Spartans seize consolation final

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

The Strathmore High School Spartans senior boys’ basketball team shook off the holiday rust with the Cobra Classic Tournament in Claresholm over the weekend.
Short five players still on the holiday break, the Spartans were bested 67-53 in the opener Jan. 6 by the Livingstone Sabres.
To help get through the game, Spartans head coach Matt Laslo leaned on junior varsity player Max Nelson to log some minutes.
“Friday night we didn’t bring a lot of intensity. When you come out like that and spot a team the lead, it’s tough to catch up,” said Laslo.
The Spartans received a boost once they entered the consolation side Jan. 7 when they saw the return of a pair of seniors in Caleb Funk and Mackenzie Bain. Freshman guard Josh Filipionek stepped up his game in the New Year and led the Spartans to the 79-67 win over the West Island Wolves.
“Josh was incredible on Saturday, he played like a senior out there,” said Laslo. “He was doing everything well: making passes, getting baskets and getting our team out in transition.”
The Spartans met the Eagle Butte Talons in the consolation final and played their best game of the tournament, clipping the Talons 90-78.
Leading the way was Bain, who was on fire from the land beyond, dialing up eight three-pointers.
“I’ve never seen anyone hit that many threes in a high school game before. He must really like this tournament, because when he was in Grade 10, he hit six in one half once,” said Laslo.
The Talons held a two-point lead with just under five minutes to go, but the Spartans closed out strong on Bain’s lights-out shooting.
John Le May has been one of the Spartans best crunch time players so far and saw his game evolve in the tournament.
“He’s always been able to score. Because of that ability to score and his size, he is going to draw a lot of double teams,” said Laslo. “Now, he is starting to realize that and he is turning into more of a point-forward, kicking the ball out when he gets trapped. We are able to score with ease when he plays like that.”
Now that the Spartans (3-1) are back into the swing of things, they played their first Foothills Athletic Council game on Jan. 11 (result not available as of press time) when they hosted the Oilfields High School Drillers (0-3).
The team will then take part in another tournament in Beaumont over the weekend.