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The Sundre High School Senior Boys basketball team concluded a very successful season last weekend at the South Central Zone tournament winning the consolation side of the tournament.
The team lost its first game against Prairie Christian Academy by a score of 71 to 53.
ìWe came out flat against Prairie while they came out strong,î said coach Chris Simpson.
It was a disappointing loss since it removed all hope of the team challenging for one of three spots to 2A boys provincials held last week in Didsbury.
The South Central Zone was one of the toughest zones in 2A boys basketball this year.
Didsbury High School was ranked number two in the entire province and five other schools within the zone - Drumheller, Hanna, Sundre, St. Joe's (Brooks) and Prairie Christian Academy - were all ranked in the top 15 of the province.
Sundre entered zone competition ranked fourth.
ìGaining a berth at provincials was our team goal, and this year we were very close,î said Simpson. ìIt was a disappointing loss for sure, but I like the way we responded in the next two games.î
The team pulled together and played well the rest of the tournament defeating Carstairs 70-52 and then Hanna in the consolation final 64-51.
ìIn the Carstairs game we rolled lines every two minutes and all the guys contributed,î remarked Simpson. ìWe wanted to finish the year strong and we did that.î
The zone tournament capped a successful season for the team.
In February, the senior boys team was given an honourable mention by the Alberta Schools Athletic Association, the governing body that oversees high school athletics in Alberta.
The team finished the season with an overall record of 20 wins and 9 losses including winning the Chinook's Edge tournament in Red Deer, placing second in David Thompson and Sundre home tournaments and winning consolation in South Central Zone tournament and Lacombe.
Cordell Evans, Colby Morris and David McDonald were nominated to play in the 1A-2A All-Star game to be held in Strathmore March 23.
ìIt was a fantastic group of players to coach,î said Simpson, who said he had difficulty limiting the all-star nominations to only three players.
Simpson also acknowledged the contributions of Kent Jans, who provided advice throughout the season, and the parents who volunteered to drive the team to tournaments and games .
The senior boys teams also wanted to thank RPM Automotive and Garrett Dichrow who sponsored the team's home tournament in February.
This year's squad was comprised of captains Cordell Evans and Colby Morris, Andrew Bartell, David McDonald, Andrew Seinen, Rick Smit, Dale Nylund, Ryan Reid, Tyson Dichrow, Cole Charrois, and Tyrell Reid.
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