PRINCE ALBERT – It was the young girls versus the veterans in an "around the world" style shooting drill at a Marauders basketball practice midway through last season.
The younger lot included current St. Mary point guard Jade Hendous, who's now in Grade 11, while the veteran ensemble included Jade's older sister (by two years) Megan, the Marauders point guard at the time.
It was one of those competitions that never goes the way of the lesser aged - the Grade 12s always win.
That is, except on that day, when the starters were forced to take a big gulp of ugh.
"We did a shooting drill all the time last year," said Jade, whose nickname is Junior. "And for the first time, we finally beat them in a shooting game and the starters were so mad at us. We had a good laugh about that."
And when asked about the not-so memorable moment, Megan, who attends the University of Saskatchewan, grudgingly said, "Definitely, I recall that."
Welcome to the "friendly" on-court family rivalry.
Since they were kids playing in the backyard, along with their older brother Jamal - who is also studying at the U of S - basketball has been synonymous with the Hendous name.
"It was like family bonding," Jade said. "We like to be competitive. We are a very athletic family. Basketball is a mutual sport between all of us. I think it runs in our blood.
"We grew up all around basketball because my parents had a net installed for us. Since we were young, we've been dribbling and shooting balls."
And the St. Mary program has been the benefactor.
All three Hendous kids played point guard for the Marauders, with Jade the latest to take over the starting position on the senior team.
So far, so good.
The Marauders have qualified for the championship final in each of their last two tournaments, and although they lost to Carlton in both, St. Mary is developing into a legitimate threat at the 4A level.
And much of the credit should go to Jade, who is following in her sister's footsteps.
"It's hard work because they're big shoes to fill," Jade said. "She was not only a leader, but I look up to her as a role model. She's been telling me, 'don't be to high on yourself. You know what you're doing. You've been playing for a while so just keep it up. You've got the Hendous blood in you, so make us proud.' "
But if you ask St. Mary coach Dwayne Gareau, Junior is bringing pretty much the same game to the Marauders backcourt as Megan did in previous years.
"They're both quiet leaders," he said. "They're not very vocal, but they still get the respect from their teammates just by the way they play.
"They both can handle the ball really well and they both see the floor extremely well. They both are good shooters and they have a competitive nature and fiery edge about them."
"My sister was more aggressive with the ball," Jade analyzed. "She would drive and take shots that I wouldn't dare to take. But I need to get more comfortable with that and start doing what she did, and take control."
Quality point guards, quiet confidence, and grounded in reality.
"I've learned (from my siblings) that sports aren't everything," Jade said. "To have fun and give all you have and don't be frustrated with your team, because you're all there to have fun."
And as for this year's Marauders, the fun might just be starting.
