Ross Sheppard – It was raining buckets on the Paul Kane Blues in Friday’s basketball final.
The Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles poured in shot after shot, including a steady stream of three-pointers, in the 86-54 victory for the metro Edmonton division two men’s championship.
“They moved the ball around really well and they made their shots,” said Grade 12 swingman Roka Phalen-Baker after the disappointed Blues accepted their second-place medallions for the second time in as many years.
Last year’s final was the 71-69 upset by the Holy Trinity Trojans against the Blues, 13-1 in division two and 21-3 overall.
“This (loss) is just as bad,” Phalen-Baker said. “It hits just as hard.”
The Blues (10-4) were the underdogs against the Eagles (14-0) and the team’s first loss in league play was 67-62 against the fifth-ranked 3A team in the province Jan. 8 in Sherwood Park.
“Coming in we knew these guys were going to give us a game, but I think the nerves got to us and we couldn't knock down any shots right off the start,” Phalen-Baker said.
In the first quarter, five of the Eagles’ 12 three-pointers in the contest left the Blues scrambling, down 19-7.
Phalen-Baker carried the Blues on his back in the next quarter with five sizzling threes during his 17-point outburst as the first half ended with the Eagles hanging on at 36-32.
Phalen-Baker’s fourth three-pointer left the Blues trailing 25-23 with 3:43 to play until the break.
Both teams cranked up the physicality in the quarter with a take-no-prisoners approach.
The officiating also left the Blues more frustrated than the Eagles over the way the game was being called.
Despite the turnaround before halftime, the Blues were unable to build on the momentum generated as the Eagles ramped it up for a commanding 61-46 advantage after three quarters.
“In the second half, they just had more energy than us. We came out flat and they just pulled away,” Phalen-Baker said.
Early in the third quarter, Phalen-Baker kept the Blues within striking distance at 41-35 with his sixth and last three-pointer and after his field goal made it 46-39 the Eagles responded with a seven-point run that prompted Paul Kane head coach Evan Eger to call a timeout with 5:20 to go in the quarter.
As the game wound down, the Blues struggled to keep their emotions in check with the officiating and their opponents.
Ryan Holmes tacked up eight of his nine points in the first half and his free throw in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter made it 68-47.
Kevin Hessell, an agitator against the Eagles, contributed seven points and Joshua Fraser hit a pair of threes late in the third quarter.
Ryan Reed lit up the Blues with seven threes, including five in the first half, during a 29-point performance.
The semifinal scores were 85-67 for Paul Kane against the host Spruce Grove Panthers (10-3) and 90-62 for the Eagles against the M.E. Lazerte Voyageurs (8-4)
The Blues closed out an 18-12 season that topped off with an unsuccessful showing in the ability round for division one status.
“It was an amazing year after losing guys like (Metro Athletics All-Star) Jack MacPherson from last year and Owen (Cooke) for this year with his tragic ACL injury in spring league. It’s hard losing those vocal leaders on the floor, but we pulled through. Owen has been with us through the whole season (as a student manager) so that was good for us,” said Phalen-Baker, 17, one of six players from last year's team on the roster. “I’m proud of these guys. I’m glad I got to play with them.”
CUTTING THROUGH – Ryan Holmes of the Paul Kane Blues splits the defensive tandem of Parker Shirt, left and Ryan Reed of the Strathcona Christian Academy Eagles in Friday's metro Edmonton division two final at Ross Sheppard High School. The Blues lost 86-54 after trailing 36-32 at halftime. The Blues (10-4), last year's finalists, also fell 67-60 to the Eagles (14-0) in league play Jan. 8 in Sherwood Park. CHRIS COLBOURNE/St. Albert Gazette
