Despite Loss South Hill Royal Falcons Happy To Play One Last Game
The game’s final result may not have been what they wanted but the South Hill Royal Falcons finished their season out on the court and not as a regular season standing.
At noon on Saturday a capacity crowd came out to cheer on either the Royal Falcons or the Osler (VCA) Lions at Riverview Collegiate.
The winner of the game would claim the bronze medal in 3A boys as job action by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation in their dispute with the provincial government shut down Hoopla - the three day provincial high school basketball championships.
In the end Osler defeated South Hill 103 to 76.
One of the many fans who came out to cheer for the South Hill Royal Falcons
For grade 11 student Drew Biette the Royal Falcons played the best game possible, but just came up short.
“I think we played a good game. I feel we played well as a team and we played our best. It was all we can do,” Biette said.
MJ Independent selected Biette to interview because of his best described as his speedy no holds barred flying from the air “Spiderman” circus style of play.
The Royal Falcons play during the season was very good, he said.
“We had a pretty good season. We came out very strong. We won Cities, we won Conferences and we won Regionals and then fell a little short here but we had a good season.”
Osler erects a wall of players blocking any shot at the basket
Despite losing in the one game, provincial bronze medal match up Biette said it was still important to play that game.
“I think it’s very important. We had some grade 12s who are going to be gone. So I think it’s very important that we actually got it.”
Asked about the high points and the low points of the 2023 - 2024 season Biette said the biggest achievement by the team was being closer together.
“I think we bonded closer together than the last year. We came off of that six win (streak) last year so I think we got closer and grew up together.”
About the team’s abilities Biette said “we definitely improved that’s for sure.”
Reaching back for a ball
For next year he said he personally felt the team would be looking towards more development as it had done this year.
Four team members graduate this year and is expected the majority of the team will be back for next year’s campaign.
“I think we’ll be back.”
Asked if he had anything else to add Biette simply said “All Glory To God.”
Getting set up to make a pass to a teammate with a higher percentage shot
“It was a tough loss for the kids and VCA shot the heck out of it,” Royal Falcons head coach Kalen Senecal said. “It’s hard to compete with the team when they put up 100 points and it just wasn’t our day.”
Pressure by their opponent had the effect of knocking the Royal Falcons off of their initial game plan.
“We couldn’t get the ball through the hoop. It’s all part of the game. They put a lot of pressure on us and it sort of took us out of the game we wanted to play,” Senecal said.
Royal Falcons players surround a Lions player on a rebound
“I’m still happy with the boys. They battled so hard right to the last and that’s all you can ask for.”
At one time the Royal Falcons managed to come within eight points of Osler. But then the game started to get away on them.
The Grade 12s showed a lot of character on the court, Senecal said.
“I have nothing but good things to say about our players who won’t be coming back next year (due to graduation).”
The importance of one final game cannot be understated he said.
“We worked all year to be here and playing in front of your home crowd is all you could ask for.”
A Royal Falcons player slides into the stage padding after trying to prevent a ball from going out of bounds
Asked about how the week has been leading into the final game Senecal said it has been emotionally an up-and-down week.
“We are happy to be playing basketball on Saturday in March.”
A full gym greeted the Royal Falcons wit the majority of people cheering for South Hill.
It’s something Senecal said he was happy to see.
“With this program between the two schools the program is growing and it’s great to see people coming out to support that.”
