Six-peat at Nationals
(Taken from the May 06, 2009 St. Albert Gazette)
By Jeff Hansen
Staff Writer		    

The Edmonton Inferno was too hot to handle for a record sixth year in a row at the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League women's championship.J Krempien

"No team has even won more than three in a row so we're quite happy with our accomplishment," said Tara Feser, an Inferno post player from St. Albert who also plays for the Canadian national team.

In Sunday's final in Montreal the Inferno torched the BC Breakers for 36 points in the first half en route to a 58-44 victory. At one point the Inferno led by 30 points.

"Everyone on our team got in play some good minutes. It was an all-around effort to bring home the gold," said Feser, a member of the 2009 NCAA champion University of Alabama Crimson Tide wheelchair women's basket ball team.

In the round robin the Inferno defeated the Calgary Rollers 54-42, Quebec 70-51 and lost 69-59 to the Breakers. After a three-way tie for first place, the Inferno ended up in top spot on points for/against. In the Semifinals the Inferno levelled fourth-place Calgary 60-31.

The Inferno roster included former Team Canada standouts and Paul Kane High School alumnae Danielle Peers at forward and Jen Krempien at guard. Peers was sideline by injuries in recent years. Krempien was back on the court following her retirement from international competition after the 2008 Paralympics for disabled athletes.

"I'm still adjusting to life as a recreational athlete. My mind still thinks I can do a few things but my body disagrees," said Krempien, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and four-time Gold Cup world champion who celebrated her record ninth Canadian championship (six with Inferno and three with Aurora Lights). "All in all, the weekend rekindled some of the passion I have for the sport.".

The team's MVP, according to Krempien, was Feser.

"Tara had an outstanding tournament. She was a force on both ends of the court," said Krempien, who will be enshrined in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on May 29

The point system ranges from 1.0 to 4.5 based on level of ability. The five players on the floor must not exceed 14 points.

“I’m considered a big player so I have to be more of an inside threat,” said Feser, who has seen her court time increase dramatically since coming on board as the team’s 12th player in 2008.
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