Within B.C. borders, the Nechako Valley Viqueens are expected to pillage and plunder. The rival D.P. Todd Trojans were among their first victims.
Saturday night at D.P. Todd, the Viqueens and Trojans met in the final of the Northern Classic, the first senior girls basketball tournament of the year. At times, the Trojans showed they could stick with the Viqueens but they were eventually worn down by the skill and court smarts of their opponent. The final score favoured Nechako Valley, 65-45.
The Viqueens, from Vanderhoof, entered the tournament as the No. 3 team in the provincial double-A rankings. At last year's B.C. championship tournament, they finished fourth, two spots ahead of the Trojans.
"Early games in the year, you can't put too much stock into them," said Viqueens coach Joel Mueller. "I think at the end of the year it will be us and D.P. Todd fighting it out again, just like the last couple years. It's a good rivalry. We both want to beat each other."
The Viqueens have five players back in uniform from 2009-10. The Trojans have eight returnees and occupy an honourable mention spot on the provincial list.
