Toilers Thankful For One Last Game
Peacock Toilers versus the Central Cyclones Saturday March 23 at 3:30 pm at Sask Polytechnic gym
Thankful’ is the best way to describe the feelings of Peacock Toilers head coach as his Toilers are set to square off in Saturday afternoon’s 4A senior boys basketball final against arch rivals the Central Cyclones.
The final - originally suppose to be part of and decided by the Hoopla basketball tournament - is now part of a one day modified playoff games to decide provincial medallists.
In the case of the first seeded Central Cyclones they will face the second seeded Peacock Toilers in the gold medal game.
The Toilers are given pre-game instructions at the start of a Regionals game - MJ Independent file photo
“I’m excited we are getting to play a game anyways,” Troy Setter Peacock Toilers head coach told MJ Independent. “I mean it’s better than alternative for sure.”
The alternative was the cancellation of the Hoopla tournament and no games at all. The provincial basketball tournament a casualty of the ongoing labour feud between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government.
“I want to put a big thanks out to the SHSAA (Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association) for going through all the hoops they had to make this possible…without them doing that and stepping up and making it work, we wouldn’t be doing h that,” Setter said.
Saturday afternoon matchup against the Central Cyclones allows the players closure Setter said.
“To me it’s more of a closure for the boys. They worked so hard over the last four months for the season to end as it was would be a disappointment,” he said, adding “whichever way it ends they know it is their last game and they can finish out their year or their high school career. That’s what I’m happy about.”
Setter said he was proud of all of the teams province wide out lobbying and fighting to prevent Hoopla’s closure.
“I know what all of the teams were they were out all over the place. They were doing what they could…I think that’s awesome. Everybody stepped up and showed how much it meant to them all. They went from city to city and travelled everywhere. They need to get the point across I think was a very good job done by all of them.”
The Moose Jaw rally - MJ Independent file photo
Setter said basketball’s helping build character was obvious in their rallies.
“Basketball is a sport, it’s a game but it can teach life lessons just like anything else. Like another sport or a drama production, or anything like that. You learn so many valuable lessons in it.”
“It just shows if something means so much to you, you just have got to make it happen so that’s what all the students and athletes were doing there,” he said.
Asked about having the opportunity of wrapping up the season at home in Moose Jaw he said it was exciting.
“It’s fitting that we’re playing Central. It’s fortunate we were able to get the number to seed and along with the number one team we advance right to the gold medal game.”
For the other two 4A boys teams, who will not be able to advance to the gold medal game, Setter said it was unfortunate.
“For us it is good closure. We missed our city final game and so both teams will go out and they will have a good game and play our hearts out for sure,” Setter said.
A Toiler goes for the net during Regionals play - MJ Independent file photo
Although the boys matchup between the Central Cyclones and the Peacock Toilers appears on paper to be the premiere local matchup Setter said there are plenty of other local and other town teams participating in what should be very entertaining games.
“I don’t know if I would say that. I know all of those teams are going to be very competitive games and everybody’s going to be putting everything into all those games.”
Setter said the matchup between Central and Peacock simply has more fanfare because of the ongoing battle between the two schools.
That battle included a very close city final last year to really good league games in 2023 and two games separated by only a few points in 2024.
“All those games are going to be fantastic games. Those teams are there for a reason so they’re going to be really good games.”
Asked about the seasons wrap up comparing it to close to the 20 years he’s been coaching Setter said this year may seem strange on how it finished but it’s something that’s been going on for the last few years.
“The last four years I’ve been weird. We lost you know with the COVID year. The boys has the city final game and then the Regionals got cancelled and Provincials were cancelled… honestly, it’s been hard since then for the kids to get back into it. It made a big difference and made big dents in basketball in Moose Jaw but it’s coming back around.”