Photo by John Tonin
UP AND UNDER – Porter Creek Rams player Aiman Salim, back, lets Crusaders player Karl Tesoro fly past before ducking under for a layup during the sixth instalment of Superhoops Thursday at Vanier.
Photo by John Tonin
UP AND UNDER – Porter Creek Rams player Aiman Salim, back, lets Crusaders player Karl Tesoro fly past before ducking under for a layup during the sixth instalment of Superhoops Thursday at Vanier.
Photo by John Tonin
INTO THE HEART OF THE DEFENCE – Vanier Crusaders player Gage Sweeney, centre, powers his way through the Porter Creek zone defence toward the basket during first half Superhoops Action.
The complexion of the Porter Creek Rams and Vanier Crusaders rosters looked vastly different during the sixth instalment of Superhoops Thursday at Vanier Secondary School.
The complexion of the Porter Creek Rams and Vanier Crusaders rosters looked vastly different during the sixth instalment of Superhoops Thursday at Vanier Secondary School.
Porter Creek played with a short bench, seven players, down from their usual 14. Vanier used call-ups from their Grade 9/10 squad. Why? Many of the regular rotation players had
Arctic Winter Games commitments either with basketball or volleyball, as well as school commitments.
Despite that, the show must go on and both teams had players rise to the moment in a pivotal game. The winner of Thursday’s contest got to book their ticket to the Superhoops final. The loser has to play F.H. in the semifinal game.
The Rams were able to use a stifling zone defence and get out on the break to secure their berth in the final, downing the Crusaders 77-59.
Porter Creek and Vanier played a thrilling game earlier in the season that the Rams won at the buzzer. If the Rams lost by more than a single point, it would have been them in the semis.
“If we had of lost by more than one, Vanier would have got the bye,” said Rams coach Paul MacDonald. “We went 4-0, they went 2-2 and F.H. 0-4, so we get the bye.”
The Rams got off to a great start, getting up by double digits and forcing Vanier into difficult shots. They built an early 11-2 lead but Vanier found their legs and cut it to a two-point deficit heading into the second.
The second frame was much like the first. Porter Creek would go on a run but Vanier would answer right back. MacDonald said the first half was what he expected.
“I’m impressed,” said MacDonald. “We started well but I knew they were going to make a run. They did. The bottom of our zone began sneaking up.”
The Rams stayed in zone throughout the game. When MacDonald noticed the zone breaking down, he made the adjustments necessary in a timeout.
“The boys got to find their voice,” said MacDonald. “This is what I keep telling them. You have to be super loud when playing zone. When our zone was sneaking up in the first half we regrouped in a timeout and got some of our leaders to be more vocal.”
Porter Creek took a three-point lead into the half up 39-36.
The adjustment worked in third as the Rams added to their lead. Their zone tightened up and Vanier had trouble finding space to get off good shots.
The Rams got their hands in the passing lanes and got out on the fast-break.
“That’s when we are best,” said MacDonald. “We get a tip on the ball and breakout. We spend a lot of time in practice on transition stuff. Set offence is basically the same. We have a few plays that we rarely run. That’s a momentum changer.”
Porter Creek took a 51-43 lead heading into the final stanza. In the fourth, they continued to roll and they did it with defence.
Vanier began to find open looks from distance, but their shots were just not falling consistently to bridge the gap.
When the final buzzer sounded, the score was 77-59 Rams.
Before MacDonald spoke about his team, he first gave props to the opponent.
“Kudos to them,” said MacDonald. “Those kids are all in Grade 9/10 and I can’t say enough. They were right with us the whole time.”
The Rams were missing a few key starters and players had to step up into different roles for the team to be successful. MacDonald said it is a good confidence boost for them going forward.
“Especially for some of the guys who have been dealing with some negative energy - not toward anybody in particular,” said MacDonald. “But things haven’t gone their way. To come back here, get a character win, I really congratulate a couple of them on keeping their cool.”
When the finals are played next Wednesday, MacDonald expects the team to be at full strength.
“I should have everybody back (for finals),” said MacDonald. “With this though, I have 14, and we are a different team and so are they when they have their starters.”
Since his heavy-minute players haven’t been with the team, MacDonald said he has gained lots of confidence in his guys.
“Over the last five-six games now, four of my guys who get a lot of minutes haven’t played.
These guys have been in for the last six games. That’s more than a third of the games we get.
“I’m going to have more confidence in those guys going in there to go in and contribute.
Those are big moments for those guys.”
Porter Creek will await the winner of the semifinal game next Tuesday between Vanier and F.H. MacDonald said he happy the team got the bye into the championship.
“It’s nice to go in a little fresher,” said MacDonald. “At the same time, one of those teams will come in after a momentous win. But you know what? I’d rather give the boys a rest, have a good hard practice and then play.”
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