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Atom Venom girls claim provincial basketball crownBy Herb GarbuttOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFPertia Bent admits there were some tense times as her Oakville Venom atom girls played in the provincial champi-onship game.There were moments I was on the edge of my well, actually I didnt sit that much, the Venom coach said. I did a lot of pacing that game.The Venom had bounced back from a loss in its opening game of the provincial tournament to win three straight and earn the chance to play for the gold. But now Bent was watching as the Guelph Phoenixs star player singlehandedly took over the game. Oakville took the lead with Guelphs top scorer on the bench, but Bent knew if she didnt find a way to counter when the Guelph star returned, the lead would not hold.Bent found her answer as first Zoe ONeil and then, in the games closing minutes, Sydney Charvis responded to the challenge.(Guelphs top scorer) was a non-issue and we were able to hold our lead, Bent said as her team scored a 63-52 vic-tory to claim the provincial title. Everybody was helping out. They were all rotating over to help out. It was amaz-ing.It was just another example of what Bent believes was the teams biggest strength its ability to learn, adapt and then PROVINCIAL CHAMPS: The Oakville Venom major atom girls under-12 team recently won the provincial basketball champion-execute what it had been taught.ship. Pictured are (front row, left to right) Kiara Kelley, Kimberly Boissiere, Stefanija Mrvaljevic, Sydney Charvis, Zoe O'Neil, Morgan Cross,With a first-year team, and with only five of 11 players (back row, left to right) manager Sharon McDonald, Jovana Pajovic, Megan Harton, Ashley McDonald, Shayla Parkinson-Roberts,having any rep experience, Bent said her lone goal for the Daphne Anazodo, Claire Thornton, Jessica Mackenzie, coach Pertia Bent and Tai Bent.season was to improve their skill level.seemed to be coming together, along came the March break.to win both of its games on Saturday. Led by its top scorersA former university player at York, Bent took that mission With several players on vacation and a few others missingin the tournament, Stefanija Mrvaljevic and Tai Bent,seriously. She visited national team practices to see the types practice due to illness, the team had little time together as aOakville won 43-33 over the Dundas Dynamo and 40-26 overof skills needed to run a motion offence and then set about full unit prior to the provincials.the North Toronto Huskies. Oakville then topped theteaching those skills to her players. She was pleasantly sur-When the tournament began, Oakville dropped its open-Flamborough Fire 37-27 on Sunday to advance to the gold-prised by how quickly her players caught on to concepts ing game 34-25 to the Orillia Lakers.medal game. such as creating space and moving into space. Friday night we saw the rust. Our decision-making wasAfter winning the final, Bent said it was seeing her teamThey were highly coachable, she said, and they were good but our finishes were off, Bent said. Friday was likeplay that meant more to her than the medal.very supportive of one another.our practice, a chance to work the cobwebs out. But I didntThe girls attitude toward the game they were excitedThe team earned silver medals at tournaments in Ancaster know how they would recover.about the medal, but they just enjoyed playing the game,and Scarborough in January, then gold at the Transway The Venom put its coachs mind at ease by coming backshe said. Im excited to see them again next year.Basketball Tournament in February. But just as everything Recent growth spurt hasn't slowed gymnast PatersonOakville Gymnastics Club coach Greglone event Paterson didnt take first was theHes full of energy.horse and floor.Jackson was standing in the gym when hefloor, where he is still bothered by an injuryFarnsworth earned a complete set of Oliver Ralph finished less than a pointnoticed his student sizing him up.that sidelined him for last years provin-medals in the events, finishing first on rings,out of the all-around medals, finishingCareful what you wish for, he told Corycials.second on high bar and third on parallelfourth in the Provincial 2 10-12-year-oldPaterson. Im tall for a gymnast.The 15-year-old suffered a hairline frac-bars. He also finished fifth on floor.division. He didnt leave the meet withoutWhile a growth spurt that has seenture in his wrist last year and had his castJackson said Farnsworth is likely to joinmedals though, earning a silver on rings andPaterson grow about six inches in the pastremoved just nine daysPaterson in the high performance streambronze on both floor and pommel horse.year (he now stands 5-foot-8) would be wel-before the Ontariobut said there is no reason to rush him intoTeammate Kieran Byrne earned a score of come in most sports, it can wreak havoc onchampionships. Thatit.9.466 to take the gold medal on pommela gymnast. Suddenly, longer legs start get-left him on the side-We want to make sure he learns all thehorse.ting caught on the parallel bars and thereslines, though he wasskills hell need for that level, Jackson said.Oakville gymnasts won four of the sixmore weight to support as you fling thoseable to compete atWe also want to make sure it stays fun forevents in the Provincial 3 10-12-year-oldlegs around a pommel horse.nationals.him.division. Nathan Bollinger won three eventsA two-time national champion, PatersonsHowever, the injuryJackson pointed to the example of Simonon his way to a fifth all-around finish.preparations for this years provincials instill causes discomfortPorter, the provincial junior champion, whoBollinger earned top marks on floor, pom-Burlington took on a much differentwhen doing flairs. Hesdidnt enter the high performance programmel horse and vault and was second onapproach.required to do three,until later in his career.rings.Cory PatersonIt becomes not so much about learningbut Paterson has onlyJacob Kamerman narrowly missed a thirdAndrew Sheehan was first on parallel(new skills), Jackson said. Its more aboutbeen performing oneprovincial title for the Oakville club after hebars, second on rings and third on floor.doing the same gymnastics with a differentand has had to take the resulting penalty.was edged by a third of a point for theSteven Woolley had three top-five finishes,body. What might have been easier beforeAlso earning a provincial title was OakvilleProvincial 1, 10-12-year-old title by Ottawasplacing fourth on floor and pommel horsecan take you some time to get back.Gymnastics club teammate Kyle Farnsworth,Max Dobrei.and fifth on rings.Paterson showed he is well on his way bywho took the all-around honours in theKamerman earned top-three finishes inSpencer Johne was fifth on parallel barstaking first in five of six events on his way toProvincial 2, 10-12-year-old division. four of the six events. He placed second onin the Provincial 1 10-12-year-old division.the all-around title in the tyro division. TheHes a joy to work with, Jackson said.parallel bars and rings and third on pommel Herb Garbuttwww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, April 22, 2011 40