By Martin Martinson

JPII Junior Boys take home second-straight gold

Dec 10, 2018 | 4:00 PM

The John Paul II Junior Boys Basketball team won their second-straight gold medal over the weekend at a tournament in Melfort.

Playing the Weyburn Eagles in their first game Friday, the Crusaders’ boys demolished their opposition to the tune of a commanding 83-35 win.

No doubt building on the momentum gained from their opening game heading into day two on Saturday, the yellow and blue’s domination continued as the team moved on to the semi-finals against their rival from the Battlefords, the NBCHS Vikings. 

Like a runaway freight train, there was no stopping the Crusaders junior boys in the battle of the Battlefords, with JPII once again claiming victory, 73-22.

Just like that, the stage was set for the team’s final hurdle to gain a gold medal tournament championship for the second-straight weekend to start the season.

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That hurtle was a Brieux team, that has earned a reputation as a basketball heavyweight in the region despite being a smaller-sized centre.

Regardless of the opposition’s reputation, the Crusaders’ boys solidified their second-straight tournament win, and sixth-straight victory in the process, thanks to a convincing 85-39 triumph over Brieux in the finals.  

Crusaders’ junior boys’ head coach Nate Jurgens said a big reason for the club’s success through the early going this season has been their willingness to battle and focus on doing the little things right.

“The one thing I really like about our group and the kids that we’ve had over the last couple of years is that they’re not afraid of competition,” he said.

“They don’t really worry so much about their opponent,” Jurgens continued, “they just kind of worry about being the best version of themselves. It doesn’t matter who they play, they’re gonna go out and play their hardest. That’s what we try to instil in them, and they’ve certainly so far shown that.”  

JPII will hope to continue to find success this coming weekend when the team travels across town for a tournament at NBCHS. 

Martin.Martinson@mail.com

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