Strength in numbers added up to a fourth-straight league championship for the Knights.
Holy Trinity Academy battled off a resilient Strathmore Spartans squad to take the Foothills Athletic Council senior boys basketball championship for the fourth year in a row in the seesaw 105-84 victory March 7 on its home court.
“We’ve had that with them all season,” said Knights head coach Sam Aiello. “We would get a lead on them and it would evaporate, then we would get it again and it would evaporate. That’s how every game went with them this season.
“They’re a talented team who can score quick and tonight our depth of bench outlasted their depth of bench which was finally able to get us over that hump.”
The Knights showcased their own quick-strike scoring ability with a 30-point showing in the first-quarter with the likes of Mason Black dominating in the paint.
“Defence was key for us,” said Black. “Getting those rebound, one shot and out and just pushing the ball and keeping everyone in it.”
Strathmore didn't let up despite the 30-11 deficit after the first-quarter and rallied when it switched to a zone defence in the second quarter leading to a ton of points on the fast-break. After a 30-12 run by the Spartans, it was suddenly a one-point game before the Knights' Easton Bishop hit a counter-punch three to make it a 45-41 advantage at the break.
“It was being smart and patient on offence,” said Knights guard Riley Thorn. “Because they threw that 1-3-1 (zone) at us and we had to do ball fakes and make sure we were making smart passes.
“They were originally in man and with that 1-3-1 zone they had a guy leaking at the top. Our guy at the top was supposed to go back and make sure the leaking guy wasn’t open.”
The Knights took the nailbiter and made it a comfortable victory in the end with its array of weapons showcasing a scoring touch. Ewan Fuhr had six straight points to start the half, Elias Ralph had a trio of three pointers and Ben Leggett providing a finishing role with strong work underneath the basket and behind the arc in the second half.
“He’s a Grade 12, he’s been playing for us for three years,” Aiello said. “Those are the things he expects of himself and we expect that from him and that’s just the kind of kid he is.”
For the Knights three-year senior class, including Fuhr, Thorn, Black, Ben and Alex Leggett and David Aiello, it's the third FAC title in as many years for a wildly successful age group.
“It’s just fun,” Black said. “We love playing with each other and being able to do well is the best part about it. We just have a connection because we’ve been playing together for so long.”
The Knights are now in the zone as the hosts of the 4A South Central Zone championship, starting March 10 in competition with the Foothills Falcons and Chestermere Lakers.
“I think our guys are confident right now,” Aiello said. “They know they’re going to be tested, for sure. We’re just going to have a good practice on Monday and just go to work on Tuesday and Thursday.”
