The Wellington Wildcats earned their way into the Island championships that they're hosting.
The school's senior AA girls' basketball team won its challenge game against Brentwood on Monday in Ladysmith, 64-48, to advance.
There was actually more on the line than the final berth at Islands – the hosting gig was up for grabs, too. Though Wellington was slated to host, coach Nicole McRae didn't tell her players that just in case, she had arranged for Kwalikum Secondary School to host Islands if her team failed to advance.
"At the end of the game I told them I had a backup and they [said], 'Oh, we were so worried," McRae said. "They really rose to the occasion."
Her team went into Monday's matchup confident, but fell behind in the first quarter.
"The lights turned on and they started playing," said McRae. "It was really good. They battled through, for sure."
Olivia Mjaaland was her team's top scorer with 27 points, while Maddi Atherton had 16 points and 19 rebounds.
GAME ON … The senior AA girls' Island championships will be held at the Wellington Secondary School gym starting Thursday (Feb. 18). The 'Cats tip off the tournament against Pacific Christian that day at 2 p.m. and the Island final will be Saturday at 6 p.m.
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