If you lined the two teams up side-by-side on the court, you could be forgiven for thinking that the game was going to be a blowout. But that's not how it turned out.
The Humboldt Collegiate Institute (HCI) Mohawks junior boys' basketball team hosted the St. Brieux Crusaders in a league game on December 15. HCI towered over most of the Crusader players, but once the ball started bouncing, the game took on an entirely different complexion.
HCI scored first in the game, but there were more missed shots than baskets in the first quarter. The Crusaders called a time out with the game tied at two, but it seemed to benefit their opponents more. HCI regrouped and took over under the nets, getting most of the rebounds, although it often took them three or four shots to get a basket.
The first quarter ended with the home team up 10-4.
The second quarter saw both teams loosen up and start shooting and scoring more. The biggest change came from St. Brieux as their rebounding and defence improved.
HCI was leading 23-15 at half.
The Crusaders came out fired up in the third quarter, scoring the first four points. They continued their increased shooting throughout the quarter, and capitalized on their rebounding. HCI made fewer shots as the St. Brieux defence kept them outside the key more often.
The Crusaders came within three points at time, but ended the quarter down by six.
The fourth quarter was the best of the game as the two teams started playing run-and-gun ball. Fast breaks, steals, and long passes dominated the floor as the teams took chances as they battled for the lead.
HCI's height did prove to be the deciding factor in the last quarter as they started to grab more rebounds once again. HCI won the game 57-44, but they had to work for every basket.
"They are much shorter than us, but they are highly skilled," said HCI coach Kevin Plemel after the game. "They have developed their fundamentals very well."
Plemel calls his team athletic and very coachable.
"The players want to run and shoot, but they are very defensively minded," he said. "We get a lot of fast-break baskets because they like the defensive side of the floor."
This was HCI's second game of the season, and Plemel is optimistic about how far the team can go this year.
All the players on HCI's team are in Grade 9, while the Crusaders fielded eight players between Grades 6 and 9 for the game, noted Gary Pachkowski, Crusader coach.
"I was very impressed with how our team played," he said. "We had lots of scoring chances. It could have been closer. We missed lots of layups," Paslowski noted.
St. Brieux has two junior teams this year, Pachkowski noted. This was the Junior A team that played HCI, but there is also a Junior B team.
"We are just trying to get the (basketball) program going," he explained. "If we can keep these kids together for a couple of years, they will be something special."
