SHS Spartans smoke HCC Hawks at home

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

After much anticipation, the Holy Cross Collegiate Hawks opened their season by tossing up a bagel in their first quarter of Foothills Athletic Conference boys’ basketball action.
The Strathmore High School Spartans handed the Hawks a 78-40 drubbing Dec. 6 at the Strathmore High School gym.
“Our players looked nervous out there. We got a couple open looks, but rushed our shots,” said Hawks head coach Josh Jalbert.
The Hawks barely managed to get the ball through the Spartans full-court press in the first quarter, trailing 31-0.
The second quarter was much better as the Hawks dialed up a trio of three pointers and a baseline turnaround jumper from senior Luke Sproul.
“You know, when you look at it, nobody really wants to be involved in a game like that,” said Spartans head coach Matt Laslo. “They have some really talented players over there, but they are just younger, that’s all.”
Spartans senior power forward Jonathan Le May connected on all five shots from the floor in the first half and hauled down six rebounds.
“He is one of the returning guys on this team and we are going to lean on him this year,” said Laslo.
Shooting guard Mackenzie Bain went five-for-11 with three triples and five assists.
“It was important to get everyone playing time and to get them involved, scoring points as we move along into the season. It was a good team win,” said point guard Isaiah Simwamu, who finished with four points, three assists and three steals on two-of-seven shooting.
The Hawks picked up their slack in the remaining quarters, only slighted 47-40 the remaining way.
Jalbert received strong play from his second unit, as they combined for 23 points.
Sproul finished with eight points, four boards and one block, while freshman centre Cordel Steadman channeled his inner Shaquille O’Neal and blocked eight Spartans, including three blocks on one possession in the third. He also scored six points and ripped down five boards.
Perhaps much of the Hawks shooting woes — 19-for-59 and 2-for-16 from the free throw line — can be related to rust.
Hawks took on the Oilfields School Drillers Dec. 7 at home and clipped them 73-60.
“It was a quicker game, lots of transition points, but when we were able to slow it down and play in our half court sets on offence and defence, it looked much better,” said Jalbert.
The Hawks hosted the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans Dec. 12 and traveled to Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks Dec. 14. The Hawks host their tournament Dec. 16 and 17. Their first game is against the Didsbury High School Dragons and tips off at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Spartans travel to Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Dec. 14 in preparation for the Queen Elizabeth Tournament in Edmonton Dec. 15-17.