Kamloops kid leads B.C. to victory
Riley Oien of Kamloops led Team B.C. to victory in a Western Canada Summer Games women’s basketball game that had at it all.
The 14-year-old South Kamloops secondary student was named player of the game in B.C.’s 52-50 win over Saskatchewan on Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Tournament Capital Centre (TCC).
Jessica Hanson of Vancouver connected on a deep, baseline jump shot with 7.5 seconds left to put B.C. in front for good.
For Oien, who was performing in front of a hometown crowd, the win was a special one.
“I need to work on my confidence a bit,” she said. “I’m not a very confident person.
“This helps a lot because I’m kind of excited for the next game to see how well I can play.”
B.C.’s coach, Morgan McLaughlin, has watched Oien struggle with self-belief leading up to the Games.
Registering 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in Sunday’s win might do wonders for Oien’s basketball future.
“I’m so proud of Riley’s play today,” McLaughlin said.
“It’s been a bit of a battle with her this summer, just finding that confidence.”
B.C., which lost to Manitoba on Saturday, Aug. 6, moved its record to 1-1 with the win over Saskatchewan.
A game against Alberta, played on Monday, Aug. 8 after KTW’s press deadline, determined B.C.’s playoff situation.
Log on to 2011wcsg.com to find the result.
Today’s (Aug. 9) women’s basketball gold-medal game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the bronze-medal matchup slated for a 1 p.m. start.
Both games will be played at the TCC.
Oien is confident her squad has a chance to finish on top of the podium.
“I think, if we work as a team, we might be able to do it,” she said.
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