Cyclones Claim 4A Boys Provincial Crown
To thunderous applause Pracock Tornadoes Makungu Mutbazi dunked the ball.
As he looked up to the scoreboard, the score was tied 51 Central Cyclones and Peacock Toilers 51.
The dunk seem to signal the momentum shift away from the Cyclones and to the Toilers favour.
But it was not meant to be as the Cyclones fought back defeating the Toilers and capturing the Saskatchewan provincial high school 4A boys, championship with the score of 85 - 69.
Peacock Toilers Makungu Mutbazi (left) times a block attempt on Central Cyclones Mason Muchowski
For Central Cyclones head coach Barry Seaborn the game played out as the team had predicted - an understated battle.
“We talked about it at the beginning, and we said it was going to be a bottle and it was a battle,” Seaborn said.
“It went back-and-forth and we pulled away at the end there. It was your typical Peacock versus Central basketball game,” he said.
Seaborn said it was an end of such an emotional week leading up to the final game.
“It was incredible. You had that lead up all week it was so emotional. It was emotional at the end, the emotions all week and then they got to play. I was so happy for them.”
Peacock Toilers Kayden Lang goes up for a loose ball
“You want to win it playing the game. You don’t want it the other way around that’s no way to win a championship,” Seaborn said. “That’s fake, that’s a fake championship this is the real one.”
Seaborn admitted it seemed like him as a coach the threat of no games played, affected him more than the players.
“I didn’t sleep and none of those kids had any problem sleeping. So I think it bothers me more than it bothers them (the kids). I guess I understand the magnitude of not being able to play in that game. You’ll never get a chance again to play in that game,” he said.
Asked if he was happy with the one game format Seaborn said “obviously you would like two (games) but this is OK.”
He said one of the things about receiving a trophy this year is the Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association was going to put an asterisk into the record books.
“Hey I get it. It’s still a championship and obviously you’d like to be able to play out the whole thing.”
Peacock Toilers Kai Houghton is mowed under
Seaborn said a large part of the victory was due to the Cyclones changing, their defensive scheme.
“We were up by seven they tied at 51 and we changed our defence. We went into a different defence and that gave us an edge. We used a defence we hadn’t used against them the entire year. You say things like this until the end of the year,” he said.
Close quarters rebounding
For Peacock Toilers head coach Troy Setter the game was a well played game and it was the little things that determined the final outcome.
“It was a good game. Both teams played hard. Central made more plays than us that’s why they came out on top,” Setter said.
About the final turning into a one game championship Setter said he was happy with that.
“I’m ecstatic we got to play today. The boys worked hard all year and winner lose the guys to get their game in so they finish the year,” he said.
About the impact having a game head on the players Setter replied “ It meant a lot to them. It meant a lot they were just so happy to be out on the court and just finish the season out with a game instead of a cancellation.”
A Peacock Toilers sandwich is quickly approaching
About the Toilers play Setter said he was happy with the entire year.
“I’m happy how they played all year. The guys battle through so much this year. Yes it would’ve been nice if we could’ve made a couple extra shots or a couple extra rebounds and stuff like that but overall the guys battled hard,” he said.
“I’m super proud of everyone of them. The things that they have done this year. My coaching staff I’m just proud of all of them.”
“We had a good year. It will take the guys probably a day or two to get this one out of their system and mind. Then realize the season they had was really a good one and you should be so proud of themselves.”
Central Cyclones Ryan Schaffer (left) jumps, challenging a shot by Peacock Toilers Kayden Lang
With four of the team graduating this year, the Toilers will have “ a good squad coming back.”
Although he would not out Ritchie, next year will be a good year for the Toilers Setter said “ we always come and be competitive. That’s just Peacock’s program. We have great athletes at the school. We have kids who want to work hard and we just expect to be battling every year.”
With over 20 years of coaching experience, the question to Setter was, was he planning to return next year to coach the team?
“As far as I know I will be. I haven’t been told otherwise,” he said with a small laugh.
Setter said personally, he would like to come back as a coach in the Toilers program.
Coaching is not just about bettering yourself in a sport. It’s also about making better people out of the players.
Central Cyclones Mason Muchowski (Center) attempts a shot in traffic
“I enjoy trying to help some of these athletes you know develop into better people and until that time changes I mean I enjoy doing it,” he said.
“It keeps me learning and every year I have to learn new things. As a coach, you have to keep on learning because if you stop, you might as well stop coaching.”
