New SRSS basketball coach hoping to build program
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Gabrielle Souliere has the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Sabres off to a hot start.
The new varsity girls basketball coach put together a roster that competes at the highest level in the Manitoba High School Athletic Association, even if there’s an on-paper talent gap.
As the biggest school in the province, the Sabres have to play at the AAAA level, up against the association’s best basketball programs.
Souliere said she thinks playing at the AAAA level hurts recruitment at SRSS, as players looking to give basketball a try are intimidated by having to line up against those top programs.
“I always want to get girls invested in the sport, so come out, have fun, even if we lose all of our games, it’s still good to build a team sport,” she said.
There’s been less losing to start this season, as after a tough loss to Glenlawn to start the season, the Sabres are 3-1 in South Central Athletic Conference league play.
The improvement early in the season was obvious, just between games one and two of the league season.
“I think we have a lot of good skillset on the team already, and we have a lot of girls who are, not newer to the game, but have buildable skills,” Souliere said after the team’s first win of the season over Leo-Remillard Jan. 7.
“It’s a slow start to the season, but we’re working on it.”
The team’s offense finally came alive Jan. 14, as they posted 76 points in a win over Westgate after failing to break 50 points in their first two SCAC games of the season.
“I just said to one of my players, the way you’re going to build confidence in a game for shooting is by taking that shot, even if when you think you’re not going to,” Souliere said.
“So don’t throw it away, take that shot. Even if it’s an airball, that’s how you learn.”
Souliere coached the junior varsity team at SRSS last year and has pulled a pair of grade 10 players up to the varsity squad this year.
“I know the JV coaches were not very happy with me,” she said with a chuckle.
“I said, ‘prove it to me in tryouts,’ and they earned their spot.”
The Sabres are next in action at home Feb. 9 when they take on Jeanne-Sauvé. The boys varsity team got off to a 1-3 to start the season, and will also next be in action at home Feb. 9.
The Sabres hockey team is continuing to battle near the top of the Winnipeg High School Hockey League standings. They’re currently fourth in the top division of play, just four points behind top-ranked Vincent Massey.