Junior Basketball League Championship Finals This Wednesday
By Robert Thomas
For High School Basketball fans the coming week is a big one as the junior boys, junior girls and Junior Varsity boys leagues hold their League Final championship games on Wedneday evening.
Here is a breakdown of the matchups.
Junior Girls
LEAGUE FINAL - Vanier Spirits VS Peacock Toilers
Peacock Collegiate Wednesday March 8th at 6:20 pm
Gate prices:
Adults $5, High School Students $3, Elementary Students FREE
After defeating regular season head coach Todd Johnson's second seed Central Cyclones in last week's semi-final the third seed Vanier Spirits are up against head coach Macaela Williams always tough Peacock Toilers junior girls team.
This matchup is likely to be the most entertaining for the fans and most likely to cause heart attacks for the coaches.
The Spirits defeated the Toilers earlier this season.
I hear the Toilers have not been taking the bye to the final easy and been practicing.
Peacock Toilers Callista McQueen is blocked out by Vanier Spirits Kensinton Demassi during their December matchup - MJ Independent file photo
I don’t know exactly what the Toilers have been up to.
But my spies are telling me they've been practicing.
One thing to note is I did spot Toilers head coach Williams sitting in the crowd for the entire Vanier - Central semi-final matchup.
A little first hand scouting perhaps?
It has yet to be seen if Vanier's head coach Miguel Cruz has any more tricks up his sleeve.
His Spirits coming out surprisingly tough and aggressive was the key to their semi - final victory over Central.
This is a matchup too close to call.
As Central's head coach Todd Johnson has said on numerous occasions throughout the season female basketball - both junior and senior leagues - is more competitive, evenly matched than the boys’ leagues.
There are some great female athletes out there.
Come early to get a seat for this matchup.
Junior Boys
LEAGUE FINAL - Central Cyclones VS Peacock Toilers
Central Collegiate - Wednesday March 8th at 8 pm
Gate prices:
Adults $5, High School Students $3, Elementary Students FREE
After a moderately tough outing versus the Central Cylones Gold team last week head coach Karen Rigden's Peacock Toilers are up against head coach Barry Seaborn's powerhouse Central Red.
Most are predicting this to be a blowout as Central Red has hit triple digits against all opponents during the regular season.
Action from the last matchup between Central Red and Peacock Toilers junior boys basketball teams - MJ Independent file photo
Seaborn is an experienced knowledgeable coach with a large talent pool to draw from.
But don’t count Coach Rigden out she knows her b'ball and she may well have a few tricks in mind.
She is known for almost literally getting into the game - or at least a step or two onto the court.
If the Toilers come with the A Plus game this one could become interesting.
Junior Varsity (JV) Boys
LEAGUE FINAL - Assiniboia Rockets VS South Hill Royal Falcons
Riverview Collegiate Wednesday March 8th at 6:20 pm
Gate prices:
Adults $5, High School Students $3, Elementary Students FREE
This game on paper is shaping up to be a highly entertaining affair.
The high flying second seed South Hill Royal Falcons squad may well use home court advantage to soar against first seed the Assiniboia Rockets.
SOUTH HILL ROYAL FALCONS DREW BIETTE (LEFT) LOOKS OVER HIS SHOULDER TO MAKE A PASS AS HE GOES UP HIGH TO PREVENT THE BALL FROM GOING OUT OF BOUNDS. In a february game. HE IS WATCHED CLOSELY BY PEACOCK TOILERS JAYDEN LOBB - MJ INDEPENDENT file PHOTO CREDIT ROBERT THOMAS
After their February victory over top of the visiting Peacock JV Boys team - played at Riverview Collegiate - MJ Independent asked Royal Falcons’ head coach Kalen Senecal about playing on Riverview Collegiate's much more spacious surroundings
The South Hill Royal Falcons are a joint team effort with students from Cornerstone Christian School and Riverview Collegiate joining forces as neither School has a sufficient number of players to field a team.
Although the team has alternated between Cornerstone Christian School's and Riverview's gym all season the extra space at Riverview could be a factor.
The Royal Falcons play a style of game that uses up every inch of the sidelines and then some.
It will remain to be seen if the Assiniboia Rockets will come out flat - after surviving not one but two comebacks from Peacock's JV Toilers in the semi - finals - allowing the Royal Falcons to soar.
If the more down to earth Rockets show up to play its likely they’ll shoot some of the Royal Falcons’ high flying down.
This matchup could be a close game to watch.