Spartans beat Spartans as Strathmore sweeps Strathcona

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

Caleb Funk threw a block party Monday night and everybody was invited.
The Strathmore High School senior boys basketball team downed the 0-8 Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans 73-55 during Foothills Athletic Council action Feb. 6 at the Strathmore High School gym.
Funk narrowly missed recording one of the rarest triple-double performances after accumulating nine points, eight rebounds and a Manute Bol-ian nine blocks.
“He’s a volleyball player first, so he knows how to go up and time those blocks well and stay out of foul trouble,” said Strathmore head coach Matt Laslo.
Both Spartan defenses imposed full-court presses early, grinding down the pace from tip.
Strathmore (7-1) led 37-16 at the half, but with Funk on the bench in the third, Strathcona made their push and took advantage in the paint, trimming the lead down to 13 at times.
“They were up to the challenge and we thought it was going to be an easy game. We got up and then took our foot off the gas,” said Laslo.
In that third quarter when Strathcona was making their push, senior power forward Jonathan Le May sensed the moment and took over.
Playing the role of distributor early, Le May took the rock three straight trips down the floor, weaving his way to the rack for acrobatic layups, restoring Strathmore’s big lead.
“He’s one of those guys who tries to get his other teammates involved and then he decided to take over in the third when it tightened up. He’s our go-to guy when we need some baskets,” said Laslo.
Le May finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, with 11 boards and four assists.
Leading the second unit when Le May and Funk rested was Pierston Kahnapace and Connor McBean.
Kahnapace picked up seven steals and finished with six points, while McBean supplied six points and five rebounds.
Over the weekend, Strathmore finished 1-3 at a tournament in Medicine Hat.
Strathmore took on the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves (4-3) Feb. 9. Looking ahead, the Spartans host the Holy Trinity Academy Knights (7-0) Feb. 13 (7:15 p.m.). The Spartans also host their tournament beginning Feb. 17 at the high school.

 

Spartan girls win big
Senior power forward Tatum Wathen’s double-double helped guide the Strathmore High School senior girls Spartans to an 83-31 victory over the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans Feb. 6 at the local high school gym.
Wathen capped off the double-double in style, slashing down the lane after receiving a bounce pass from Allie Davidson. Carving her way to the cup, hacked as she was going up, earning the and-one opportunity. Nailing the free-throw, she finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and a pair of assists and steals.
“That was a great game for her,” beamed Strathmore’s assistant coach Leslie Larson. “Especially being a senior in her last year, those games are a lot of fun.”
Strathmore (7-1) found their stroke again, making good on 24-of-65 shots from inside the three-point line. Better looks and better ball movement appeared to be the solution, as Strathmore assisted on 17 of 29 made baskets.
“We’re always looking to make the extra pass, she said. “We try telling them, that, even though you probably have a good look at the basket, there’s usually someone out there with a better shot.”
There have been games this season where the ball hasn’t been going through, despite launching upwards of 17 shots. That wasn’t the case this time, as everyone was getting involved.
Coming off the bench, Pacey Strangling Wolf was a beast in the paint, finishing with 14 points on nine shots, to go with eight boards and three blocks.
Davidson was dominant all over the floor once again, registering 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Sydney Boyd racked up 13 points on eight shots and ripped down four rebounds.
Strathcona (3-5) never scored more than 12 points in any quarter, thanks to the swarming Strathmore defense that picked Strathcona’s pocket 23 times. Kaylin Larson led the thievery with seven steals.
Strathmore now prepares for a tournament in Macgrath this weekend.