The most recent Super Hoops series, held Monday and Tuesday at FH Collins Secondary, kicked off with the closest game of the season - a real nail-biter.
Taking on the Porter Creek Rams in a back-and-forth battle, the FH Collins Warriors came within a hair of capturing their first win of the Super Hoops season, but fell behind in the final seconds to lose 64-63.
Down 63-62 on a basket from Warrior Dylan Salvisberg, Rams’ game MVP Theoren Richards drew a pair of free-throws with just nine seconds remaining on the clock, draining both.
“I was nervous because earlier in the game he was having problems with his free-throws,” said Rams head coach Logan Wedge. “He had an air-ball earlier. So to go from that, a half hour earlier, to drill two with nine seconds left - he’s got some guts there.”
After a near steal by Ram Cameron Weeks that would have effectively ended the game, Warriors freshman Walter Hermosa stormed the key with an in-and-out move, getting a shot off that rattled its way out of the hoop at the buzzer.
Back with their captain Riley Simpson-Fowler, who missed Monday’s game, the Warriors bounced back with a 73-64 over the Vanier Crusaders on Tuesday.
“We just weren’t executing very well last night,” said Warriors co-head coach Chris Kirk. “Playing fast ball, we were turning over the ball and all those things. We made some adjustments and I think we were ready to play tonight.
“Everybody did their job tonight. Everyone gave us something.”
While game MVP Salvisberg racked up three three-pointers over 26 points in the game, teammate Joaquin McWatters was also instrumental in the win with four steals, including two in the late in the fourth that expanded a 62-58 lead to 66-58.
“We were up in the first half, but it wasn’t enough to make us feel like we were going to win that game,” said Crusaders head coach Sean McCarron. “FH made some really good adjustments.
“We knew, heading into the season, that FH is probably the most experienced team by far and their three best players are probably three of the best players in town.
“Riley (Simpson-Fowler) was in the game - he wasn’t in the game when we beat them last time.”
Warrior girls
steamroll Rams
Moving out to a 16-4 lead on a 13-point run against the Rams on Monday, the Warrior girls took control early on in their 78-31 win Monday at home.
“FH couldn’t have played better, we couldn’t have played worse, and we deserved the thrashing we got,” said Rams head coach Trevor Hale. “Defence and intensity were nowhere to be seen.”
Snagging the game MVP honour was Warrior Nicole Bandera, showing some feisty play out on the floor.
“She was diving for the ball, she was defensively there, she was in the right position,” said Warriors head coach Ann Jirousek. “She’s very coachable, so she’s picking up everything very quickly,”
The Warriors, thus far undefeated in the Super Hoops play, continued to their win streak on Tuesday, downing the winless Crusaders 52-38.
“We’re creating more offence, for sure,” said Crusaders head coach Nicole Morgan. “We’re starting to see them shoot more from the outside, not always trying to force it in all the time, and we’re getting a few more fast breaks, pushing the ball up the floor. So that’s a nice start to offence.”
Reaching a double-double with 14 points, Warrior Jennifer MacKeigan got the game MVP.
“Jennifer was solid on the boards, solid underneath,” said Jirousek. “She played a brand new position tonight, she went in for Nesha Wright, (who) probably only had 15 minutes in the game. I usually plug her in quite a bit more.”
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com