Brock Aura is hoping February will be an eventful month in more ways than one.
With he and his wife expecting their second child, the Hugh Boyd senior girls basketball coach could also be involved in some significant playoff games for the first time in recent memory.
The Trojans haven’t made a serious run at a provincial “AA” tournament berth in some time but the ingredients are in place for what could be a special post-season. They opened up city play with a 75-22 win over McRoberts on Monday then hung tough with perennial powerhouse McMath — eventually falling 72-54. It was the Wildcats’ toughest game against a Richmond opponent in four years and Aura is confident his team will only get better in the weeks ahead.
“The one issue we have had is it’s been tough getting everyone together,” said Aura who teaches at the school he graduated from. “They are all good athletes. Lot of them play soccer and they also went to the Lower Mainlands in volleyball.
“But multi-sport athletes is definitely what we want at our school (with an enrollment in the 650 range). It’s just meant a late start to the season. I think you saw the talent on the floor today. It’s more like the practice time was missing.”
Boyd features an impressive one-two scoring punch in Megan Estrada and Kara Moscovtiz.
Estrada transferred from St. Pat’s in Vancouver to attend school in her hometown and had to sit out last season. She led the way against McMath with 18 points while Moscovitz added 13.
Boyd will get another test in city play next month against Steveston-London in a game that should decide second place behind McMath. However, it will be mostly tournament and exhibition play over the next couple of months that will provide preparation for the playoffs.
Likely, four berths will be up for grabs at the Lower Mainland “AA” Championships, however the zone currently features six teams in the provincial rankings — St. Thomas Aquinas (No. 2), St. Thomas More (No. 4), Britannia (No. 9) Little Flower Academy (HM) and Seycove (HM).
It’s actually a tougher road than what the Wildcats’ will encounter at the “AAA” Mainland playoffs, but the Trojans are certainly capable of an upset or two to earn a rare provincial tournament berth.
“We already are pencilling (what could be) in February and March,” added Aura. “Our goal is getting to the provincials and it’s just a matter of our girls battling for it.”
