The Canora Cougars senior boys basketball team left no doubt who had the top team at the conference tournament in Canora, winning their two games by an average of over 40 points.
In game one against Arcola the Cougars started fast and scored the first 13 points of the game, building a 32 to 9 lead after the first quarter. The big early lead allowed coach Noah Creedon to rest his starters and give the other Canora players some valuable experience in this tournament where one loss could mean the end of their season. The final score was 109 to 62 for the Cougars.
“The fast start was the result of some high energy from the boys and their determination that their season was not yet over,” said Creedon. “We played hard and took care of business.”
That win sent the Cougars through to the conference final, where they took on Cowessess First Nation.
Prior to the game, Creedon’s wife Kamdyn, who is an assistant coach with the Cougars, led a moment of silence in respect for the Cowessess players and coach, after 715 residential school children found, buried in unmarked graves on their reserve this past summer.
After a round of applause for the Cowessess boys, the tournament final got underway.
“For us, the first quarter was a battle,” admitted coach Creedon. “But the boys showed their ability to push the tempo, and running the floor ultimately turned things around. We were hitting our shots, rebounding with amazing force. Our full court press was able to keep the pace of the game under our control, and at a speed that Cowessess just was not able to keep up with.”
The third member of the Canora coaching staff is assistant coach Andrew Hoffman.
“Our entire coaching staff are so proud and impressed with these young men, and the progress and improvements that they have been making this season,” concluded Creedon.
At press time the location of the regional tournament had not yet been announced. The four winners of the regionals will move on to the HOOPLA provincial tournament on March 25 to 26.
