A double dose of Drillers is on deck at the 2A basketball provincials.
The Oilfields Drillers senior boys captured the 2A South Central Zone banner to qualify for provincials for the first time in 20 years with the Drillers girls earning their second trip to the Alberta championships in the past three years.
“It means a lot, going into it we knew it was the first time in 20 years we had a chance to do something like this,” said Grade 12 Driller Micah Raugust. “We had high hopes going in and we definitely weren’t the favourites and that gave us a lot of momentum and courage to go in their strong and play our best basketball.
“I can point to four or five guys who had their best game in that final and it paid off big for us.”
At the 2A boys zones at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School, the Drillers downed Carstairs’ Hugh Sutherland Kodiaks 104-89 in the gold medal game.
The Kodiaks shot the lights out to take a big lead in the first quarter before the Drillers’ strength in numbers added up to a 15-point margin of victory.
“We knew they didn’t have too deep of a bench so our goal was to stick close to them throughout the half by playing some tough D,” Raugust said. “By the time we got to the second half, we knew we had the advantage because we have a 12-deep team and they only had five.
“We knew they would be real tired, especially with that full-court press.”
Oilfields rolled by Out Lady of the Snows and league rival Notre Dame Collegiate in the semifinal to get to the tournament final.
“That was super satisfying, we’ve been close with (NDC) all year and they ended up getting the best of us in league semifinal,” Raugust said. “We came into that with a little bit of fire in our heart and really wanted to get past them. That was another close game.”
The host STS Spartans dispatched Holy Cross Collegiate, lost to Hugh Sutherland in the semifinal and rebounded by knocking off NDC 89-68 to take the bronze medal.
At provincials, the Drillers are ranked 10th and open the competition against Calgary’s Rundle College.
“The whole school is buzzing right now,” Raugust said. “We know we have a tough match-up at the start, but I think we can handle it.”
Raugust, one of seven seniors on the Drillers, said the development of the basketball program at Oilfields has been incredible.
“Our boys program was never really good, Grade 10, you look on with bleak expectations knowing that you’re probably not going to go anywhere with it,” he said. “Even last year, I didn’t think we could have pulled this off and now we’re here with all of this development. It’s crazy.”
The Drillers girls will also be returning to the provincial stage.
Oilfields finished as silver medallists at the 2A Girls South Central Zone tournament in Hanna and get the wild card slot allocated to the zone.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Grade 12 Driller Reese Grover. “We’ve been looking forward to it all season, this was our goal and we’re really excited to see where it takes us and to have some fun and bond together as a team.”
The Drillers defeated Hugh Sutherland and Acme before being downed by the top seed Three Hills in the zone championship.
“It’s just a huge honour to get to go back in senior year,” said Grade 12 Driller Shona Nicholson. “And to take this team that’s so strong and get to go and play for something that’s bigger than ourselves.”
Oilfields is the No. 8 seed at provincials with an opening draw versus Central Alberta Christian.
The 2A girls provincials are held at Immanuel Christian in Lethbridge with the boys championships taking place at Millwoods Christian in Edmonton.
“I’m so glad the senior guys were able to make it as well,” Grover said. “It’s a really cool bonding experience and I know for sure we’ll all be live-streaming each other’s games whenever possible and cheering each other on.”
“It’s a huge opportunity for Oilfields,” Nicholson added. “We actually get to be on the map and everyone will remember this year. I can’t believe that both teams made it.”
For more information, visit asaa.ca/championships.
