The JPII Crusaders senior boys basketball team will make their way to HOOPLA later this week as one of the top teams at their level in the province. (Submitted photo/Shalen Fox)

By Martin Martinson

Hoopla surrounding HOOPLA

JPII senior boys book ticket to HOOPLA

Mar 18, 2019 | 2:11 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate senior boys basketball team is headed to HOOPLA.

Finishing tops in their region, and fourth in the province, the Crusaders will face top-seeded, Moose Jaw Comprehensive at the prestigious tournament.

Head coach of the senior boys, Shalen Fox, said even making it to HOOPLA should be seen as a big accomplishment for JPII, as only four teams from Saskatchewan qualify for the event.

“It’s great for our school and our basketball program,” Fox said. “They’ve put in lots of hours, through practices and even on their own, just building them up and so this is kind of a long-term plan that has worked out.”

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The HOOPLA bracket was determined after four regional tournaments took place on the weekend, with JPII coming out victorious as their region’s representatives following back-to-back victories Friday and Saturday.

Friday saw the team come away with a decisive victory, by a greater-than-30-point margin over Melfort. The Crusaders then followed up their performance with a 76-67 win over their rivals from Meadow Lake.

Asked about the key to his team’s success this season, Fox said the Crusaders’ veteran players deserve a ton of credit for their leadership, really taking the reins this year to guide the younger players along.

“Our Grade 12’s, and 11’s [have been the key],” Fox said, “Really it’s been our returning players. They got some experience last year and it has really carried over to this year. Last year we lost a post regional game to the champs, [Weyburn Comprehensive] by seven points, then this year we were able to use that experience to our advantage.”

With just two Grade 12 players on the roster this season, the senior duo have played a pivotal role within the group.

Of senior, Andrew Pyle, Fox called the captain a “special force in the paint” for his ability to draw attention from defenders, thus freeing up more time for the team’s shooters on the outside.

“He’s been our leader and he’s been a starter since he was in Grade 10,” the coach said. “He’s just a workhorse, he does so much for us both on and off the court.”

Blaise Sieben, meanwhile, the only other Grade 12 on the roster, provides the team with all kinds of intangibles integral to winning basketball games.

“Blaise does a lot of things that don’t show up on the scoresheet,” the coach said. “He doesn’t score a whole lot but he’s a solid defender, hits the floor hard for loose balls, and guards the best players each game. He’s a workhorse as well.”

HOOPLA runs from Mar. 21 to 23, with the JPII senior boys taking the court against Moose Jaw Comprehensive Friday afternoon (Mar. 22) at 4:15 p.m. at Walter Murray Collegiate in Saskatoon.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1