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Spartans Relive Championship Magic
2016-06-06
The Archbishop O’Leary Senior Boys Basketball Team opened the season with big expectations and closed it with Metro Gold.
The Spartans returned the core of the roster which saw them place 3rd in Edmonton and 5th overall in Alberta at the 4A provincials the season prior. The Spartans had a great pre-season and training camp in November. However, injuries hit early and often and continued on throughout the season. Despite not playing a game with a full roster until March the Spartans had a very successful season which saw them win the Mike Dea Classic (at St. Francis Xavier) and the Prestigious BRIT in Saskatoon. The Spartans were able to battle through adversity throughout the tough months of December, January, and February which helped this team develop its chemistry and unity for an important playoff run in Late February/Early March.
The Spartans opened up their quest for their first Metro Title since 2013 vs Rivals St. Francis Xavier. The Spartans were able to overcome a halftime deficit with a huge 20-2 run in the 3rd quarter which propelled them to a 75-59 victory and advanced to the Semi-Finals.
In the Semi- Finals, the Spartans faced a hard working Holy Trinity team who were coming off a big upset victory over Ross Sheppard. The Spartans were able to once again use a huge run to build up a 20 point margin in the 2nd Quarter. The feisty Holy Trinity team battled back and made the Spartans execute down the stretch to hold on for a 76-60 victory.
With a victory in the Semi Finals, the Spartans were now pitted against their rivals from the South – The Harry Ainlay Titans. This game saw the Titans and Spartans battle in front of a packed house @ Jasper Place High School and was a matchup of the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the entire province. The Spartans were determined right from the opening tip and started the game with three consecutive 3-pointers to get the Titans on their heels. After the opening minutes, the Spartans were able to use a swarming defence and relentless rebounding to keep the Titans at arms-length the entire game. The Spartans closed the 4th quarter with huge plays which propelled them to the 2016 Edmonton Metro Tier 1 City Championship.
The Spartans opened up their quest for their first Metro Title since 2013 vs Rivals St. Francis Xavier. The Spartans were able to overcome a halftime deficit with a huge 20-2 run in the 3rd quarter which propelled them to a 75-59 victory and advanced to the Semi-Finals.
In the Semi- Finals, the Spartans faced a hard working Holy Trinity team who were coming off a big upset victory over Ross Sheppard. The Spartans were able to once again use a huge run to build up a 20 point margin in the 2nd Quarter. The feisty Holy Trinity team battled back and made the Spartans execute down the stretch to hold on for a 76-60 victory.
With a victory in the Semi Finals, the Spartans were now pitted against their rivals from the South – The Harry Ainlay Titans. This game saw the Titans and Spartans battle in front of a packed house @ Jasper Place High School and was a matchup of the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the entire province. The Spartans were determined right from the opening tip and started the game with three consecutive 3-pointers to get the Titans on their heels. After the opening minutes, the Spartans were able to use a swarming defence and relentless rebounding to keep the Titans at arms-length the entire game. The Spartans closed the 4th quarter with huge plays which propelled them to the 2016 Edmonton Metro Tier 1 City Championship.