Hawks humbled in road tourney

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

After a gut-wrenching loss in the Black Diamond tournament opener, the Holy Cross Collegiate senior boys Hawks basketball team salvaged a win in their final game.
The Sundre High School Scorpions stung the Hawks 58-57 in the nail-biting opener. The loss had ripple effects throughout the weekend.
“It was definitely an emotional loss for our guys,” said Hawks head coach Josh Jalbert. “Typically, when we keep teams under 60 points, we end up winning. Those tough losses makes it hard to bounce back the next time out.”
Alex Nwoye led the Hawks with 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting, to go with five rebounds and a pair of steals. Reid Jensen chipped in with 11 points and shot 5-for-15. Normally a team that can handle the three-pointers, the Hawks only nailed one triple on 17 attempts.
With the sapping loss still hanging over their heads, the Rosemary High School Rockets 80-56 torched the Hawks.
Nwoye collected 15 points, Landon Osachuk supplied 14 points and four boards, and Jericho Ricafort dished out nine assists.
The Hawks showed signs of life and bounced back in the finale, when they destroyed the Airdrie Koinonia Christian School Eagles 85-33.
Ralph Valencia turned in his best effort of the tourney with 17 points, Jensen recorded 15 points and Nwoye sank five buckets on nine shots for 13 points. Cordel Steadman hauled down eight rebounds and Kyle Gerencer yanked down seven.
The Hawks were scheduled to take on the Oilfields High School Drillers Feb. 6, but the game was cancelled due to poor weather.
This weekend, the Hawks travel to Vermilion for their second-straight weekend of tournaments.
The Hawks hosted the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School Spartans Feb. 8.
The senior girls also had their game at Highwood High School cancelled due to weather.