Pictured left to right: Back row: Assistant Coach: Hanz Tolentino, Ron Dalida, Josh Fransoo, Matthews Antony, Grady Billingsley, Draper Pooyak, Head Coach: Nate Jurgens Front row: Allan Luna, Raniel Acaya, Andrei Rita, Brodee Tourand, Paul Tran, Caden Fullerton. (submitted photo/Nate Jurgens)

By Martin Martinson

Gold Rush

JPII junior boys claim gold in Lloydminster

Jan 28, 2020 | 2:33 PM

The John Paul II Collegiate (JPII) junior boys basketball team added to its stellar run this season, taking home another gold medal finish over the weekend in Lloydminster.

Taking top spot at the annual Hot Hoops junior basketball tournament, the victory serves as the boys’ ­fourth gold medal through six tournaments this season.

JPII opened its weekend with convincing back-to-back victories over two hometown Lloydminster clubs.

After defeating the College Park Cobras by an 84-31 score, the team then followed up its early success with a 66-23 thrashing of the Bishop Lloyd Lancers.

The pair of wins set the stage for another gold medal final for the Crusaders’ boys, against the Holy Rosary Raiders, who the Crusaders topped 65-54.

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“I think the weekend just showed our level of improvement over the course of the season,” head coach of the junior boys, Nate Jurgens said. “We had played [Holy Rosary] earlier in the year and lost to them by quite a bit, so for us to come back and play them in the final two months later and come out on top, that was really important to myself and the players just to see our growth so far.”

Jurgens said the success of the team can be attributed largely to their communication, ability to make adjustments, and leadership among the players.

Ron Dalida, Josh Fransoo and Allan Luna are the lone three carryovers from last year’s Crusaders’ squad, who took home a districts championship. Jurgens noted with just three returnees, the leadership core has played an imperative role in lending guidance to an overall young junior boys’ team.

“Their leadership has been huge,” he said. “For them to lead by example on the floor, but also lead through their words, it definitely does help. They have been there before, they have experienced it and they can pass on their knowledge and experience to the younger players.”

The Crusaders will return to game action Feb. 6 with an exhibition in Lloydminster, before moving onto Districts Feb. 10.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1