Brooks Secondary School’s Thunderbirds grade eight basketball team defended its home court against visiting Sechelt Chatelech recently.
Drawing lessons from their early loss to Powell River, the visitors took outside shot after outside shot in an effort to reduce the advantage provided to Brooks by virtue of Powell River’s superior height. But it wasn’t enough.
The Thunderbirds’ power forward, Casper Poelen, was unstoppable inside the key, sinking eight baskets and five foul shots while pulling down six rebounds and making one particularly impressive height-of-jump block shot. Also making their presence felt on the base line were Brooks’ centre Donovan Savage and cornerman Eli Carson who dragged down six and four rebounds respectively. Savage also easily blocked two of Sechelt’s attempts at inside baskets.
While Sechelt relied mostly on outside shots and Powell River excelled from inside the key, Brooks was not without outside shooters. Playing the swingman position (shooting guard and then forward), Keaton Mastrodonato sunk four jump shots and a free throw making him the game’s second highest scorer, while one of Carson’s three baskets was also launched from outside the key. Meanwhile, Ethan Schmunk (normally a guard but switching to power forward in the fourth quarter) and Neave McKinnon (alternating between small forward and centre) racked up four points each.
The Thunderbirds handily defeated Sechelt in the teams’ second matchup of the season, scoring 59 points to Sechelt’s 30.
High scorers need playmakers. Point guard Ben Carlson again led the Thunderbirds in assists as he repeatedly drove the ball inside to feed Brooks’ big men on the low post. Together, Carlson and shooting guard Isaiah Brach flustered Sechelt’s defence as the two led the Thunderbirds in steals.
Brooks’ Daniel Hoelzley demonstrated a great deal of offensive speed on the court and Matt Urr provided strong support on the wings.
The grade eight boys are looking forward to an away game against Pender Harbour and an upcoming home game with Assumption School as they prepare for league playoffs in mid-February.
