Underdog Peacock JV Boys Lose A Heartbreaker
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
For two years the Peacock Toilers boys JV basketball team has not won a regular season or playoff game but on Wednesday evening they came oh so close.
For a few brief moments trailing by two points in the third quarter it looked like the Toilers were on the verge of being giant killers.
Falling behind by 17 points the visibly tired Toilers never gave up. Despite a mountain in front of them the Toilers regrouped and rallied.
The last three minutes saw the Toilers move from a 17 point deficit to fall seven points short losing 56 - 49 to the visiting Assiniboia Rockets in semi final playoff action.
Peacock JV Boys players as their basketball season ends - MJ Independent photo
The game saw the Toilers strong defence hold the high flying league leading Rockets to a six point half time lead.
The Toilers were unable to take advantage of their opportunities to score key baskets on down court breaks in the first half of play.
The Third Quarter saw the Toilers turn it around at one point drawing within two points of the Rockets.
Only to see the Rockets explode in a scoring frenzy.
Assiniboia would call on Grayson Ciocia who managed to find a seam time and again to get behind the Toilers defence and fast break in and score on layups.
Peacock Toilers Paul ta fights for the ball on the floor. The resulting turnover led to a Toilers basket in a last ditch come from behind effort - MJ Independent photo
The Toilers in the last three minutes of play came out aggressive managing to make a basket followed by two steals and baskets capping off the last minutes rally with a three pointer.
With the Toilers applying offensive pressure Assiniboia head coach Lewis Thomas could be heard on the sidelines telling his players “use the clock. The clock is your friend” during the last minutes Toilers go for broke rally.
Peacock Toilers Keaton Doerksen comes in for a layup - MJ Independent photo
With the final buzzer the most improved and one of the hardest working teams on the practice court in local high school basketball came up just short.
Despite the loss first year head coach Danny Mullens said he had nothing but respect and pride in the team for their hard work and rapid improvement over the season.
“Our boys I am beyond ecstatic on how far they have come. It’s an unbelievable transformation from the beginning (of the season) to the end (of the season). I could not be prouder of these guys.”
Mullens, who has used a positive reinforcement approach throughout the season, has not shouted out orders to the team but rather applauded their efforts.
Peacock Toilers JV boys head coach Danny Mullens applauds his team's efforts as the final buzzer sounds - MJ Independent photo
His positive reinforcement approach saw the JV Toilers, who lost by 44 points to the exhibition JV team Lumsden Devils in December to giving the top JV team, the Assiniboia Rockets, a run for their money in Junior Varsity semi-final playoff action.
“I know they are hard workers. It did show at times tonight and throughout the season,” Mullens said.
Asked about being behind by 17 points late in the game and closing within seven points when others may have given up it was the boys’ characters coming through.
Peacock Toilers Jesse Lesperance (left) and Keaton Doerksen (far right) double team an Assiniboia player - Mj Independent photo
“How did we do that? They have the grit and determination to do it. They really wanted to play to their maximum,” he said, adding “it’s hard to combine the guys (out in the court) but they just clawed back. We were there.”
Mullens said the team threw everything they had into the seemingly impossible last minutes rally and it almost paid off with a victory.
“It's almost like they switched gears in their head in the last minutes.”
With minutes left in the game starter Jesse Lesperance fouled out and Coach Mullens elected to put Paul Ta and his eccentric style of play into the game.
Ta came off of the bench and after a Toilers basket ran amongst the Rockets waiting for the ball to be thrown back into play and wrestled for the ball on the floor with an Assiniboia player causing a jump ball turnover.
In the thrown in the Toilers scored a basket.
Defensively the Toilers managed to keep the usually meteorically scoring Rockets within reach.
Peacock Toilers Dawson Thibodeau breaks around an Assiniboia defender - MJ Independent photo
“Our defence was just amazing tonight, as always, but our offense we could not seem to get any flow to our offense and that just kind of showed on the score,” Mullens said.
He commended the Rockets for their strong play in the semi-final.
“My hat goes off to Assiniboia they really took it to us. And they played well. They had some players that really stood out,” Mullens said.
He pointed out Rockets top game scorer Grayson Ciocia's fast breaks the Toilers struggled to contain was key in Assiniboia's win.
Asked about what he saw as the greatest thing about the season Mullens said it was watching the team's improvement.
Peacock Toilers Jaden Lobb (left) pays special attention to Assiniboia Rockets top scorer Grayson Ciocia - MJ Independent photo
Asked further about the three wins - the first victories in two season for the team - Mullens said it proved to the team they could win.
Winning all three games in a four team round robin format would make them the tournament's de facto winners.
The improvement in the JV Toilers is something Mullens cautiously points to for success next season.
Not all players may be returning as there is the likelihood some team members will make the cut for both junior and senior boys teams.
Mullens himself would like to return next season and plans to help coach in basketball club play to like his team improve himself in the off season.
Unlike junior and senior boys teams which are grade defined in JV the team can be comprised of players in Grades 9 to 12.
Peacock Toilers Braden Blackett battles to make a shot - MJ Independent photo
None of the JV Toilers are in Grade 12.
The potential is there but individual player's improvement and sucess may see them heading off to junior and senior boys teams next season.
It all depends how this year's players make out in trying out for junior and seniors boys teams next year on who will be returning.
Peacock Toilers Jackson Froelich makes a break for a basket - MJ Independent photo
Quarter Scores
The First Quarter score was Rockets 16 and Toilers 10.
The score at Half Time was Rockets 26 and Toilers 20.
The Third Quarter score was Rockets 40 and Toilers 26.
The Fourth Quarter saw the Toilers outscore the Rockets.
The Final Score was Rockets 56 and Toilers 49.
Peacock Toilers Keaton Doerksen attempts to make a shot under heavy coverage- MJ Independent photo
Top Scorers for Peacock
Keaton Doerksen - 17 points
Jayden Lobb - 12 points
Top Scorers for Assiniboia
Grayson Ciocia - 15 points
Mason Rasmussen - 11 points
Hayden Mansoy - 10 points
Peacock Toilers Allan Lu (left) goes man to man - MJ Independent photo
Added Photo - Key Play In The Late Rally
I debated between using this and the photo of Paul Ta wrestling for the ball on the floor.
This is where he jumped in and started to wrestle for the ball when Asiniboia routinely headed up court after a basket.
If you look the number 12 Assiniboia player is running up court after a Toilers basket.
Ta caught them off guard and forced a jump ball turnover that turned into a basket.
