Hawks junior programs snag silver at home tourney

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The senior Hawks of tomorrow took centre stage at the Holy Cross Collegiate gym with their annual host tournament last weekend.
Both junior varsity B Hawks, Grade 7 and 8 students, managed to pull silver medals from their respective sides of the tournament.
“Everything we have worked on at practice came together amazingly well this weekend. Andy Young (Hawks assistant coach) and I are very proud of the work that went into this season place finish,” said Hawks Head Coach Connie Donais.
After running through the round robin with a pair of convincing wins, the lady Hawks were stifled 45-8 Feb. 10 by the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves.
The Hawks opened up the tournament with a convincing 19-10 victory over the Prairie Christian Academy Sabres. Playing their second game of the day, the Hawks doubled up the Christ the King School Royals 22-11.
On the boys’ side of the bracket, the Hawks were also hampered by the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves in the final, losing 50-41 Feb. 10.
“Our defence was working really well together, communicating and moving their feet,” said Hawks Head Coach Brad Everett. “We played in a zone defence all weekend and that really helped us stay in games. There was a lot of fouling going on at the end of the games that made the final score not seem close, but for the most part, we played in tight games all weekend against some good teams.”
That followed a round robin stage that left the Hawks sitting 1-1.
They opened the tourney with a 32-24 loss to the Christ the King Royals but bounced back with a dominating 40-11 decision over the Drumheller Valley Secondary School Dynos.
The senior Hawks boys’ squad started the tournament at Vermilion with a bang but faltered as the weekend went on.
The weekend began with a solid 65-38 drubbing of the St. Paul Regional High School Saints Feb. 9.
Leading the way was Alex Nwoye with 25 points from 4-for-10 shooting from the land beyond and he picked up eight steals. Ralph Valencia finished 50 per cent from the floor to record 17 points on 14 shots and Landon Osachuk recorded 12 points.
From there, things got worse as the Hawks were clipped 69-62 by the Bonnyville Centralized High School Roadrunners.
Nwoye was strong once again with 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven steals and four assists. Osachuk and Valencia both turned in 18 points, but the Hawks committed 20 turnovers with only 11 assists — not an ideal ratio.
“I thought we were the much more skilled team, but we made a lot of mental mistakes and turnovers that easily cost us that game,” said Hawks Head Coach Josh Jalbert.
The Hawks wrapped up the weekend with a 61-48 loss to the Drumheller Valley High School Dynos.
Nwoye was the only Hawk to hit double digits with 35 points.
“We came out and just didn’t have the drive that Drumheller did,” said Jalbert. “They had more compete than us and they took it to us.”
The Hawks are off this weekend after hosting the Holy Trinity Academy Knights Feb. 14 during Foothills Athletic Council play. They will now await a one-game playoff opponent for the right to advance to the 2A South Central Zone tournament. The playoff game is slated for Feb. 28 with Zones beginning March 9 in Brooks.
“We have some areas that need to be cleaned up,” said Jalbert. “We need to make better decisions with and without the ball and just be smarter basketball players. We have some time to work on things now, but if we can achieve those things, then I think we will see the results down the road.”
The story was the opposite for the senior girls, who finished the weekend on a high after a pair of losses at the Carstairs Tournament.
The Hawks were flying high following their 44-28 victory over the Hugh Sutherland School Kodiaks.
Both Destiny Stevens and Angelina Palardy chipped in their best showing of the tournament as they tied for the team lead with 10 points each.
“The girls stayed positive and continued to make adjustments, implementing what they have been developing at practice. It was a terrific weekend for us,” said Hawks Head Coach Joe Lepage.
The Hawks opened the tourney with a tough 74-33 loss to the Olds Koinonia Christian School Royals Feb. 9.
Nearly every Hawk found their way onto the score sheet, as Hope Given and Teagan Adamcewicz led the squad with six points each.
Other contributors were Jordyn Petrie, Maren Everett and Taryn Tanton, who recorded four points each.
In their second game of the weekend, the Hawks were clipped 61-35 by the Oilfields High School Drillers. Stevens was strong again with nine points and Tanton poured in eight of her own.
The Hawks were back in action Feb. 13 when they hosted the Holy Trinity Academy Knights in Foothills Athletic Council play, and will be off to Hanna for another tournament this weekend.