They came home with a silver medal from HOOPLA, as well as recognition for their sportsmanship.
On Monday, May 2, the Lake Lenore senior boys' basketball team received the SHSAA Sportsmanship award, presented by Lyle Mckeller, assistant executive director for the SHSAA.
This award is presented each year after HOOPLA. The winner is chosen by officials and SHSAA executive members.
Each year there are two awards given in the boys' category (1A to 5A) to be selected out of the 24 boys' teams present. It is therefore quite an accomplishment to be considered for this award.
Their 2011 appearance at HOOPLA was the third consecutive year the senior boys' team has made an appearance at the provincial event.
The boys finished off a successful season this year with a second consecutive second place finish at HOOPLA in the 1A category. The team defeated Sturgis in game one of HOOPLA by a score of 55-44.
The gold medal game saw Lake Lenore go up against Regina Harvest City, the same gold medal competition that the boys faced last year.
The competition was very skilled and they slowly opened a lead which they maintained throughout the game.
"The (Lake Lenore) boys demonstrated intensity, composure and determination until the last buzzer," said coach Lindsey Korte. "They represented their school and community admirably throughout the entire weekend. Each player on the court really did give it 110 per cent the entire game. They never once showed signs of accepting a second place finish or 'settling' for the silver."
The team's key players really stepped up and finished the season playing some of their best basketball, Korte added.
"I was extremely proud of all of them. Sometimes, in games that aren't going your way it's easy to show frustration and lose your mental game. This team didn't do it once. The opposition made some questionable decisions throughout the game but our team stayed determined and focused they did an amazing job."
The sportsmanship award, she added, is a great acknowledgment of the strong character and class the team showed throughout the weekend.
"They deserve it," she said.
The sportsmanship award is the fourth one Lake Lenore school has received since 1996 (the first year the award was given). This was a notable and unique feat mentioned by Lyle Mckellar during his presentation to the school on May 2.
He also emphasized the high standing the school has maintained throughout the province through extra-curricular involvement, especially during provincial championships. The sportsmanship award this year solidifies what the school and coaches have always emphasized in sport involvement.
