It’s going to be a glorious weekend for Okotoks basketball as all four high school basketball teams are off to provincials.
No matter how they do, I won’t be criticizing any of the coaches for their clock management.
I happened to miss one of the most famous shots in HTA Knights girls basketball history on March 15 because I only gave myself about two hours to get to Olds.
I had planned to get to Olds at about 4 p.m. to watch the last quarter of the girls game and then the whole boys game — that’s time management skills Sheldon from Big Bang Theory would admire.
As it turned out, I was much like the Okotoks Jr. A Oilers.
I have trouble with Olds.
I did the smart thing, used that Google map deal. However, when I printed off the map, nowhere did the instructions say: “Hey stupid don’t forget the camera lens.”
I lost 12 minutes, as I have to turn back when I realized what I did.
A few minutes. No harm, no foul.
To make up for loss time I have my supercharged entry-level Accent humming at around 107kph the whole way to Olds, living life in the slow lane.
I roll into Olds about 3:50 p.m., I figure I will get to the game by 4:15 and have plenty of time to shoot enough shots to convince my boss I was there for the whole game.
Apparently, one of the minor details of Google maps is you have to write in the right destination. Foolishly, I assumed it was the Olds Sportsplex.
Nope. It’s the giant Ralph Klein Centre I am supposed to be at.
When I see middle-aged men slamming beers and watching curling, and no one is slam-dunking basketballs, I realize there is a chance I am in the wrong place.
I finally arrive at the Ralph Klein Centre and I am heartened to see two girls carrying gym bags. I asked if this is where the hoops tournament is and they said nope. They are here for dance competition.
Despite the fact there are more vehicles parked at the centre than at a Flames game, I assume they are all there for the dance.
I left.
I drive off to the nearby Olds College entrance, ask directions again — and get pointed to the place I just left. Great.
I finally get there, camera — with lens — at the ready.
I arrive to see the HTA girls jumping for joy because Claire Thorimbert hit a three-point shot in the final seconds.
A piece of history I missed. I tell Knights boys coach Sam Aiello I got lost.
He replies, “Um, haven’t you been here before?”
If you look at the big picture, he kind of makes a good point.
I do the interviews, and I plead with the girls not to tell anybody about my stupidity.
They were willing and none of you would know except for one thing.
I have a column to write at the last minute, and this is all I’ve got.
