Cyclones Win Physical City Championship
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
Usually the Central Cyclones senior boys basketball team is known for its speed and finesse.
But that all changed on Tuesday evening as the Cyclones found themselves in tough court brawl versus the Swift Current Colts in the city league championship.
In the end the Cyclones found themselves city champs defeating the Colts 83 - 70.
Cyclones Eli Juan (right) drives around the Colts Marcus Manlo - MJ Independent photo
Central Cyclones’ Gerritt Gulutzan played a big game especially on the foul line.
In the first half Gulutzan would muss only one basket off of six trios to the foul line. He took advantage of a Swift Current team who in the second quarter ran into foul problems with over four minutes to go until halftime.
Gulutzan would score 44 points on the evening.
Central Cyclones Gerritt Gulutzan goes up for a shot - MJ Independent photo
Cyclones’ Keaton Belsher scored 11 points while playing a tough defensive game.
Chase Seaborn scored score 11 points by working from the outside to the inside fighting for baskets.
On the Colts side of the equation Griffin Stryker would play a highly aggressive game and scored 16 points.
The Colts Duncan Gevana scored 20 points.
Fouls played heavily against the Colts as Ryan Ugalzino and Toby Klassen both fouled out of the game.
Central Cyclones Keaton Belsher (left) battles in close - MJ Independent photo
For Central Collegiate’s head coach Barry Seaborn winning the senior boys 2025 city league’s championship was a great honour.
This year the three top teams - Central Cyclones, Peacock Toilers and Swift Current Colts - in the senior boys league could have defeated the other team on any given night.
The highly competitive nature of the senior boys final was something not lost on Swift Current Colts head coach Phil Braun as it carried into Tuesday evenings championship final.
“It was a good battle,” Braun said, adding “credit to them. A great team. We knew it was going to be a battle and they finished it out.”
A large portion of the game saw the Cyclones to take a few point lead only to see the Colts grab a few point lead.
“It was pretty tight there for awhile. Kind of going back and forth that way so.”
Central Cyclones Keaton Belsher (left) defends heavily against Swift Current Colts Griffin Stryker - MJ Independent photo
For the Cyclones’ coach Seaborn the game was expected.
“It was a dogfight there. And that’s what you got,” he said.
“They’re a really good basketball team and they move the ball really well. And they get after it on the defensive end they put it in the zone. And they’re very active in the zone.”
Seaborn said the Cyclones did struggle a little bit forcing them to make some adjustments.
“We got some easy (foul line) baskets. Gerritt (Gulutzan) had a great night. I’ve never seen a kid play like that. It was just awesome,” Seaborn said.
A fight over a rebound - MJ Independent photo
“He carried us the whole game,”
Asked about Central’s usual finesse game Seaborn said “I think we played real physical. Just look at the foul count. We played really physical.”
The Cyclones as a team would amass 24 fouls on the evening. Likewise the Colts wracked up 24 fouls on the evening.
Usually the Cyclones do not amass as many fouls in a game.
“We talked about that. We have to be physical and not let them dictate and get after them. Instead of them getting after us,” he said.
Seaborn credited the game plan and couple of basic plays that worked again and again.
“They worked ten or 12 times in the game so it was great.”
Central Cyclones coach during a time out - MJ Independent photo
A timeout was a major turning point in the Cyclones game.
“I think we called a time out and we were a little bit frustrated with what was happening in the game. So we called a timeout and said OK we’ve just got to focus on ourselves and play tougher defence.”
Seaborn said the Cyclones managed to get some key turnovers that sang the momentum their way.
Central Cyclones Gerritt Gulutzan (left) lines up a shot - MJ independent photo
Regarding the highly competitive season - where any of the teams could have one - Seaborn said the top three teams were good teams and evenly matched.
Seaborn said he is happy with the Cyclones season and they are four wins away from another HOOPLA championship.
Central Cyclones S Suliman (left) speeds past a Swift Current Colts defender - MJ Independent photo
The competitive nature in city league senior boys basketball is not lost to coach Braun.
This season the Colts defeated the Peacock Toiles by a single point and the Cyclones by three points.
Central would defeat the Colts by 18 points.
Despite the lengthy travel to Moose Jaw was well worth the trip due to the competitive play the Colts joined the league two seasons ago.
“It was good. It was good. These are fun competitive games and you know both teams are giving it what they want and that’s all you can ask for?” he said.
Braun said despite the longer drive to play in Moose Jaw it was well worth being on the league.
Central Cyclones Gerritt Gulutzan breaks in for another basket. Gulutzan was key to the Cyclones game as he played a solid match - MJ Independent photo
Cyclones Chase Seaborn (left) fights for a clear shot uo close - MJ Independent photo
Cyclones Lee Relizo (left) fights to keep the ball in play - MJ Independent photo
Captains for the Central Cyclones senior boys accept the city league championship - MJ Independent photo
Central Cyclones 2025 Senior Boys city league champions - MJ Independent photo
The scoresheet
Ardens Dominate Girls Final
Meanwhile on the senior girls championship final powerhouse Swift Current Ardens finished off their regular and playoff seasons with a perfect undefeated record.
The 5A Ardens defeated the Vanier Spirits 73 - 30 to claim the city league’s senior girls crown.
