On home court, in front of their fans, the D.P. Todd Trojans couldn't pull away from the PGSS Polars.
Then came the third quarter.
In the third, the Trojans outscored the Polars 18-2 and went on to record a 51-29 win Friday afternoon. The teams were playing in the opening game of the Northern Classic senior girls basketball tournament.
"We played much better the second half," said Trojans coach Reid Roberts. "The first half was just really scrambly at both ends of the floor."
For the Trojans, being on the floor in front of most of the D.P. Todd student population proved to be a distraction. For those students, the school day ended at about the same time as the second half started, so the Trojans players were able to relax in the third quarter and just play.
In the game, Grade 10 forward Tenley Pearce led all D.P. Todd shooters with 10 points. Veteran teammates Piper Hoekstra and Danielle Steel added eight and seven points respectively. Mavia Nijjer scored eight points for the Polars, while Morgan Reid chipped in with six.
This tournament is the first of the season for local senior girls teams.
Last year, the Trojans were city champions and then placed second to the Nechako Valley Viqueens at the double-A zones. The Trojans have eight players back in uniform from their 2009-10 squad so they should be strong once again.
New team members this season include Pearce, Grade 10 guard Fiona Raymond and Grade 9 guard Dorion Van Caeseele. By the looks of things, they'll add significantly to D.P. Todd's depth.
"Fiona starts for me right now as a Grade 10, and Dorion I could start and Tenley I could start," Roberts said. "I sort of have an option of about eight girls I could rotate in the starting positions, which is a nice plus."
In another Friday result, the College Heights Cougars defeated the Cedars Christian Eagles 53-45. The Cougars got 18 points from Sydney Hall and 12 out of the hands of Leah Sorokousky. Christie Pudlas, with 14 points, paced the Eagles.
Later, the Viqueens -- currently a top-five team in the provincial double-A rankings -- rolled past the Kelly Road Roadrunners 92-16. Dana Clarkson knocked down a game-high 15 points for the Viqueens, who were also boosted by 14 points from Michelle Schmidt and 13 from Amanda Van Dolah. Kathy Konig had nine points for Kelly Road.
Duchess Park and Houston Christian round out the field in the eight-team event.
Games continue today, with the championship final planned for 8:45 p.m.
