It was almost a perfect debut.
The second half of the NorWOSSA court sports season kicked off here yesterday afternoon with the Muskies winning three of four matches against the visiting Kenora Broncos.
Larry Pham had 23 points as the Muskie junior boys’ basketball squad turned a one-point halftime deficit into a 50-37 victory.
“It is a good feeling to see the improvement of the players after the difficulties of the first tournament,” said Muskie coach Claude Gagnon, referring to his squad going winless in three tries at a pre-season tournament in Dryden last weekend.
Logan Donaldson added eight points for the Muskies while Fraser Gibson combined a six-point outing with a monstrous defensive effort against the Broncos’ best shooters.
Mitch Kinger paced Kenora with 10 points, while Chris Kejick-Redsky had seven and Lynn Osborne added six.
But the senior boys’ hoops squad was unable to keep the pace with a speedy Broncos side, which used quickness and a big rebounding advantage to construct a 73-52 victory.
Kris St. Clair posted 15 points for Kenora, while Glen Williams had 14 and Eric Morris and Shaun Hall drained 10 apiece. Kevin Gemmell led the Muskies with 10 points, with Cullen McGinnis adding nine.
Meanwhile, Muskie volleyball fans went home happy yesterday as both girls’ squads soared to victory.
The juniors threw a two-unit rotation at the Broncos, consisting of the same groups that competed in last weekend’s pre-season tournament here.
The plan was effective as the Muskies won the best-of-five match by a 3-1 margin. Games scores were 25-23, 17-25, 25-22, and 25-8.
And in senior action, the Muskies controlled the match early, winning the first two sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-18, but then stumbled in the third set, losing 25-19.
But that setback proved to be fuel for the Muskies’ fire as they blasted out to a 17-3 lead in the fourth set en route to an easy 25-7 decision and a 3-1 win in the best-of-five match.
All four court teams resume NorWOSSA play Tuesday (Dec. 17) when they head to Dryden for a showdown with the Eagles.
