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Comox school fields first basketball team

For the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the Comox school, the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy has had a senior boys athletic team.
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The first-ever senior boys basketball team at the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy.

For the first time in the nearly 40-year history of the Comox school, the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy has had a senior boys athletic team.

There are only 75 students in Grades 8-12 at the school, so to field a senior team is an accomplishment. This particular group of young men started to play together as a team in Grade 8 with coach Lori Carpenter. Most team members are Grade 11. One is Grade 10 and another is Grade 12.

The team has partnered with Ecole au coeur de l’ile to use their facility. This year, the team earned a ranking of number two in the North Island. The boys defeated strong teams in Duncan and Nanaimo in regular season play. The North Island tournament saw the team lose to rival Gold River, and earn a third-place standing heading into the Island Championships last weekend in Victoria.

The team lost by three points to Duncan Christian, and by six points to St. Andrews school, but won its game against Ahousat. Gaglardi travelled with only six regular players.

The boys earned the sixth spot on the Island but did advance to provincials. Jesse Dyble of Gaglardi was a first-team all-star selection, and the team earned Most Sportsmanlike Team honours.

“These were amazing accomplishments for our school,” Carpenter said. “Next year with four of our five starters returning, we hope to achieve great results.”

Huge thanks to Maureen Olsen for all her help with the team this year.