A guy known for providing energy for the Holy Trinity Academy Knights is more of a rock in his final year on the senior boys basketball team.
“There’s a leadership role that I have had to slide into this year,” said Knights post Seth Moser. “I’ve learned how to run for 38 minutes, especially after last year when I was coming off the bench.
“We have a whole new team and a lot of our guys have never played senior basketball. I have to be a solid rock when the going gets tough.”
Moser, along with point guard Jared Helinksy, has played his entire high school career with the senior varsity squad and this weekend is his final Knights Classic.
It’s something the six-foot-eight, Moser is looking forward to in his bigger role with the Knights.
“It’s definitely sentimental,” Moser said. “There is a lot of meaning for me because it is my last Knights Classic.”
HTA lost the final last year to the Chestermere Lakers, who were led by six-foot-nine Jeff Rodehutskors The big Laker is back this year.
“I know it’s going to be a challenge for me, Jeff is a little bit taller and has a bit more weight,” Moser said. “It is really going to test me as a player.
“But we will be well prepared and we will be ready.”
Tests and challenges have been a part of Moser’s career ever since he graduated from then John Paul II Collegiate. He had to undergo extensive chest surgery prior to high school.
“The year before I had a 13-inch titanium bar inserted into my chest – I had a big indent on my chest wall,” Moser explained. “I had just come off that and I was definitely tentative my Grade 10 year – I was often trying to protect my chest and avoid contact.
“It impacted my rebounding because I didn’t go up with two hands, but that is all over now.”
With the doctor’s green light to keep on playing, he didn’t ever consider hanging up the sneakers.
“When coach (Sam) Aiello needed some height my Grade 10 year I was able and willing,” Moser said.
“I knew I wasn’t going to play much, but the one thing I could bring the team was energy.
“I like to yell from the bench.”
Moser is much more than a cheerleader this year.
“Mr. Aiello wants me to be more of an inside presence,” Moser said. “A big rebounder and hopefully put up some points – get down low and crash and bang. I am definitely working on using my length to my advantage down low.”
He’s a quick study.
Moser put up an impressive 18 points with 12 rebounds in a victory over the John Diefenbaker Chiefs in Canmore prior to the Christmas break.
It definitely caught the Knights head coach’s attention.
“Seth is in Grade 12 now and he is playing with more confidence,” Aiello said. “He’s gone from the guy who was just cheering the guys on to still cheering the guys on but saying: ‘Hey, now I have a bigger role.’
“He’s handling it well.”
The Knights’ opening game of the Classic is Friday at 6:15 p.m. against the Olds Spartans at Holy Trinity Academy.
“There’s a lot of zone competition there and we need to get a good look at those teams,” Moser said. “All in all, I would love to see us win it for once.”
The final is 7 p.m. on Saturday at Holy Trinity Academy.
The Knights are also 3-0 in Foothills Athletic Council action. Their next FAC game is Jan. 6 when they travel to Black Diamond to take on the 1-1 Drillers at 7:15 p.m.
