The Avon View Avalanche boys’ junior varsity basketball team will have to be more disciplined at regionals if they hope to have a shot at a provincial berth.
Coach Mike Mombourquette said the spirited team has gelled together well this season — the team finished regular league action with a 4-2 record — but will need to focus if it hopes to do well enough for a shot at a provincial title.
The team is set to compete in regionals this weekend in Kings County. Leading the pack is Horton and Park View.
Mombourquette said it’s likely Horton will win the regionals and advance directly to the provincials. The second-place finisher at regionals will then host a city team, with the winner of that match-up also advancing.
“Our goal is to finish second if we can,” said Mombourquette.
“We have already played Park View twice and they beat us both times by four (points). They’ve been competitive games. Either way, we’ve got to be a little more mentally tough to get through to the end."
The team will need to play disciplined basketball, he added.
“Sometimes, we get into a little foul trouble near the end at some of our games. We’ve been trying to work on that all year.”
Mombourquette said he’s proud of how well the team has worked together to date and hopes the boys will continue to do so. He said the team, which is comprised of students in Grade 9-12, is “pretty balanced” when it comes to scoring.
“Some games, someone might get 10 points, other games they might get five,” said Mombourquette.
“A couple of kids are consistent and will get 10 or more each game.”
The team’s leading point scorer is Ryan Dillman.
The Avalanche hosted a modified exhibition tournament on Feb. 3 and finished in third place, behind Sir John A. MacDonald and Sackville High School.
“I’m pretty sure everybody on our team had points at some point during the three games (we played) in one day.”
