‘Kind of like a tornado’: Similkameen women’s team cinches two more wins at All Native tournament

The Similkameen Starbirds are one win away from receiving gold in their category for a third consecutive year at the All Native Basketball Tournament following two blow-out victories on Thursday.

Just like in their first game, the team’s hustle, intensity and lockdown defence continued to be the key to their success. They now hold a 3-0 record in this year’s competition, after defeating Vancouver’s All My Relations team 65-38, and the Hazelton Mystics 60-34.

“Our defence has been a monster. We take pride in our defence and our teamwork,” said Jade Montgomery-Waardenburg, who returned to the starting lineup Thursday after being unavailable for the smǝlqmíx team’s win on Sunday. 

The Starbirds have been competing in the women’s division of the annual All Native Basketball Tournament in “Prince Rupert,” running from Feb. 8 to 15. The Starbirds now have a rest day on Friday, before their final game of the tournament on Saturday where they hope to secure first place. 

Montgomery-Waardenburg, who was the MVP for the women’s division in last year’s tournament, was named player-of-the-game in her first game back against All My Relations, following a strong defensive effort where she tallied 12 points.

“It’s kind of like a tornado,” she said of the team’s strategy.

“When it works right and we’re all in the same line, it’s kind of intense. It’s scary — it’s here, it’s there, it’s everywhere. Wherever the ball is, we’re pressuring.”

The Starbirds suffocating defence — characterized by tight court presses, pressure double-teams, on-and-off-ball coverage — hindered All My Relations from gaining any momentum or consistency going throughout the game. 

“My gameplan is to work hard and pressure the ball, so it makes it harder for the other team to score,” said Starbirds guard Nicola Terbasket.

“I just have always really loved to play defence. Defence is my game. I really enjoy it.”

The Starbirds also dominated the rebounding game on both ends, with offensive boards leading to second-chance points. All My Relations struggled to penetrate the Starbirds’ paint, with many of their shots being limited to the perimeter. 

“Our game plan was to press and put pressure,” said Starbirds head coach Andrew Gini. 

“People are locked-in defensively. For the entire length of the court, we played strong defence and competed hard.”

Gini praised Montgomery-Waardenburg’s efforts in her first game back. Montgomery-Waardenburg said it’s also the team’s defence that helps drive their offence.

“When things aren’t dropping, it’s time to get it back on defence,” she said.

“If our defence is lacking, our rebounds are lacking. If our defence is down, our offence just doesn’t shine. Our defence is strong. If — or when — it crumbles, it really shows.”

And just like in their first two games, it was the Starbirds’ defence that helped them mount a lead and secure the victory against the Hazelton Mystics Thursday evening.

The first quarter against the Mystics was the closest and most competitive period the Starbirds have had against an opponent in the tournament so far. It was a physical and scrappy game — strong efforts by both teams resulted in a 12-8 lead for the Starbirds going into the second quarter.

But it was in the second quarter where the Starbirds really locked-in on defence, which sparked their offence and helped them take control of the game and establish an insurmountable lead.

“We couldn’t get it going a little bit in the first (quarter) offensively, but the defence definitely gave us our offence. We started getting more of a rhythm,” said Gini.

The Mystics only scored two points in the second quarter. And the Starbirds held a 31-10 lead going into the second half of the game.

Despite Mystics player Amber Wells putting up 15 points in the game, it wasn’t enough to stop the Starbirds, who never looked back once they had the lead.

“Our press in the second quarter was by far the best in the tournament so far. We kept them on one side of the half for a while there,” said Gini, calling the team’s second quarter efforts perfect.

“Everybody was anticipating steals very well. The ball pressure was great. Rotation. Everybody was on the same page.”

The defence and playmaking of Jasmine Montgomery Reid earned her the title of player of the game — where she finished with seven points despite battling an illness all day. Gini commended Montgomery Reid’s defensive efforts in the game, as well as her decision-making on offence.

“A lot of prayer, a lot of medicine. But mostly my teammates,” Montgomery Reid said when asked what enabled the team to get a win even though she wasn’t feeling 100 per cent.

“They’ve been really supportive all day. I’ve probably never gotten sick that much in a day.”

Echoing what her coach and teammates have been saying all week, it’s the team’s defence that is carrying the Starbirds to their victories.

“Our team’s defence is pretty exceptional,” she said. “Our defence, since we were juniors, has always been what has won us games. But it’s being fit, it’s being intense. Andrew runs a really tight press for us, and it’s working.”

Montgomery-Waardenburg said that the team plays with a certain level of synergy, mostly because of the fact that they are all family.

“We just get each other on another level than any team that I’ve ever played on,” said Montgomery-Waardenburg.

“That synergy, that understanding. It’s just cool. I get to play with my cousins and my auntie’s the manager. It’s just real family — a real family game.”