Hawks clipped by Strathcona

Times Reporter   

 

Riding a high from their last game against Notre Dame Collegiate, a 79-39 victory, the Holy Cross Collegiate (HCC) Hawks couldn’t edge out the Strathcona Tweedsmuir School Spartans on Jan. 30 at home – losing 52-48 in junior boys basketball.

“It was a pretty even game throughout,” Hawks’ Coach Tony Irving said. “We had to come back several times, and put some pressure on at the end of the game. We just didn’t have enough time left to come back.”

Irving felt the team needed to work on defensive rebounds, and their shooting percentage. The team is averaging roughly 30 per cent from the field.

“Most teams like to be well up into 40 per cent,” he said. “(Strathcona) had a lot of good shooting in the second half to keep themselves up when we came back—they just had great shooting percentage.”

Irving and his squad will see the Spartans once again, as Strathcona will be hosting zones at the beginning of March in Okotoks. HCC focused on an upcoming exhibition tournament involving 30 teams, from Jan. 31-Feb. 1, after the Strathcona loss.

“We played well as a team. We showed better defense in the second half than we did in the first. That’s going to bode well for us in the Medicine Hat exhibition tournament,” Irving said prior to leaving. “A lot of the schools are above the division that we’re in, so it’s going to be very competitive.”

The Hawks look to veteran Chris O’Leary to assist the team. Being on the varsity team last year, he shares lots of skill and experience.

“He shows great leadership on the team,” Irving said. “He brings faith, and he’s certainly a role model.”

HCC is now 2-2 on the season, and must improve offensively and defensively – the Hawks have scored 236 points for, but have had 235 points scored against them. Their next game is at home against Highwood High School on Feb. 4.