The Cochrane High School junior boys basketball team’s camaraderie gave them the edge last weekend as they dominated the court to earn the Rocky View Sports Association divisional banner.
“These boys have the skills and abilities that I’ve never seen previously assembled,” said longtime Cochrane Cobras basketball coach Jamie McLellan.
“There’s something unique about this group of kids – they’re very close, they get along, they’re good friends … they have a really special chemistry, and they all have bought into a system that makes everybody feel they’re an important part of what is done.”
The Cobradome hosted the Rocky View Sports Association’s junior varsity divisional finals on Saturday, and the boys team hit the court first against W.H. Croxford High School from Airdrie.
The Cobras called the shots for most of the game and came away with a handy win of 119-48 in the gold medal game.
“We have a lot of confidence in what we do,” said McLellan. “We outwork other teams, we do our best to execute and be successful.”
Cochrane High’s junior varsity girls also battled it out for a banner later in the day in a thrilling and tight match-up against the Chestermere High School Lady Lakers.
The teams barely moved within two points of each other throughout the whole game and were tied at both the end of the third and fourth quarters, forcing the final into overtime.
In OT, the Cobras again held their own and, with just 22 seconds left, the teams were tied once more at 48 points. As the clock wound down, the Lady Lakers gained possession, and the buzzer sounded just as the ball left the fingertips of a Chestermere player.
Fans in the stands and everyone on each bench held their breath, waiting to see if it would go in … and it did, earning the Lady Lakers the 50-48 victory and the Cobras a well-fought silver.
The junior varsity girls from Bow Valley also battled for bronze against Airdrie’s George McDougall Mustangs. The Bobcats were bested with a final score of 47-40.
McLellan said the Cobras’ JV boys squad now moves into this weekend’s South Central Zone Championships in the number one-ranked spot, carrying a 24-4 record for the season.
Their first game is in Airdrie on Friday at lunchtime against Bert Church High School against the Chargers on their home turf.
He said he’s excited to see how this strong team of youth continues to excel.
“This has been a great year for the kids to learn how to play together,” said McLellan. “This hasn’t been about individuals – it’s been a really great opportunity for these kids to develop friendships. They stick together … it’s good.”
