After an incredible weekend that saw the Middle Lake boys and girls basketball teams earn double gold, the school took time to celebrate with a rally at Three Lakes School on March 28.
Girls basketball coach, and Three Lakes School principal, Trevor Otsig says bringing home double gold is a proud moment for the school.
“The community, the parents, our staff, they put in countless hours. The kids have put in countless hours. It just says a lot about everyone. Not just one team or the other, but about everyone involved.”
With the school bringing home both gold medals, Otsig says it is a great representation of the commitment everyone has to the programs.
“You need the commitment there’s no doubt. You need kids that are committed to the program to reach something like that… The expectations are there for everyone, from coaches down to the players and I think that teaches kids life long lessons hopefully.”
It has been an incredible run for Middle Lake girls provincial basketball, with the girls making an appearance six years in a row winning four golds and two silvers.
The boys meanwhile just put the finishing touches on their second straight provincial title, the first boys team to do so since Regina Harvest City won back-to-back in 2011 and 2012.
“Winning provincial gold medals is a feat in itself for any school, let alone two in the same sporting season from the same school of 79 students kindergarten to grade 12,” Otsig told the excited fans at the rally.
“But keep in mind these championships were not just won all of a sudden this year. It has taken many years of commitment from these players, from their coaches and from their parents… Countless hours preparing, practicing, shooting, driving, and sleeping in schools all came together at the right time for this group of young men and women,” he said.
“Be proud of yourselves and each other and remember the journey to get here.”
The journey was very different for each team, as the boys dominated provincials, while the girls were forced to work for the title.
The Avengers boys team won their final six games of the season by a combined score of 448-287, with their closest contest being an 81-69 win over Davidson in the provincial semi-finals.
The Boys Avengers did not trail at the half in either of their two provincial contests.
“Obviously it means a lot. All the practicing and shooting at lunch and all that pays off in the end,” said Avengers head coach, Craig Martinka.
Martinka is a former Avenger, who just two years prior was plying his trade on the court for his hometown squad.
“I always wanted to stick with basketball, I’ve been doing it since I was young and then after I was done playing I just thought it would be nice to join the coaching staff and carry on with coaching,” noted Martinka, who in his two years with the club has won two provincial titles.
Of course, Martinka is a popular name on the Avengers boys basketball squad, as Craig’s brother Troy served as the lone grade 12 on the squad and was captain.
Being able to share the title with his brother was special, says Craig.
“Obviously he’s in grade 12 so he went out on a high note.”
Of course, the coach-player relationship was tested, but Troy says it was likely more difficult on Craig giving direction than it was on him taking it.
Not only being able to share it with his brother, but also with the community was special, says Troy.
“We’re a small community so everyone gets to celebrate it all together. Everyone hears about it.”
Girls Avengers captain, and lone grade 12 Jenna Brockman agreed with Troy, noting it was also nice because not everyone get to celebrate with them right after they won.
“When you get to bring it back to your town and share it with everyone, at the same time it’s really nice.”
Being able to also share in the success with Brockman and the rest of the girls team made it even more special, says Troy.
“Last year we couldn’t quite do it but this year it’s a different story.”
While Troy and the boys made the boys tournament look easy, Brockman and the girls were a different story.
After winning five straight by a combined score of 362-180 to get to the provincial final the girls ran into trouble.
Taking on top seeded, and defending champion Kenaston proved tough for the Avengers in the first half, as they trailed 28-23 at the half.
The Avengers responded excellently in the second half, outscoring Kenaston 37-15 to win by 17.
Otsig admitted he knew it was not going to be easy to beat Kenaston in the final, but says the girls stuck with it and were rewarded for it.
Otsig noted heading into the half he felt the Avengers’ shooting was not good enough, and said after watching how well they shot the week before he knew their shooting would improve.
It was just a matter of tightening up defensively.
“You just kind of sensed it on the bench there. Towards the end of the third quarter things were kind of starting to even out, maybe go a little bit our way and then fourth quarter they just stepped up. Our captain led by example out there and the rest of the kids just followed along and that’s what you need. You need everyone whether they were on the court playing or whether they were on the bench cheering. Everyone contributed, it’s a team win for sure.”
Having been through that experience should serve well for a club who returns all but one player next year, but Otsig says the returners will have to work hard to get back again next year.
“Experience is big but I don’t care how old you are you have to earn your time on the court. If you’re younger and you’re working for it and you’re in a better position to contribute, well then you’re going to get the chance.”
With both the boys and the girls losing just one player each, and each team coming off a provincial title, Otsig admits the potential is there for both teams to do damage again next season, but says he never wants to count his chickens before they hatch, noting each team loses a big piece as they wave goodbye to their captain, and leading scorer.
“There’s a lot of work between now and then and that means kids going to camps and improving their own individual skills… so that when it comes time for team their game’s have stepped up. They can improve as a team because their individual skills have come along. The basketball season, it’s a defined set time in high school but that’s not saying that you can’t put in the time outside of the season.”
That work begins now for both teams as they look to defend their provincial titles.
