Smiles, Sorrys, and Suffocating Defense: Jules Verne Albatros Outlast Kits Blue Demons

Kitsilano Blue Demons vs. Jules‑Verne Albatros Sr Girls

December 12, 2025

It’s a dark, crisp evening in West Vancouver, and Mulgrave School is hosting tonight’s clash between the Kitsilano Blue Demons and the visiting Ecole Jules‑Verne Albatross. Both teams are looking to bounce back after tough losses in their opening games yesterday, and the gym carries a mellow, expectant vibe as the players take the floor.

The game starts slowly, with both squads taking time to find their rhythm. Halfway through the first quarter, the Albatross manage to edge ahead, 2–0. But once both teams start connecting from long range, the scoreboard lights up: a few three-pointers later, and we’re officially off and running.

Jules‑Verne’s #6 Williams immediately stands out, showcasing a mix of speed, vision, and toughness. In the span of a single minute, she drives to the net for a basket, forces a turnover on the other end, and dishes a perfect pass into the paint—though, unfortunately, her teammate can’t convert. Clearly, Williams is a player to watch.

Back on the court, the first quarter ends with the visitors holding a slim 7–5 lead.

The Albatross come out firing in the second quarter, quickly extending their lead to 12–7 midway through. Kitsilano answers when #10 Boeck finishes a smooth basket in the paint, and #9 Stewart makes a massive three-pointer with three minutes left to cut the deficit to just one point. Williams responds immediately with a deep three of her own, showing she’s not done dominating.

Kits’ #6 Bisset joins the party with a three pointer of her own to close out the half, and the teams head into the locker rooms deadlocked at 19–19.

Fun Fact: Kitsilano Secondary is home to one of Vancouver’s oldest high school basketball programs, dating back to 1921. Over the years, the Blue Demons have sent several players on to provincial championships and even university teams—so tonight’s showdown is just the latest chapter in a long tradition of hoops excellence.

Jules-Verne opens the second half with purpose, as #11 Kusopila drives hard to the basket and finishes cleanly in the paint. From there, both teams settle into suffocating zone defences, and scoring becomes a grind. Passing lanes disappear, shots are contested, and every basket feels earned.

Kitsilano makes the adjustment to double-team Albatross’ standout #6 Williams whenever possible, but it hardly slows her down. With two minutes left in the third quarter, she rises up and calmly drains a three, pushing the Jules-Verne lead to seven. Still, the Blue Demons refuse to fold, clawing their way back to trail just 32–29 heading into the final frame.

Early in the fourth, crisp ball movement from Kitsilano finally breaks the zone, and #6 Bisset finishes to bring the home side within a single point. What follows might be the most Canadian game of basketball ever played—smiles across the court, laughs after whistles, and a steady exchange of “sorry” and “thank you” echoing through the gym.

Kits keeps battling: A pair of offensive rebounds and a strong drive from #9 Stewart tie the game with three minutes left, and the energy briefly lifts despite the late hour. Jules-Verne responds with poise, knocking down key baskets to build a five-point lead with one minute remaining.

The Blue Demons never stop fighting, but time runs out, and the Albatross hold on for a hard-earned 43–39 victory.

Final Score: Jules-Verne Albatros 43, Kitsilano Blue Demons 39
Player of the Game: Jules-Verne’s #6 Williams, who poured in an impressive 29 points in a defensive, grind-it-out contest.