No Regrets Tournament Day 2 Recap

Sturgeon Heights Pick Up a Win Away From Home
December 9, 2017

Caledonia Kermodes vs Sturgeon Heights Huskies(Winnipeg)

This Friday night game featured The Terrace Kermodes that travelled nearly 1400 KM playing the Sturgeon Heights Huskies who travelled 2300KM from Winnipeg to be here.

The Caledonia Kermodes won the tip and strike first with the first bucket. #7 Riley Pierce of the Sturgeon Heights Huskies got them on the board with an early jumpshot. The Kermodes full court press seemed to give the Huskies some problems in the first quarter and there seemed to be a lid on the bucket for the team from Winnipeg. Score at the end of the first 19-4 for the Kermodes.

Things quickly turned around as the lid was lifted from the basket and shots began to fall for the Huskies climbing to within 9 midway through the second  quarter on a three ball by #10 Tyler Jensen. #3 Kohim Ma stopped the bleeding for the Kermodes with an offensive board and acrobatic up and under finish, but when the half court buzzer sound the Kermodes lead had shrunk to 33-26.

The teams opened the second half going shot for shot. #12 Matt Fedak of the Huskies was using his size to grab a ton of offensive boards giving a plethora of second chance opportunities. As the game became closer, the intensity in the gym clearly rose with defence chants being echoed on both benches. The Huskies defense began to swarm which energized their offence, giving them a couple open three pointers followed by a spin move into a lay up by #6 John Sokoloski which brought the Huskies within three points. Kermodes #6 Jackson Netzel put in an and one then banked a three to slow the momentum of the Huskies but the charging Huskies brought the game to just a two point deficit entering the 4th. Kermodes lead 46-44.

Buckle up. Things got crazy from here.

The Sturgeon Heights team had been using an unorthodox subbing routine making a few subs almost every dead ball which allowed for a constant stream of fresh players and allowed for coaches relay small adjustments to the players throughout the game. #11 DeMar Kraus of the Huskies came alive in the fourth scoring a number of driving lay-ups and attacking the rim relentlessly putting the Huskies up by as many as five. Kermodes #6 Jackson Netzel had an answer of his own out of a time out for a corner three that pulled the Kermodes back closer. After a back and forth quarter the score was all tied up at 60 with 47 seconds left. The Huskies would get two from the line to go up, only to be answered by a go ahead three from the Kermodes. The Huskies would come up empty on the next posession forcing them to foul #6 Jackson Netzel sending him to the line once again. He banked his first and swished his second to put the Kermodes up three with 19 seconds left. The Huskies drew up a quick play and were fouled where #11 DeMar Kraus nailed his two free throw to go down one with 19 seconds left. The Huskies foul #6 Jackson Netzel again and with ice in his veins calmly knocks down the free throws to go back up three leaving nine seconds on the clock for the Huskies. The Huskies would use their last time-out and draw up a BEAUTIFUL play to leave #6 John Sokoloski wide open with a NBA range three pointer that rattled around before dropping to send the game to overtime.

The Kermodes got out to a quick 7-0 run to open the extra period, but the Huskies stormed back including another three by #10 Tyson Jensen off the same play that sent it to overtime. With the Kermodes down two, they went back to #6 Jackson Netzel who missed his midrange jumped but got his on offensive rebound and putback to tie the game 77-77 with 11 seconds left. The Huskies would use their final timeout to draw up another beautiful play that led to the game winning basket by #12 Matt Fedak. Final score 79-77 for the Sturgeon Heights Huskies.

Player of the game: #12 Matt Fedak Sturgeon Heights

Sturgeon Heights scores. #20 Matt Fedak - 20 Points. #11 Demar Kraus 19 points.

Caledonia Scores. #6 Jackson Netzel - 41 points. #3 Kohim Ma - 15 points.

Carson Graham vs Salmon Arm

carson salmon arm 1.jpg
(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

This game had all the makings of of a tight frantic battle. Salmon Arm, at ‘No Regrets’ for the third time, brought plenty of length not only in the middle but on the periphery as well. The Golds #16  Limber at 6’7” and #13  Middleton were a trio rounded out by #21 Jansen at 6’6’. Even the backcourt guys were north of 6 feet. But, most stunningly, they only have one graduating player. Longs arms equals many rebounds. Young legs mean a track meet.

 

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

The first quarter ended at 13-12 Carson’s favour. The basket for basket continued as did the frantic pace in the second quarter. Rajwani for Carson showed his elasticity on a drive to the hoop that brought the home fans into the game. But a three by #9 Hecker of the Golds gave them an edge which was immediately eliminated by Carson. This is a good ticket! The ball handling was confident and aggressive and the two teams made few mistakes.

 

With the score knotted at 26 Hecker of the Golds gained an ‘and 1’ but failed at the charity strip. On the offensive rebound and foul the Golds got two free throws and made both. Basically they got 4 points from one play and a shot at a fifth. Golds with the biggest lead of the game at 4. But Carson wasn’t done for the half. A quick bucket brought them within two as the horn went.

 

#13 Carson drained a three to beat the buzzer and put Carson up by 1: 31- 30

 

In the second half the rain started and the threes fell, especially for Carson. But, on the downside they were piling up fouls. Deep in the shot clock #10 AJ Lartey finished a remarkable desperate and athletic left side lay up to put Cason ahead by 5. Then a Smith trey for the Golds was immediately followed by a Duque trey for Carson and Nick Ostler’s two foul shots. Duque again with the teardrop and it was Carson by 7 with 3:00 to go in the third. Carson looked good with all the momentum. Duque and Lartey may not not be long but, man are they quick! And that’s with Demetillo, possibly the quickest of the three, on the bench. Lartney with an ‘and 1’ lay-up and Carson up by 8.

 

(Credit: Blair Shier @ www.blair.photo​)

After 3 quarters it was Carson 56, Salmon Arm 43. Your loyal correspondent went to have blood pressure checked.

 

But the Golds’ travails continued as the plexi-glass on the Carson hoop denied them. But they steadied and tried to chip away at the deficit. Didn’t work Mitchell Ostler got busy down low for the Eagles which led to a Salmon Arm timeout with 6:22 to go in the game.

 

Out of the timeout an errant Golds pass in the backcourt led to another Lartey ‘and 1’ which he converted. Carson by 11. But alternating baskets and turnovers would spell doom for Salmon Arm as the Carson ball hawks were too good and too quick. Carson by 14 with 4 min to go.

Lartey of Carson with a bunch of freebies as part of his game high 28 points and the buzzer went icing a 72-61 Carson victory. Nevertheless, look for Salmon Arm to return next year with an awesome array of what will then be seniors.

 

Player-of the -Game: Carson Graham’s Chris Demetillo

 

High scorers:

Carson’s Lartey with 28 and Duque with quick

Salmon Arm’s Vieria-Shay with 12 and Smith with 11