A lack of practice made perfect.
The Holy Trinity Academy Knights went a perfect 3-0 at the Chinook Coyotes Sr. boys basketball tournament in Lethbridge Nov. 29-30, despite having been on the floor for less than a week.
The majority of the Knights are just now starting to realize a guard isn’t someone on the offensive line and that the net is something you try to put a ball through, not spike the darn thing over.
“We have five football players and two volleyball players — that’s seven of our 13 players,” Knights coach Sam Aiello said. “We only started practising on Monday last week.”
Practice was delayed because the Knights’ volleyball and football teams pushed it to the limit by going to provincials the Nov. 22-23 weekend.
It didn’t seem to hurt them too much in the ‘Bridge.
The Knights down the host Coyotes in the final, in a gym that howled, with more than a hint of Knight pride being heard.
“It was a good crowd, a little more pro-Chinook than Holy Trinity, but our parents were there,” Aiello said.
HTA was able to quiet the howl, but definitely not silence the gym as the Knights build a slim 32-27 lead at the half.
“We really took it to them in the third quarter, but they came back in the fourth quarter,” Aiello said.
The Knights outscored the Coyotes 26-9 in the third quarter to take a commanding 22-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
Elias Ralph led the Knights in scoring with 20 points – he hit four from behind the three-point line.
Miguel Yu pumped in 11 points, while Mason Black had 10 points to go with his Knight high seven rebounds.
The Knights opened the tournament — their first game of the season — with a 106-42 victory over Med Hat’s Crescent Heights High School.
Alex Leggett was the top gunner with 18. Easton Bishop, Ewan Fuhr, Ralph and Black also finished in double digit.
The Knights had a surprising opponent in the tournament semifinal, the 1A Stirling Lakers.
“They beat Bishop Carroll by about 40 in their first game,” Aiello said. “We really took it to them hard, but then they came all the way back and we ended up winning that one 89-74.
HTA built up a 52-25 lead at half-time but the hardworking Lakers were able to outscore the Knights in the second half.
Ben Leggett and Ralph led the Knights in scoring with 22 and 21 points respectively.
Aiello was pleased with what he saw on the weekend.
“We were really able to spread it around everywhere,” Aiello said. “Against Crescent Heights we had five guys score in double figures.
“This group has played together for three or four years now and I coached this group in club.
“They know our systems and pick things up right away.”
The Knights won the tournament despite missing two of their players. Noah Gutek is still recovering from a concussion he suffered playing football, but is expected to be back on the floor shortly.
Post Caelan Kiejko missed the tournament after injuring his foot in the weight room. He is also expected to be back in the lineup this week.
The Knights will begin Foothills Athletic Council play this week when they host the Notre Dame Collegiate Timberwolves Dec. 4 at 7:15 p.m. The ‘Wolves are coached by former HTA Knight Jeff Roman.
In other FAC action the Spartans square off as Strathcona-Tweedsmuir plays Strathmore on Dec. 4.
The HTA Knights are Easton Bishop, Miguel Yu, Riley Thorn, David Aiello, Ben Leggett, Ewan Fuhr, Noah Gutek, Michael Peloso, Elias Ralph, Caelan Kiejko, Mason Black, Alex Leggett and Tobias Krueger.
