The Cochrane Cobras senior boys’ basketball team went the distance this season, concluding its 2018-19 campaign in Brooks March 14 to 16 at the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) 3A championships. After winning the Rocky View Sports Association title March 2, the team rounded off a successful season with a silver-medal performance at the South Central Zones tournament in Airdrie March 8 and 9, and the consolation prize at provincials the following weekend in Brooks. Coach Jamie McLellan said the Cobras came together and played well as a team throughout the final two tournaments, which saw Cochrane win six of its eight games. “Every guy took it upon himself to make a huge difference for the team,” he said, adding the team’s performances earned plaudits from its opponents. “There were three separate coaches of different teams who came up to me and said, ‘I absolutely love watching your kids play. We’re going to do what you did this year,’” McLellan said. “It was a great experience for us to have that kind of feedback from some of the other coaches.” Playing at Bert Church High School, Cochrane went 3-1 at South Central Zones – with a dominant 101-46 win over the Olds Spartans, an 83-66 win against the Bert Church Chargers and a 73-40 victory over the W.H. Croxford Cavaliers. The team’s only loss came in an 80-72 defeat against the Brooks Buffaloes. The Cobras earned its revenge against Brooks – the fifth-ranked 3A team in Alberta – at provincials the following weekend. Playing at Brooks Composite High School, the Cobras overcame the host team 90-74 to silence the packed gymnasium. “I thought [Brooks] played really well, but our boys played just that much better,” McLellan said. “They were focused, ready for work…and it knocked Brooks out of the provincials. It was a very important game for both teams and we had a very good showing.” Along with the defeat of the Buffaloes, the Cobras’ other outings at provincials included overcoming the Grande Prairie Warriors 99-96, losing 88-86 to the top-ranked 3A team in Alberta– the All Saints High School Legends – and beating the HJ Cody Lakers, of Sylvan Lake, 85-65. McLellan said the Cochrane senior boys’ success was great to see, given many of the players have been playing basketball together for nearly a decade. “All of these kids grew up playing Cochrane Minor Basketball together,” he said. “It’s just a testament to the great things that can happen when kids are involved in the community and the community backs minor sports, and gives the kids the opportunity to play and be a part of athletics. “It’s awesome to see how they’ve progressed through Cochrane’s sporting opportunities to become so successful at the high-school level.” On the senior girls’ side, the Cobras concluded the season with a third-place showing at the South Central Zones tournament March 8 and 9. “Overall, we competed,” said coach Randy Peron. “It was a very evenly-matched Zones [tournament] this year, where five of the eight teams had a chance to win it.” Cochrane won its first game 52-46 against the Strathmore Spartans. The team’s run to the championship game – and the ensuing provincials – was spoiled in the next fixture, however, with a 45-39 loss to the top-ranked Highwood Mustangs, of High River. “We had plenty of opportunities to score baskets close in, and they just missed,” Peron said. The bronze-medal game was an all-Cochrane match-up between the Cobras and the Bow Valley Bobcats. According to Peron, the Cobras finished strong to take the 60-35 win. “The girls were ramped up to play against them,” he said. “Overall, I was happy with how the team responded after a tough semi-final loss. The next day, they woke up saying ‘we want a medal around our necks to end our career.’ They executed the game plan to perfection.”
