Leader staff

Strive Hoops, the local U15 basketball club team, went undefeated at a recent tournament, taking the trophy in the Bronze Division of the Swoosh Volvo Challenge.

This was the team’s second tournament of the season, and a big step up from their 2 – 2 result back in April.

The tournament was held in Edmonton, May 16 – 18.

The Slave Lake team meant business, and showed it in their first game, a 61 – 37 victory over Ignite Calgary.

“Came out swinging,” says Head Coach Niel Cruz. “Set the tone. Left no doubt.”

Game 2 was against Parkland Edmonton, with a similar result. Strive took it by a score of 62 – 47.

“Turned up the heat,” Cruz says. “Team locked in. Took care of business”

That set up a semi-final match-up with a team from La Crete, called Infinity.

The Strive hoopsters had no mercy on the boys from up north, winning 60 – 30. Cruz calls it “a complete takeover.”

On quite a roll, the Slave Lake squad didn’t have much trouble in the championship game, against the Edmonton Skyhawks. It ended up 69 – 41.

“Dominant from tip-off to the final buzzer,” says Cruz. “Left it all on the court.”

There were 28 teams in the division, says Cruz.

Kayden Phillion of Strive Hoops was named the tournament’s most valuable player, and Jake Noskiye was named best defensive player.

Phllion averaged 28.5 points per game and was “unguardable,” says the coach.

As for Noskiye, Cruz describes him as an “absolute dog on D.”

Strive Hoops’ next tournament will be on June 27-28 at Grande Prairie, AB for the Kings of the North Challenge.