Hawks knock off Spartans in quarters

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Holy Cross Collegiate Hawks senior men’s basketball team bounced the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Academy Spartans 69-61 Feb. 27 in the Foothills Athletic Council quarterfinals.
The Hawks came out and played with a bully ball-like mentality, scoring 16 of their first 21 points from inside the paint, highlighted by a Hail Mary outlet pass from Reid Jensen to Turner Dirk who finished with an impressive reverse.
As much as the Hawks were dominating the paint in the offensive zone, their defensive presence on the glass in the second quarter was lacking, as the Spartans clawed back into contention with nine second-chance points.
The solution was easy for Hawks head coach Josh Jalbert — insert the energetic big man.
Luke Sproul checked into the game at the start of the third quarter and provided an instant spark on both ends of the floor. He ripped down three boards (two defensive and one offensive) and got the ball moving in the offensive end, building the Hawks lead to 14. Sproul finished with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting, along with eight rebounds.
“I told him right before he entered; it was time to unleash the beast. He really performed and had a great quarter,” said Jalbert. “He had a great presence on the floor, made some great moves and nice passes.”
Hawks guard Alex Nwoye was getting to the bucket with ease, as he finished with 23 points. Midway through the third quarter, Nwoye collided with Spartans big Sam Grootelaar and got the worse of the collision, leaving the game for a significant time.
In his absence, the offence didn’t flow as fluently, despite Jensen’s team-high 25 points
“When we get pressured too much, we just start taking shots and stop relying on our teammates and getting the ball inside. All year, I have been preaching getting the ball inside,” said Jalbert.
Tied at 55 with 2:35 remaining in the fourth, the Hawks pulled ahead for good with a three-pointer from Jericho Ricafort, a defensive steal by Kyle Gerencer and another three on the ensuing trip down the floor by Jensen.
The Hawks took on the top-ranked Holy Trinity Academy Knights March 1 in Okotoks in the semifinals.
Jalbert has his crew working towards their peak level for the South Central Zone tournament in Three Hills March 10-11.
The Spartans senior girls squad didn’t fare as well in their FAC quarterfinal tilt at the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Academy gym.
They lost 76-26 on the road to the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Academy Spartans during Foothills Athletic Council quarterfinals action.
The tough quarterfinal loss didn’t end the Hawks season. They now look forward to their zone tournament, which is slated for March 10-11 in Brooks.