Mulder shines with SHS tourney on horizon

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

A freshman stepped into the spotlight with the annual Spartan Tournament on the horizon.
Entering this season, Strathmore High School Spartans senior boys Head Coach Matt Laslo was excited to finally work with the tall and talented Grade 10 student Daniel Mulder.
After a strong showing two weekends ago at the Super South Tournament in Medicine Hat, Mulder put all the tools on display last weekend in Airdrie at the always challenging George McDougall Tournament.
In the opener against the host Mustangs Feb. 9, the Spartans were blasted 119-60.
“They just didn’t miss. They had 43 points in the first quarter and didn’t miss a 3 until the second quarter,” said Laslo. “If they shoot the ball like that, they can beat anyone. But when you live and die by the three, you can be beat by anyone when those shots don’t fall.”
In the Mustang splashfest, Mulder poured in 25 points to lead the Spartans.
Two weeks ago, the Spartans lost on a four-foot heave at the buzzer. Last weekend, it happened again, only from a further distance.
Up one with 27 seconds left, Laslo drew up a play to get a basket from deep in the paint. Struggling to inbound the ball, Filipionek chucked up a mid-range jumper, as the Spartans couldn’t grab the rebound against the St. Albert Catholic Skyhawks. A member of the Skyhawks grabbed the ball, dribbled once and launched a prayer at the buzzer from his own side of midcourt.
“He canned it; another swish,” said Laslo. “I can’t believe we lost another game like that.”
Lost in the dramatics was another strong outing by Mulder, who pulled out some old school back-to-basket moves and faced up other big defenders. He recorded 23 points, all from the three-point line and in.
“He’s always working so hard on his game. He has the skills to get baskets any way he wants, it was just about getting comfortable at the high school level and developing the confidence to make those plays,” said Laslo. “He wanted the ball. He was telling his teammates to get him the ball.”
In the consolation final, Mulder exploded for a season-high 35.
“He’s a good ball handler who found some confidence in his shot-making ability. Now he knows he just doesn’t have to score from the post; he can initiate from the wing, too.”
Not to be outdone was senior Ryan Edwards, who recorded his tourney-high with 30 points. Everything came together in the finale as Laslo’s crew prepares for their host tournament this weekend.
The Spartans will tip off at 3:45 p.m. Feb. 16 when they take on the Willow Creek Composite High School Cobras at the Strathmore High School gym. The gold medal game is set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17.
The Spartans senior girls’ program was off last weekend. They open tournament play Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. when they host the H.J. Cody High School Lakers.