The St. Albert Skyhawks are hungry to taste success again at the 3A provincial men’s basketball championship.
The Skyhawks placed fifth overall at the 2012 tournament in their first trip to provincials in 15 years. They were seeded sixth in the 12-team draw as the second Edmonton zone reps.
The last provincial medal for the Skyhawks was silver in 1997.
“Last year we built a tradition of winning but this year we have to start at square one again,” said Grade 12 guard Cam Vilcsak. “What happened last year was great, but we’ve got to earn everything again this year. Our coaches are really pushing us hard and we’re pushing each other as well, which is important.”
Eight players, all Grade 12s, are back from last season’s 21-17 team. The 12-man roster includes three Grade 11s and Grade 10 forward Andrew Salcedo from the SAPEC Tier 1 junior high champion Richard S. Fowler Falcons.
“We have different personnel this year so we’re going to be doing things differently but we’re still expecting the same type of results as last year. We’re expecting to continue the same skill level as well as raise the bar,” Vilcsak said. “We’re definitely going to be a defensively focused team. All we focus on during our pre-game talks is defence.”
Tonight the Skyhawks tip-off league play against the St. Francis Xavier Rams, a highly-touted 4A team in premier. Game time is 6:15 p.m. at the SkyDome.
Last season the Skyhawks were 5-5 in premier conference after going 7-6 in the 2010/11 city conference.
“We’re playing in premier again to get ready for 3A provincials,” Vilcsak said. “We’re also in seven tournaments this year so we’ll be getting lots of playing time.”
Thursday at 6 p.m. the Skyhawks play their first tournament game at Strathcona Christian Academy in Sherwood Park.
In exhibition action Monday, the Skyhawks overpowered the host Bellerose Bulldogs 87-39.
The Skyhawks led 21-8 after the opening 10 minutes, 45-20 at halftime and 64-31 after three quarters.
It was 15-0 before Thomas Moorehouse’s field goal put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard.
All nine Skyhawks who dressed for the game registered points in the first half. Dayn Scaber, a Grade 11 guard, led all scorers with 17 points. Brendan Thera-Plamondon drained 16, Roberto Sanchez-Enkerlin added 13 and Levi Constantin had 10.
Look for the six-foot-six Constantin to pick up the slack with the graduation of standout post Cole Aikens.
Theo Tahririha scored 11 and Kyle Letts added nine for the Bulldogs, a city conference calibre team that will struggle to win games in premier in the same pool as the Sturgeon Spirits, O’Leary Spartans and the two-time defending champion Paul Kane Blues.
“It was a good way to start the season off. Both teams are working kinks out with their offences and defences,” said Vilcsak who tossed in 11 points while racking up the assists.
The team’s first exhibition ended with a loss to Sturgeon.
“We weren’t happy about that,” Vilcsak said with a frown.
The 2012 juvenile provincial team member disagreed with the notion there was pressure on the guys to keep pace with the highly successful lady Skyhawks – winners of three-straight 3A provincial titles and the 2010 and 2012 premier championships.
“No, not at all. We’re building our own name as well,” Vilcsak said.
