The Chemainus Cougars midget boys basketball team came oh so close to recording its first victory of the season.
In a tight game that could have gone either way, Shawnigan Lake School hung on to beat the Cougars 42-40 last Thursday.
“It was a pleasure to see the boys passing the ball around more and getting everybody involved,” noted coach Graeme Arkell. “The game had good pace as the boys hustled up and down the court. It was especially noticeable how we hustled back on defence to deny fast breaks and were well-positioned to get touches on the ball to disrupt opponents’ passes and shots.”
Owen Jaggers led the way on the scoresheet with 17 points, drawing high praise from his coach.
“He fiercely competes for every rebound and isn’t fazed by some contact when he elevates for a shot,” Arkell pointed out. “I reckon he drew at least six fouls in the paint and scored three from the free throw line. His stamina is remarkable. He remains on the court for us the entire game and is a constant threat to score. More teammates just need to feed him the ball in the post.”
Tyler Harvath showcased his slick dribbling again for the Cougars to leave defenders in the dust. He connected with Darian Legros for some layups and was rewarded for his determined drives to the hoop with several baskets, finishing with 13 points.
Arkell would just like him to slow down sometimes and have greater patience with the ball to set up a play or wait for a teammate to cut or screen.
The final tournament for the team is at Quamichan Friday, Feb. 9.