Zone season arrives for SHS hoops
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Doug Taylor Photo
That’s what did in the Strathmore High School Spartans junior varsity boys basketball team March 1 at their home gym.
Taking on the Holy Trinity Academy Knights in the Foothills Athletic Council semifinal, the Spartans fell 68-57. Boris Kuljonin was the top Spartan with 14 points, while Ryerson Rushford poured in 13 points and Luke Schramm finished with 12.
The tough loss comes off the heels of the Spartans trimming the Knights 79-72 Feb. 13 at the Holy Trinity gym.
“The first time we played them, it was such a back-and-forth game, we knew it was going to be tough to pull that one off again,” said Spartans Head Coach Adam Pirie.
After going toe-to-toe with the Knights in the first quarter, the Spartans ran into a dry spell in the second and were unable to pull off the comeback.
The semifinal loss hurt, no doubt, but it did not end their season. They still controlled their own destiny when they took on the Bert Church High School Rams for a play-in game, with the winner advancing to the 3A South Central Zone tournament, which takes place this weekend at W.H. Croxford High School in Airdrie.
The junior program isn’t the only team competing in zones this weekend. After a weekend off, the defending South Central Zone champion senior girls’ program looks to repeat on home court.
The Spartans hosted the Canmore Collegiate High School Crusaders March 7 to kick off the tournament. Earlier in the week, the schedule was still being ironed out, as the head coaches met up to determine if a double knockout format was necessary, considering Cochrane is hosting provincials this year. Be sure to check out the Strathmore High School website for the latest on tourney information.
Regardless of the format, the Spartans will have one eye on the competition and one eye on the powerhouse from the No. 4-ranked Brooks Composite High School Buffaloes.
Due to a rule change within the South Central Zone, the senior boys will not be participating in a zone tournament this weekend.
Some schools were unhappy with the Zone playoff format last year, so a change was made to implement a play-in game instead of giving teams a bye through the first round of Zones.
Which is why the Spartans were forced to take on the Olds High School Spartans March 5 in Olds in a play-in game, which they lost 84-75.
“It’s certainly disappointing to miss Zones, but it’s especially disappointing for the seniors that played three years in our program and now their season is over,” said Spartans Head Coach Matt Laslo.
In the loss, Dan Mulder led the way with 34 points, Wilchowy piled up 12 points and Reid Jensen turned in eight points.
Ryan Edwards, Caleb Wilchowy, Pierston Kahnapace, Luca Nizatic and Garrett Kopp will all graduate the program, leaving behind a very young core that should be motivated to get back to Zones next winter.
The next wave of Spartans captured the 4J South Central Zone title last weekend, when the Crowther Memorial Junior High School Cougars eclipsed the Okotoks Junior High School Ocelots 42-40 March 3 on their home turf.
The final was thrilling, but it took a backseat to the Cougars’ semifinal win, which saw them trail by three with 12 seconds left, to beat the John Paul II Collegiate Athletics 28-27.
Needing a bucket, Kevin Bakker drew up a play during a time out that resulted in a Justine Larson layup. Down one with 8.8 seconds, Sydney Edwards stole the ball and raced down the court, only to get fouled with six seconds left. She hit both free throws, putting the Cougars up one.
“It was a super exciting weekend. The girls worked so hard and they entered the weekend with the right mindset and they pulled it off,” said Cougars Assistant Coach Nikki Leggott.
The Cougars opened the weekend with a sound 39-20 victory over the Red Deer Lake School Dragons March 2.
Unlike the high school programs, this marked the end of the season for the Cougars. There is no provincial championship for junior high basketball.