The R.D. Parker Collegiate Trojans pulled double duty Feb. 15−16 by hosting and competing in a junior varsity basketball invitational in Thompson.
Throughout these two days of intense competition, the boys’ and girls’ teams gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about by fighting their way into their respective tournament finals.
The RDPC junior boys were the first ones to secure a first-place finish on Saturday by beating the Hapnot Collegiate Institute (HCI) Kopper Kings by a score of 72−62.
Although the Flin Flon team got off to a hot start, and were maintaining a slight 38−33 lead halfway through the game, the Trojans eventually fought their way back and pulled ahead of their opponents in the fourth quarter.
Coach Joseph Alcock told the Thompson Citizen that this is the junior boys’ first tournament win of the season, which should provide them with plenty of momentum heading into zones next weekend.
“I got goosebumps,” he said after Saturday’s game inside the Trojan gymnasium.
The junior girls’ final between the Trojans and HCI Kweens was far less compelling, since the RDPC squad maintained a decisive lead the entire time.
When the smoke finally cleared at the end of the fourth quarter, the Trojans stood tall with a 55−29 victory and an undefeated streak at the local tournament.
Following this pair of victories, the RDPC junior girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will be in action at this year’s Zone 11 championships, which are taking place in Norway House Feb. 22−23.
