Cyclones Post Easy Win

Photos and Stories by Robert Thomas

It was a tough evening for the Vanier Vikings senior boys basketball team as they found themselves up against the juggernaut Central Cyclones on Tuesday evening.

A juggernaut that took the lead early and never looked back as the Cyclones defeated the Vikings 123 - 44.

The Cyclones came out hard as a major part of their game plan Central Cyclones head coach Barry Seaborn said.

“I was just happy with our guys who just came out and played hard. We talked about it in the break no more coming out and not playing hard. So I think they came out and played hard which is good and that set the tone for the rest of the night,” Seaborn said.

The tone which saw the Cyclones score early and then continue to apply the pressure for a full 40 minutes.

The Christmas break was highly productive for the Cyclones.

“We had some really good practices over the break. We have got some fire in our belly now and we really needed that fire,” he said.

Prior to the Christmas break the Cyclones fell 74 - 65 versus arch rivals the Peacock Toilers.

Asked if the Cyclones “throttled back” against the Vikings Seaborn said the team “played everyone.”

The Cyclones took advantage of their large lead to give players, who may not receive lots of playing time, the opportunity to play and develop.

“We told our stars to play hard and they played hard…you can see that. We played everyone which is good. We got some good minutes out the guys who don’t always play so much so that is good,” he said, adding “it’s good it gets them some experience.”

Seaborn said he was happy with how the back end of the roster handled the opportunity to play.

“I thought they played really well they handled themselves good so they just have got to learn some of the little things. I’ve coached some of the kids for three years (so the newer players) just need to learn the little things like getting your hands in the face of a shooter. The little things like closing out properly and talking and stuff like that,” he said.

This weekend will see the Cyclones along with the Peacock Toilers battle it out in Central’s senior boys tournament.

The evening may have been a good one for the Cyclones but for the home Vanier Vikings it was a tough evening.

There was some good news for the struggling Vikings and that out of 13 players on their bench nine suited up.

Additionally two more players were unavailable as they were on other commitments but the injury plagued Vikings now have 11 players on the roster up considerably from the eight available prior to the Christmas break.

“Central is a very talented team and they can put anybody on the court and they’re very competitive,” Vanier Vikings head coach Brody Wasmann said, adding “they are just on a different level than we are right now.”

The young Vikings team found themselves up against an older and more experienced Central squad.

The Cyclones are the reigning 4A provincial champions and are expected to be shoe ins by many for another Hoopla run this year.

He said how the Cyclones are playing is what the Vikings should aim towards. It’s something with hard work that will come in time.

The Christmas break had mixed results for the Vikings.

“We got a few more guys back from injury and sickness. We did not practice as much over the break that we had hoped. And I think it showed. We were very much full of turkey.”

A tough game for the Vikings was the 72 - 70 last second overtime loss to the South Hill Royal Falcons on December 17th.

“It was some learning moments. You could see through the whole game we were no longer making the right moves to pull ahead,” he said.

The game swung back and forth with the lead alternating two or three points throughout the course of the game.

The Cyclones move to a 3 - 1 record and the Vikings move to a 0 - 4 record.