Spartans snag silver at home tourney

Posted on: Staff Writer

SP5F24

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Despite having a few players under the weather and one in a walking boot, the Strathmore High School Spartans senior guys basketball team turned in their best performance of any tournament this season.
What made it even sweeter was doing it at home.
Typically finding themselves on the consolation side of things this season, the Spartans made it all the way to the Strathmore High School Invitational Tournament final Feb. 18, where they were cooked by Beaumont High School 86-55.
The Spartans had to dig themselves out of a deep hole, after they trailed 28-5 following the first quarter.
John Le May did his part to help the Spartans claw back into it. He finished with 22 points, a couple pretty up-and-unders, to go with 12 rebounds. Mackenzie Bain was very un-Mackenzie Bain-like. He was second highest in scoring with 11 points, but took 21 shots to get there.
Earlier in the day, the Spartans nudged the Cochrane High School Cobras 73-68 in the semifinals.
Le May poured in his best game of the tournament, registering 32 points on 10-of-22 shooting, Caleb Funk dumped in eight points to go with 12 boards and Caleb Wilchowy ripped down 13 rebounds to lead the team.
The tourney opened Feb. 17 while class was still in session. Students filled the gym and got rowdy as they witnessed their Spartans tame the Canmore Collegiate High School Crusaders 77-61.
“It was a lot of fun to be a part of this tournament this weekend. You could tell that our players really enjoyed playing in front of a home crowd like this,” said Spartans head coach Matt Laslo.
Point guard Ryan Edwards was battling flu-like symptoms all weekend. While it wasn’t quite the Michael Jordan Flu Game, Edwards picked up a team-high 16 points in the opener.
The Spartans (8-2) finished the Foothills Athletic Council season in second earning a first-round bye. They now wait to find out who they will face in the semifinals, which begin Mar. 1. In the meantime, the Spartans will travel to Wetaskiwin for a tournament Feb. 24-25.