NORQUAY - Despite some hiccups during the season as a result of COVID, the team (which is comprised of players from both the Norquay School and the Sturgis Composite School) was able to play a relatively full season which included 21 games prior to playoffs.
Team members from the Sturgis Composite School were: Kimmuel Albarracin, Cole Secundiak, Xage Miraflor, Camron Secundiak, Keannu Albarracin and Daniell Mirva.
Players from Norquay School were: Vance Bashforth, Carson Ebert, Kade Rubletz, Jaxson Lindgren, Rylen Lukey, JT Foster, and David Cote.
The team attended one tournament prior to Christmas in Moose Jaw where they placed fourth. In the new year, the team attended four tournaments and played exhibition games against Canora, Melville, Preeceville and Kamsack. Aside from hosting their annual invitational tournament in February, the team also attended tournaments in Watrous, Saskatoon, and Porcupine Plain. They finished fourth in Watrous, fifth in Saskatoon, second at their home tournament, and won the Porcupine Plain tournament.
The first round of playoffs saw the Knights travel to Porcupine Plain where a 77-51 victory over Carrot River put them into the conference final against a very good Preeceville team. In what turned out to be a very exciting game, the Knights were able to pull out a 75-70 come-from-behind victory to win the conference tourney. This earned the team a trip to the regional playoffs on the weekend of March 18/19.
As the second-ranked team in 2A Boys basketball, the Knights were able to host a regional tournament. They welcomed teams from Cowessess, Langham, and Birch Hills. A Friday night victory over Cowessess by a score of 81-50 earned them a spot in the regional final against Langham – with the winner earning a trip to HOOPLA.
The team played extremely well in the regional final, earning a 91-69 victory, and a third consecutive trip to HOOPLA (the provincial championship). HOOPLA had not taken place in 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID.
Traditionally, HOOPLA is held either in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, or Prince Albert. However, in an effort to combat COVID-19, this year saw HOOPLA take place in towns and cities all over the province. For the Knights, this meant a trip to St. Brieux – home of the top-ranked team in 2A, and the two-time defending champions.
The Knights squared off against the Laval Lions from Regina in one of two HOOPLA semi-finals on Friday, March 25. The game was close for most of the first half, and at one point in the third quarter, the Knights held a slim two-point lead. Thanks in large part to a 40-point effort by graduating player, Keannu Albarracin, the Knights were able to defeat Laval 76-57 and earn a spot in the HOOPLA final.
In the final game, the Knights would play the two-time defending champions – the St. Brieux Crusaders (the same team who they had lost to in the 2019 HOOPLA final) in what was a very exciting game. The rematch was no different. The game was played at a very high pace in a loud and raucous gym. With 2:42 remaining in the first half, the Knights held a four-point lead when one of St. Brieux’s players went down with a badly dislocated ankle. After a lengthy delay, play resumed and St. Brieux entered halftime with a three-point lead.
The second half was an extremely exciting, with back-and-forth action. Both teams played extremely well, and it became apparent the game would not be decided until the final moments. With approximately three minutes remaining in the game, the score was deadlocked at 72-72. Ultimately, the Knights were unable to take the lead and would settle for second place in the province following an 83-78 St. Brieux victory.
Despite the loss, the Knights had nothing short of a very successful season. Following a year-and-a-half of no basketball, this group got better and better with each passing weekend, finishing the season with a record of 20 wins and 7 losses. Graduating players for the Knights included: Keannu Albarracin, Daniell Mirva, Camron Secundiak of Sturgis and David Cote, and Vance Bashforth of Norquay.
