’Flu bug hurts Muskies in Winnipeg

The Muskies senior boys’ basketball team had a tough time at the Oak Park tournament in Winnipeg last weekend, coming home with a 1-2 record.
“We had a tough weekend,” noted co-coach Mike Busch. “Every team ends up with an injury, we just ended up with the ’flu.”
Still, Busch said the guys played their hearts out and everyone at the tournament noticed.
Despite missing key players (Mark Mercure has been out the last five games and John Sivonen to the stomach ’flu), the Muskies prevailed 79-53 in their first game Thursday night against Miles Mac.
Then they went head-to-head against Oak Park, the fourth-ranked team in Manitoba, on Friday and were edged 54-47.
“The Oak Park game was our worst played game of the year,” noted Busch, noting the black-and-gold had led most of the way but were outscored by 11 points in the fourth quarter.
“The Muskies go into every game expecting to win and that game we did not play as hard or as smart as we could have,” Busch admitted.
Gary Wager led the way with 14 points, followed by Evan Woodland (13), Jock Gemmell (eight), Jamie Algie (seven), and John Sivonen (who had five points despite battling the ’flu).
Then even though they were still missing some starters, as well as head coach Paul Noonan, the Muskies gave the Kelvin Clippers–the second-ranked team in Manitoba–a run for their money on Saturday, falling 73-70.
“This was a game that the nine players who suited up played as hard as they could from start to finish and took the Clippers down to the last second of the game,” Busch enthused.
Woodland also was feeling the bite of the bug but he suited up for the game and gave it all he had, scoring 17 points.
Sivonen appeared to bounce back from his illness, leading the team with a season-high 32 points against Kelvin. Algie, who missed much of the third and fourth quarters due to a cut that wouldn’t stop bleeding, netted 14 points.
Jock Gemmell chipped in five points while Travis Derkson added two.
“Jock and Dan Poperechny played extremely well defensively and rebounding against the bigger teams,” said Busch.
“Travis, Josh McMahon, Vern Pham, and Roy Tighe constantly hounded the Clippers’ ball handlers and caused numerous turnover to help keep us in the game.”
Busch added Sivonen was on fire in that final game and easily was the best player in the tournament Saturday. Woodland was named to the tournament all-star team.
The black-and-gold now are gearing up for NorWOSSA final this Friday in Dryden. If they win, they’ll meet the Thunder Bay champs in the best-of-three NWOSSAA final for a berth at the all-Ontarios in March.