HCC hoops ready for Zones

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: March 9 2018 Strathmore Times

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Holy Cross Collegiate junior varsity Hawks posed with their South Central zone banner after defeating the Westmount Wolves March 3 at Oilfields High School. Photo Courtesy of Ben Chin

The Holy Cross Collegiate junior varsity Hawks posed with their South Central zone banner after defeating the Westmount Wolves March 3 at Oilfields High School.
Photo Courtesy of Ben Chin
The top dog in the 3J South Central junior high zone held serve and captured a banner to hang high above their gym floor.
The Holy Cross Collegiate Hawks junior boy’s squad ran the table, going a perfect 3-0 at the Oilfields High School.
Feeling no pressure of the moment, the Hawks came out and blasted the Westmount School Wolves of Okotoks in the gold medal match, shooting nearly 70 per cent from the floor en route to a 22-8 lead after one.
“We never slowed down. The boys kept it simple and just played good, fundamental basketball. They were distributing the ball, driving at the right times and making key, unselfish shots,” said Hawks Head Coach Ben Chin.
The Hawks kept the pace up and eventually cooked the Wolves 58-34.
The Hawks took down the No. 4 seed St. Joseph’s Collegiate 63-52.
Faced with a talented ball-moving squad, the Hawks dug in on defence and tried to slow the game down on offence by dumping it into the low post. Again, they grabbed an early lead, 17-6, but ran into difficulties on offence down the stretch, as St. Joe’s tied it late into the third.
That’s when Rick Reynolds caught fire behind the line and canned six 3s to close out St. Joe’s, which eventually went on to take third.
The Hawks cruised to victory in the opener against the Christ the King Academy Royals to the tune of 60-36.
Carson Burgemeister led the way with 15 points, Joe Szasz chipped in with 11 and Chayton Codd supplied 10 points.
“I am very proud of the boys’ effort and class throughout the tournament. Their success was a reflection on how dedicated they were to improving and becoming a cohesive unit,” said Chin.
The senior boys’ program needed a play-in game to qualify for the 2A South Central Zone tournament. They hosted the Oilfields High School Drillers March 6 at the Holy Cross Collegiate gym. If they won that meeting, they would advance to the Zone tournament, which begins March 9 at St. Joseph’s Collegiate in Brooks. The play-in games are necessary, seeing as there are 13 teams trying to qualify for the eight-team tourney.
The Hawks senior girls’ squad lost out to the Holy Trinity Academy Knights in the Foothills Athletic Council final March 1, which ended the season for two of their graduating players.
Seniors Destiny Stevens and Taryn Tanton are not allowed to compete at the 3J South Central Zones in Drumheller this weekend. Seeing as they are both Grade 12 students, they will not be allowed to compete at a junior varsity tournament.
The Hawks first game tips off at 9:45 a.m. March 10, and they will play two more games, depending on how the opener goes.