At the start of the 2015/16 SHSAA basketball season, Sacred Heart Saints鈥� head coach Garrett Karcha said that he was confident that Jake Javier would be one of his top offensive weapons.
But outside of the sharpshooting guard from the Philippines, Karcha was unsure who else would emerge and help lead the way offensively for a Saints team that had just lost one of their top scorers, Tannum Wyonzek, to graduation.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere came second year Senior Saint forward Noah Clarke, who, with Javier struggling early on, took the reins and has been steering the Saints鈥� season ever since. 鈥淣oah鈥檚 been great for us this season, both offensively and defensively,鈥� offered Karcha on his newly found talent, adding that Clarke鈥檚 love for basketball is evident in his work ethic. 鈥淗e (Clarke) watches basketball, he鈥檚 been eating and sleeping basketball and he鈥檚 been in the gym working on his shot and working on his movements.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a guy that鈥檚 taken the next step and wants to continue to be better.鈥�
That drive to improve has been obvious in his personal game as Clarke, who averaged just over three points and three rebounds per game last season in his Rookie of the Year winning grade 10 campaign, has been one of the brightest stars on the Saints this season, averaging a double-double with 14.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
What鈥檚 more impressive is that Clarke averages over 14 points per game without relying on the three point shot, meaning all but three of his points this season have come from either free throws or through hard work beneath the basket. 鈥淥n offence I like to drive in because I can finish down low and my free throws are pretty good so I try to get to the line as much as I can,鈥� said the grade 11 basketball star, continuing, 鈥淚鈥檓 not really a three-point shooter, so I try to drive the ball in more and score that way.鈥�
However Clarke admits that it鈥檚 not just his effort alone that has allowed him to burst onto the scene offensively.
In addition to his improved play, Clarke said that his teammates as well as his coach deserve equal credit for his spectacular on-court performances this season, which includes but is not limited to a career-high 26 points against Prince Albert 鈥� Carlton this past weekend at the York City Classic. 鈥淢y teammates, guys like Brody (Kormos) and Jake (Javier), they gets me the looks and they get me open and get the ball to me so I can score,鈥� suggested Clarke. 鈥淢r. Karcha and McKenzie (Unyi) have also been great in helping me improve and teaching me things I need to know to play better.鈥�
Overall Clarke is aware that he鈥檚 come a long way in a short time, but admits that he has some more work to do if he wants to continue to improve. 鈥淚 think I could work on my defence a little bit, maybe get a few more steals,鈥� said Clarke, who averages 2.3 steals per game this season.
Karcha also believes that Clarke needs to continue to work on his game, but feels that with the way he has dedicated himself to basketball, the talented young basketball player will have no problem continuing to improve.
Karcha said that he is also completely confident that Clarke will continue to frequent the gym, saying: 鈥淗e knows that you have to be good on both ends of the game to be a full, complete player and he鈥檚 working towards that every day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 excellent to see how he鈥檚 progressed over the year so far and he鈥檚 our leading scorer this year and it鈥檚 pretty awesome to see.鈥�
As for now, Clarke said while he鈥檒l definitely be working on his own performance, the main goal is to help the team get prepared for the playoff push and a hopeful spot at the 2016 Hoopla tournament in Moose Jaw in mid-March. 鈥淚 think we have a chance to go to provincials,鈥� mentioned Clarke. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been getting better and better in every game we鈥檝e played, so I think we鈥檒l do well in Regionals.
鈥淲e just need to keep improving like we have been and we鈥檒l do well.鈥�
