Spartans tip off New Year

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The rust accumulated over three weeks off during the holiday break didn’t hinder the Strathmore High School Spartans boys basketball team last weekend; it was not having a couple veteran floor marshals in the lineup.
Playing in the Claresholm tournament Jan. 5 and 6 in their first games back from the holidays, the Spartans pulled away with a 2-1 record.
The Spartans called up three of their junior varsity players, with injuries and absences to Ryan Edwards, Caleb Wilchowy and Andrew Ericson, but still managed to knock off the Eagle Butte High School Talons 78-62 Jan. 5.
“When you miss guys like Caleb and Ryan, you feel it. Those are two important seniors on our team,” said Spartans Head Coach Matt Laslo. “It took us a while to get going, but I thought our ball movement really improved as the weekend went along. It’s something I hope to see improve as the season moves along.”
Reid Jensen hoisted 27 shots to lead the Spartans with 20 points. Josh Filipionek went 3-for-3 from downtown to finish with 13 points, while Daniel Mulder chipped in with 12 points and Pierston Kahnapace recorded double figures with 10 points.
In their second game, the Spartans were handled by the Millwoods Christian School 100-65.
“We didn’t do a great job closing out on their perimeter shooting,” said Laslo. “It took us one quarter to see that they had some shooters, but even when we adjusted, they were still knocking down shots.”
Mulder led the Spartans with 13 points on 15 shots.
The Spartans closed out the weekend on a positive, with a 69-56 victory over the Livingston School Sabres.
Kevin Agboro and Kahnapace turned in their best games of the tournament and tied with a game-high 14 points.
“Usually, if we score 70 points and keep the other team to 60, that is going to give us a pretty good chance to win any game,” said Laslo. “This was a good opportunity to see how we matched up with some of the better teams in the province.”
The Spartans will be in action this weekend when they take part in the Beaumont Tournament. Their next home game is slated for Jan. 17 when they host the Cochrane High School Cobras in an exhibition game at the Strathmore High School gym.

Lady Spartans back in action
The senior girls squad resumed practice this week after a long holiday break and will tip off in a tournament at the Brooks Composite High School Jan.12. They will also host the Cochrane Cobras Jan. 17 in an exhibition game.