NBCHS Boys Senior Basketball team look to continue strong season in their home tournament

“If anything, that was our biggest weakness. It was just building that trust from scratch really, and like just rolling the ball with it,” said Gopher. “A lot of teams thought this would have been a rebuilding year for us, but we surprised a lot of teams, and we surprised ourselves with how well we’ve been playing. In my eyes, we haven’t hit our stride yet, but we’re a very scary team when everything starts clicking.”

A big part of Gopher’s ability to get familiar with his team came on the court, but away from Vikings’ basketball.

“I knew the kids, firstly, because I have my own basketball academy in North Battleford, and a lot of the kids come there and I train them. When the opportunity came to be able to coach them full-time, on a regular basis, I took the opportunity.”

That academy is called Whiterock Basketball Academy, and offers the opportunity to train with Gopher for free.

University Potential

The Vikings are graduating five seniors this year, and some of them have the potential of university athletics, even if it’s on the field rather than on the court.

A multi-sport athlete, Max Gubbe, has already committed to the University of Saskatchewan’s football team as a defensive lineman.

On the court, no players have made any university commitments, although Gopher said that Emery Paskamin-Bear, Phoenix Chint and Kole Gardipy have all gotten looks to potentially play U-level basketball, although their current focus remains on the season at hand.

Strengths and Weaknesses

When asked about the Vikings’ biggest strength, Gopher had a couple simple answers.

“Our biggest strengths have always been our size and our length,” he said. “It’s very hard for teams to match up against us five on five just because we create a lot of mismatches. It’s hard to guard us five on five, especially when everyone’s clicking.”

On the other hand, the team’s biggest weakness seems to be when they let emotions take over.

“Emotions get the best of us and then we just, we are too hard on ourselves. One person trying to carry the weight by themselves, type of thing.”

In those situations, Gopher tells his athletes not to try playing the hero and just control what they can in the moment.

“The game of basketball is not a pretty picture a lot of times. You’ve got to be able to take what the game gives you and then be able to run with it,” he said. “Emotions can’t dictate everything. So, I’ve just been trying to preach to them that, just stay in the moment and just be ready for your moment.”

Underdog mentality

As the Vikings head into their home tournament and the home stretch of the season, they continue to try and prove wrong those who thought they wouldn’t have enough compete this year.

“Everyone didn’t believe me, but like I was preaching all year, even before the beginning started, we have a chance to go on to Hoopla. As it stands right now, we’re tied for a second in our regionals and top three move on out of regionals,” Gopher said.

“Comp hasn’t made Hoopla in a couple of years. Before that, I think they made it once in the past 10 years. So, (we) have a very good team and like I said, we haven’t hit our peak yet.”

The Vikings will have their first game of the tournament on Friday against Lloydminster Comprehensive High School. Tipoff is at 1:30.

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Ryan.Lambert@pattisonmedia.com

by Ryan Lambert

NBCHS Boys Senior Basketball team look to continue strong season in their home tournament

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