A Battle of Endurance: Dover Bay Dolphins Surge Past Determined Jules Verne Albatross Sr Girls
Dover Bay vs Ecole Jules Verne
December 11, 2025
At Carson Graham’s gym, the Dover Bay Dolphins have made the trip over from Nanaimo to take on the visiting Jules Verne Albatross. We’re only two possessions in, and it’s already clear this one is going to test both teams’ endurance—full-court pressure on every inbound, and absolutely no time to relax. The Dolphins’ press pays off early, forcing Jules Verne into a half-court violation and earning themselves an extra possession.
Offensively, both teams are settling in. Dover Bay is knocking down jumpers and finding seams off perimeter penetration, while Jules Verne is doing its early damage inside. A few minutes in, the Dolphins hold a 9–7 lead. With a smooth switch-and-shoot corner three from #10 of the Albatross, Espinal takes its first lead of the game, up 12–11.
Neither side has backed off the press, and with the Albatross carrying only two subs, Dover Bay holds a clear depth advantage. Knowing this, the Jules Verne coaching staff is rotating players rapidly—short breaks, then right back into the fire. A back-and-forth opening frame wraps with the Dolphins taking a 4-point lead.
End of First Quarter: Dolphins 16 – Albatross 12.
Both squads are leaving it all out there, with a spot on the winner’s side of the bracket up for grabs. Dover Bay’s pressure is starting to stack up, converting turnovers into points and stretching the lead to 10 at 26–16. As the second quarter comes to an end and the team's head into their respective locker rooms, Dover Bay has extended their lead to 10.
Halftime score: Dolphins 32 – Albatross 22.
Halftime Fact #1: My kids—ages 6 and 3—confirmed that their favourite parts of the game are the “shooting,” the “squeaking shoes,” and the “cool shoes.” Fair enough.
Halftime Fact #2: Named after the legendary adventure writer Jules Verne, the Albatross brings that same spirit to the court—high energy, dramatic turns, and plenty of plot twists in every quarter.
Jules Verne comes out cooking in the second half, opening the third quarter on an 11–4 run to cut the lead to three halfway through the frame. Both teams are dropping bombs from behind the arc in what’s quickly becoming a see-saw battle. #6 Jessica Williams on Jules Verne and Beth Linder of Dover —a familiar name around these parts—are doing most of the scoring damage.
Dover Bay eventually regains its footing and re-establishes a comfortable lead.
End of Third Quarter: Dolphins 47 – Albatross 36.
The fourth quarter starts with consecutive steals and finishes by #2 Jessica Slater of Dover Bay, pushing the lead to 13 early in the period. The Dolphins’ transition game is taking over as the never-quit Jules Verne squad begins to wear down. Suddenly the lead balloons to 20 midway through the fourth. Dover Bay’s depth is showing—they’ve turned a tight contest late in the third into a commanding advantage down the stretch.
Jessica Williams has been a scoring machine for Jules Verne, finishing with an incredible 35 points in a losing effort. But the tandem of Slater and Linder proved too much to handle, combining for 50 points—26 and 24 respectively—for the Dolphins.
Final Score: Dover Bay 71 – Jules Verne 53.
Player of the Game: #2 Jessica Slater (Dover Bay) – 26 pts
No Regrets.