders coaching staff is helping her get ready for next season when she heads to the University of Alberta to play for the Golden Bears women’s basketball team.

"I am super-excited about next year," she said. "I think that the way we run things at Oak Park is already helping (me) prepare." 

Johnson is planning on playing university basketball in Winnipeg but hasn’t yet committed to a team.