Spartans girls earn silver in tourney

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

After experiencing their first rough patch of the season, the Strathmore High School Spartans senior girls squad bounced back with a trip to the finals in the Eagle Butte tournament Feb. 24-25.
“Anytime you get to a tournament final, it’s pretty cool,” said Spartans head coach Dion Galandy. “We certainly played better, but we also weren’t up against the toughest competition until we reached the final.”
The Spartans clawed their way back from trailing by 16 points in the final to the host Eagle Butte Talons, tying the game with 30 seconds remaining. After the Talons went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe, the Spartans had the ball in their hands with the game on the line, but turned it over, losing 63-62.
“We got to play in a high-pressure game in the finals and that was definitely a learning experience and a good opportunity,” said Galandy.
Brianna Kennedy led the Spartans with 20 points in the final, including five three-pointers and Allie Davidson turned in a strong performance with 10 points.
In the semis, the Spartans cooked the Bawlf High School Wildcats 62-52.
The Spartans received an evenly spread out offensive attack, with Kennedy racking up 13 points, Ffyona Gibson-Smith supplying 11 points, Pacey Means dumping in 12 points in the second half and Davidson delivering with 12 points.
In the opener, the Spartans crunched the Kate Andrews High School Lions 76-29.
Kennedy turned in another 20-point outing, Davidson registered 14 points, Kylie Larson sunk four triples for 12 points and Tatum Wathen pulled in 10 points.
The Spartans hosted the Highwood High School Mustangs in the Foothills Athletic Council semifinals March 1 at the Strathmore High School. Should the Spartans advance, the finals are set for March 4.
All of the tournaments and FAC league play have lead up to the South Central Zone tournament, which kicks off March 8 at Highwood High School.

Key players missing
The Spartans senior guys squad were without a couple key players and experienced their first winless weekend this season when they participated in a tournament in Wetaskiwin.
Entering the weekend without Ryan Edwards (lower body injury) and Isaiah Simwamu (lower body injury), head coach Matt Laslo knew it was going to be a challenging one.
“It was a tough weekend for us,” said Laslo. “Probably the toughest competition we have faced in any tournament this year and we were missing a few key players and had a couple other guys a little banged up.”
The Wetaskiwin Composite High School Sabres clipped the Spartans 82-74 Feb. 25 in the final game of the weekend.
John Le May was economical, finishing with 25 points on 8-of-16 shots and six rebounds. Sharp shooter Mackenzie Bain was a little off this weekend and struggled from the floor, finishing with 14 points on 4-of-14 from the land beyond. Josh Filipionek wrapped up a strong weekend with 12 points on 4-of-10 shots, to go with five boards.
“We had guys step up and perform, and that’s something we are going forward into zones,” said Laslo. “Guys like Josh Filipionek, Connor McBean and Caleb (Wilchowy) played really well this weekend.”
Playing in their second game of the tourney, the Point Loma High School Pointers slighted the Spartans 80-74 Feb. 25.
Le May led the Spartans with 21 points and nine rebounds and centre Caleb Funk poured in 14 points and hauled down seven boards.
In the opener, the George McDougall High School Mustangs throttled the Spartans 79-55.
Le May supplied 21 points, Funk approached a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds and Filipionek recorded six points and four rebounds.
Before the Spartans tip off in zones, there was some business to take care of in the Foothills Athletic Council. Finishing second in the league, the Spartans earned a bye into the semifinals, which took place March 1 at the Strathmore High School gym when they hosted the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves. If they reach the finals, it would take place March 4.
The Spartans host their zone tournament, which tips off March 8 at the High School gym.