Cyclones Advance After The Big Reset
Story and Photos by Robert Thomas
With only ten seconds into the game Central Cyclones senior girls head coach Tanya McLean took a time out and pressed the reset button.
McLean didn’t like what she was seeing as the Cyclones had already strayed from their game plan.
“We just weren't executing some things we wanted to work on. So we needed to do better in executing our (game) plan,” McLean told MJ Independent in the post game interview.
The move paid off as the Cyclones defeated the visiting Assiniboia Rockets 59 - 31 in senior girls basketball playoff action on Tuesday evening.
With the win the Cyclones advance to a semi - final matchup against the top team in the league the Peacock Toilers on Thursday evening.
“Our goal was to come out strong and we came out a little flat,” McLean said about the reasoning for taking the early timeout and resetting the Cyclones.
McLean said the game was what the Cyclones had expected. She said the Cyclones had their problems but managed to execute their main game plan despite key players being slightly ill.
“We knew Assiniboia had improved and we just wanted to play for the rest of the year. We wanted to come out strong and work on our press which we did. And I thought we did pretty well on that. We struggled at shooting and turning the ball over too much,” she said.
The reset First Quarter saw the Cyclones temporarily lose the lead to the Rockets who scored the first basket.
But following that the Cyclones put up three baskets as they jumped out into a 20 - 8 first quarter lead.
Played in front of about 70 fans - including a highly noticeable contingent of the Peacock Toilers senior girls coaching staff - the Cyclones continued to pressure the Rockets.
Who was in the stands wasn’t something lost to McLean.
“We sure did,” McLean said laughing when asked if she had noticed the Toilers coaching staff scouting the game from the stands.
The winner of the game faces the Toilers in one of two senior girls semi-final matchups on Thursday evening.
The Second Quarter saw the Cyclones continue to outscore the Rockets.
Despite a Half Time score of Central 32 and Assiniboia 17 the Rockets continued to push back against the Cyclones.
The Third Quarter saw a noticeably slightly tired Cyclones team get into foul troubles.
The Cyclones racked up five team fouls with several minutes remaining in the quarter.
Despite heading to the free throw line on several occasions bad free throw attempts saw the Rockets unable to boost their score into the stratosphere.
The score at the end of the third quarter was Central 42 and Assiniboia 24.
The reason for the tired play by the Cyclones was because illness has whirlwinded into the team.
“We've got some sickness going around and we're definitely not in full capacity. So hopefully by Thursday we are there,” McLean said.
Despite running into foul troubles in the third quarter the Cyclones did not let up on the Rockets.
McLean dug into her bench to allow some of her starters a rest.
The Fourth Quarter saw the Cyclones maintain their slight edge in quarter scoring over the Rockets.
The final quarter saw the Rockets outscored by a 17 - 7 margin.
The Final Score was Central 59 and Assiniboia 31.
Asked if the fact Peacock was actively scouting Tuesday's game McLean said she expected - despite the regular season results - will be a hard fought game.
The result of the Toilers and Cyclones Thursday evening semi-final is not a fore drawn conclusion, she said.
“It’s going to be a good game. We've had two close games with them. Whoever plays well and plays better is going to win.”
The key factor in the semi-final and the ultimate fate of the Cyclones is whether or not the flu bug has subsided or better yet left the team.
“Our starting point guard was out for most of the night tonight. We’ve had a couple of people sick this week but hopefully by Thursday we'll be good to go.”
Top Scorers For Central
Addison Simpson - 18 points
Ava Nichols - 11 points
Top Scorers for Assiniboia
Kian Tolentino - 10 points
Senior Girls and Senior Boys high school basketball playoff is in full swing on Thursday evening with three semi - final games.
FIRST GIRLS SEMI -FINAL
Lumsden Angels VS Vanier Spirits
Thursday March 9th 6:20 pm at Vanier Collegiate
SECOND GIRLS SEMI FINAL
Central Cyclones VS Peacock Toilers
Thursday March 9th 6:20 pm at Peacock Collegiate
SENIOR BOYS SEMI - FINAL
Vanier Vikings VS Peacock Toilers
Thursday March 9th 8 pm at Peacock Collegiate
Please note admission prices apply.
