It might not be as pretty as a three-point shot or a slam dunk, but a big block and taking a charge is just as important as the flashy plays when it comes to winning a basketball game.

The Holy Trinity Academy Knights took home the silver medal at the Olds Spartans Senior boys basketball tournament Jan. 29-30 losing to the Brooks Buffaloes 57-51 in the final. The Buffaloes are ranked in the top 15 among 3A schools in Alberta.

“Our guys weren’t happy that we lost in the final but I think they felt that we had a good weekend,” Knights coach Sam Aiello said. “The one thing we took away from this weekend was the importance of defence. When the ball isn’t falling for you, you can always rely on your defence.”

The final was a seesaw battle with the lead changing hands early in the game. Brooks was able to take a 13-point lead in the second half, but the scrappy Knights were able to cut the lead to three.

However, that was as close as they would get.

Aric St. Louis led the Knights in scoring with 21 points and Wayne MacLellan finished with 10 points.

The Knights opened the tournament by thumping the ninth-ranked Lacombe Rams 64-29.

“Lacombe had a post player who was injured and that hurt them, but we had a solid effort on defense,” Aiello said.

The Rams didn’t score in double-digits in any of the four quarters.

Offensively, the Knights were led by the sharp-shooting St. Louis, who poured in 14 points while MacLellan had 13.

MacLellan should send Olds a cleaning bill as he mopped the floor with his jersey.

“He is a battler — diving after loose balls, taking a charge,” Aiello said of the Grade 12 student.

The Knights proved to be poor guests when they thumped the host Olds Spartans in the semifinal game.

St. Louis once again led the Knights finishing with 19 points. MacLellan had 13 and Grade 10 student Hunter Turnbull contributed 10 points in the victory.

Holy Trinity will play in the St. Joseph’s basketball tournament this weekend in Edmonton where the Knights are the defending champions.

The Knights host their crosstown rivals the Foothills Falcons tonight (Feb. 3) at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons are undefeated in the Foothills Athletic Council with a 5-0 record. Foothills beat HTA 77-45 in December.

The Knights are 3-3 in the FAC and have a 9-6 record overall.

In other FAC Senior boys’ action tonight Notre Dame Collegiate visits the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans at 7:30 p.m. The Oilfields Drillers will host the Holy Cross Crusaders at 5:30 p.m. in Black Diamond.

There is also full slate of action on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The Knights host the Highwood Mustangs at 7:30 p.m.,  the Strathmore Spartans visit the Foothills Falcons at 7:30 p.m. and Oilfields will square off against the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Spartans at 5:30 p.m.

The girls will be playing before each of the games at 5:30 p.m. except for the games involving the Drillers who do not have a girls’ team.

0 Recommend This Post

 Email This Post  Print This Post