Toilers Easily Fly By Vikings
Story and photos by Robert Thomas
One of the ways to describe senior boys basketball matchup between the Peacock Toilers and Vanier Vikings is that of tuning an automobile.
For the older Toilers it was a case of holding the pedal to the metal for the first half then slowing down to work on some fine tuning.
For the younger Vikings it was a case of problematic misses caused by a loose timing chain preventing the team from hitting full speed. There is more major work to do before fine tuning can be done.
In the end the Toilers defeated a younger Vikings squad 113 - 26.
View from the Toilers bench
Given the lopsided nature of the game our questions centered around the upcoming season.
Peacock Toilers
For head coach Troy Setter the Toilers have five players returning from last season - four grade 12s and a grade 11 student.
The junior guys played together so they looked good as well, Setter said.
Commenting about the Vanier Vikings he said they were a young team with four grade 10s on it.
A battle at the top of the key
Asked what he was looking for from the team this year he said it was difficult as the season was new.
“It’s hard to say. The season just started so we are in PA this weekend (for a tournament) so we’ll have a better idea once we see some of the bigger schools and see where we are at.”
During the season teams in the Moose Jaw city league often attend out of town tournaments where they can gauge their level of play against schools in other communities.
Peacock Toilers Josh Chamberlain looks for a teammate to pass to
“We’re just hoping to be competitive. Our guys are working hard at practice and we are just trying to get better every time,” Setter said.
Asked if it was better to be a 4A school and not a 5A school Setter said it did not change the team's goals and priorities.
“We come in with the same goals no matter if we are 4A or 5A. Our goals every year as part of this school is to be playing in the city finals games and be playing in Hoopla.”
Peacock toilers Mukungu Mutabazi for one of his first quarter dunks
Asked about Central’s coaching staff watching the game he said “you have got to come and check each other out early in the year.”
Regarding HOOPLA - the provincial finals tournament - and a potential 4A showdown with the Central Cyclones he said he didn’t think that far ahead but rather the present.
One of the things they did accomplish Wednesday evening is everyone on the team got in playing time.
Peacock toilers Mukungu Mutabazi makes a second first quarter dunk
Vanier Vikings
For Vanier Vikings head coach Brody Wassman it was a tough season inaugural evening.
The Vanier Vikings are a young and new look team this season. With only three hours of practice before the game.
“It’s a jump for most of our players. We only have one returning player. And we only have a couple of guys who played on the A junior (boys) team I guess.”
The Vikings have five grade 10s, five grade 11s and two grade 12s.
Vanier Vikings Matthew Bergado (left) tries to corral a rebound
“We’re young, we’re inexperienced play with each other as a team and we only had three hours of practice so that’s kind of the outcome,” he said.
Despite the problems Wassman is optimistic.
“There is only one way we can go and that is up. You can lose by 20 points or you can lose by 100 points there are still things you are going to have to improve,” he said.
Vanier vikings Jack Warren lines up a shot
He is also a realist.
“I would say our room for improvement is very large. Basic fundamentals, basic team defence, basic team offence things like that. Once we get those in play it will help us a lot moving forward.”
Peacock Toilers Owen Varjassy takes a shot
Asked if he thought it would be a tough year Wassman said it was going to be a “challenging year.”
“I talked to the players about how skill wise that will come but things like hard work and always having a good mental attitude is huge. It’s stuff that they are in control of.”
Despite the loss he said the Vikings are focusing on what is in their control and moving forward.
