Mitch Calvert
Winning tournaments is becoming a habit for the Muskie junior boys’ basketball team.
The juniors captured their second title in January last weekend in Kenora, edging Winnipeg’s Kildonan-East Collegiate Rievers 54-53 in overtime in the thrilling finale.
The black-and-gold had won a tournament in Dryden earlier in the month.
It wasn’t easy, however, as Fort High’s lack of free-throw success in the first half (nine-for-26) allowed Kildonan to stay in the game. A late push by the Winnipeg squad then forced overtime before the Muskies eventually pulled ahead for good.
“We were up by two at the half but could’ve been up by 19, so we’ve got some work to do on our free-throw shooting,” coach Greg Ste. Croix said. “But the name of the game is bringing the ball to the basket and we did that.
“Now we need to get comfortable shooting from the free-throw line,” he stressed.
Fort High pulled ahead in the overtime and held on despite having Joey Ballan and Dustin Eyolfson foul out early in the extra period (Dustin Chiefson already had fouled out late in regulation time).
“We played good defence,” Ste. Croix said. “I was very impressed with our big guys’ rebounding. They did a terrific job, and it was a good win.”
Despite fouling out, Ballan scored 20 points while Eyolfson chipped in 13. Chiefson added nine, with Cody Brown netting eight.
The Muskies had opened the tournament with a 51-40 win over St. Thomas Aquinas (Kenora). Ballan led the way with 17 points while Eyolfson added nine and Dan Busch eight.
Then they advanced to the final with a 46-37 win over Dryden. Ballan again was the top scorer with 11 points while Eyolfson again scored nine and Brown eight.
Ste. Croix said he was impressed with the progress of his team at the midway point of the season, noting their success on the court speaks volumes.
“I think some of the boys are really coming into their own and we’re just looking to build on it,” he enthused.
But when asked what things the team could improve upon in preparation for the NorWOSSA playoffs here Feb. 20, Ste. Croix didn’t mince words.
“I think we need to better utilize our post players,” he stressed. “Our post players have been good and we need a continuation of post development, and we also need to develop more confidence and control with our guard play.
“It’s about utilizing our strengths,” he noted. “That’s not to say we can’t run-and-gun, but we want to dictate the pace of play. We don’t want to scramble.
“We want to be able to up the tempo when we need to, and slow it down when we need to.”
The juniors have a busy stretch of games this week as they hosted Baudette in exhibition action last night (the outcome was unavailable prior to press time) before squaring off against the visiting Dryden Eagles this afternoon.
Then they head to Kenora for another NorWOSSA match-up tomorrow.
Seniors’ update
The Muskie senior boys’ basketball team, meanwhile, also jumps into a busy stretch of games after a prolonged layoff of their own.
“We’ll use this week to get back into playing form,” head coach Paul Noonan noted. “We’re going to continue to work on our offence to make sure we’re generating enough.
“It’s nice that we are going to a tournament [the Kenora
Invitational] this weekend because there are some Winnipeg teams coming in, and we’ll hopefully face some stiffer competition,” he added.
The seniors have beaten almost all comers so far this season, but Noonan knows they’ll need to elevate to another gear offensively to reach their goal of an OFSAA berth. The team has fallen short in the NWOSSAA playoffs the last two seasons.
“We’ve got to get our scoring up to 70-75 points [a game] I feel,” he remarked. “If we’re fortunate enough to advance to NWOSSAA in Thunder Bay, we’ve got to be able to play at a high level and perform right from Game 1.
“I’d like to concentrate on getting the ball into the big guys, Travis [Stromness] and Jeremy [Strain] and Kurtis Hill, and we’re also looking at some new wrinkles in our defence, as well, with full-court pressure,” Noonan added.
Obviously the Muskies can’t let their foot off the gas pedal since the NorWOSSA final is a one-game elimination where anything can happen.
“We usually get through our own league pretty good, but when it comes to getting past Thunder Bay, it has been much more of a challenge,” Noonan noted.
“I’m optimistic because Churchill is still, from what I understand, in first place in Thunder Bay and we beat them in our home tournament,” he added. “Granted, they are going to get better but I’m hoping we are getting better, as well.”
Noonan said he likes the intangibles his veterans are bringing to the court each time out, and that should bode well in the big games down the road.
“I see a lot of heart in this team,” Noonan enthused. “I see guys that want to excel. I see some real leaders on the team, with Garnet Cornell and Travis Stromness, and Jeremy [Strain].
“These guys know they are capable of doing it and they have the desire this year, as well, and that’s motivating the rest of the guys.”
