Tyson Taylor
sports@pqbnews.com
Kwalikum Secondary’s senior boys basketball team had their wings clipped Tuesday against Alberni District Secondary School 57–30.
The Kondors were in tough against the AAA Armada who played some relentless defense. Turnovers were the story of the game for the first half for both teams, with the ball going back and forth. There were chances for either side but it was ADSS that was able to capitalize.
KSS came out of the first quarter traling 10–2. Head coach Butch Gayton wasn’t very happy about the amount of turnovers, especially in the first quarter.
“Things looked good for us on defense early on but where it got really dangerous was when we had the ball. We kept wanting to just give it away to Alberni and we had a really hard time figuring out how to break their press,” Gayton said.
Second quarter action was closer as KSS was able to figure out a way to break the ADSS press and the Kondors put up 10 points but still trailed by nine heading into the half.
Alberni came back out and re–asserted their zone press against the Kondors, which gave them some easy scores off costly turnovers from KSS. Cento Bevilacqua had four points in the third quarter but ADSS had built a 39–17 lead with only the fourth quarter left.
The fourth quarter was much of the same; ADSS putting up a run of five straight points. The Kondors did make a bit of a push late in the fourth, scoring 13 points but it was too little, too late.
“The pace of play was something we need to build on. Alberni was so much quicker than we were and we need to learn to play at that level. When we play that quick, we turn the ball over too much. Alberni played good ball and that’s the recipe for good senior basketball right there,” Gayton said.
Kwalikum and Alberni play again in the New Year and Gayton said, “Hopefully the results will be different.”
The senior boys are taking part in the Alumni weekend (Dec. 20-21) and then are headed to San Diego for sight seeing and a tournament.
