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Cave feels right at home at HTA

The hardwood proved to be a place to cement friendship for a newcomer from British Columbia.
Anthony Cave, here going in for a layup against the STS Spartans, is playing a leadership role in this his second season with the Holy Trinity Academy Knights.
Anthony Cave, here going in for a layup against the STS Spartans, is playing a leadership role in this his second season with the Holy Trinity Academy Knights.

The hardwood proved to be a place to cement friendship for a newcomer from British Columbia.

Anthony Cave is in the midst of his second season as the Holy Trinity Academy Knights shooting guard and the experience on the court made his move from Kamloops, B.C. to Okotoks last year a smooth one.

“It was kind of scary because I had lived there for 11 years,” Cave said. “The toughest thing was trying to make friends in my Grade 11 year. I was able to make really good friends, especially on the basketball team.”

Although a friendly group, camaraderie and grins didn’t necessarily mean wins.

HTA had an unKnight-like season last year in which it failed to make the Foothills Athletic Council finals and was halted in the South Central zones playoffs in its injury-plagued year.

“We didn’t really carry out our potential and I think when we lost Jared Helinsky at point guard to injury it threw us back mentally,” Cave said. “We set some goals last year and we carried them over to this season. We are playing much stronger this season.”

Cave said one of those players who didn’t play to his potential was the new shooting guard from Kamloops.

“Oh, absolutely,” Cave said. “My Grade 11 year was tough especially coming into a new team. This year, my off-season I made much more of a commitment to get to the gym, get some shots up and lift weights.

“A lot of the other guys on the team did the same and it has really helped us.”

He’s more of a leader on the floor this season, but that doesn’t mean on the scoresheet — which is just fine with him.

He was looked on as a scorer, especially when Helinsky went down.

“Last year, everybody was more reliant on me to score because we didn’t have a whole lot of depth,” he said. “This year we have a ton of depth. Everybody on our team can score pretty efficiently. I am more of a role model on and off the court this year — getting the guys used to the competition.”

The Knights have spread the wealth in scoring with seniors Jordan Cyr, Jesse Ralph, Cave and Co. getting support from rookies like Kessler Bishop and Hunter Boriskewich contributing to the HTA attack.

Knights head coach Sam Aiello said Cave has taken the leadership reins this season.

“Because we are a little bit more balanced we don’t have to rely on him to be scoring 25 a game,” Aiello said. “He is contributing more in other ways — more on defence and he is more of a leader.”

So far, the Knights have found their form, they have waltzed through the Falcon-less FAC league play this season and have held their own at tournaments in this their first season of 4A basketball.

The Knights have been up to the test against 4A schools. Cave said even in a recent winless tournament at St. Francis High in Calgary, it helped build team morale.

“I think if we were in 3A still, we might be winning more games but we wouldn’t be developing as much as a team,” he said. “There is a lot more size at 4A and we have seen a lot of top-notch team that helps us see where we are.

“Honestly, at St. Francis I thought we could have won all three games.”

The Knights Classic is this weekend and Cave would like to see the Knights get over a lake-sized hurdle. HTA has lost to the Chestermere Lakers in the tournament final the past three seasons.

“We want revenge,” Cave said with a laugh. “We haven’t played Chestermere yet this season.”

Aiello said the favourite going into the tournament is likely the St. Peter the Apostle Spartans from Spruce Grove.

The Knights tip off at 6:15 p.m. Friday at HTA against the Springbank Phoenix. The final is Saturday at 7 p.m.

Prior to the Classic, The Knights will first host the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves tonight Jan. 11 at 7:15 p.m. in FAC play.

The game will be a reunion of sorts. NDC coach is Jeff Roman, who played with Aiello’s Knights in the late 2000s.

The undefeated Holy Trinity Academy Knights girls squad tip-off against NDC at 5:30 p.m. prior to the boys game.

The Oilfields Drillers boys return to action when they travel to Strathmore to take on the Spartans on Jan. 11. The Spartans were STS finalists last season.

For more information go to fac.teampages.com

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