News
Sports
Weather
Classifieds
Opinions
Obituaries
Special Reports

Home
About Us
FAQ
Links
Advertising

Carstairs Courier
Didsbury Review
Innisfail Province
Mountain View Gazette
Olds Albertan
Sundre Round Up

Commercial Printing
Great West Newspapers

The injury bug finally caught up with the Olds High School Spartans.

With at least two players sidelined for the season, the senior boys basketball team has opted out of this week’s South Central Zone tournament. The final straw came during last week’s Chinook’s Edge South Athletic Association senior varsity playoffs when three forwards – Quinn Johnsson, Mark McAllister and Justin Ibsen all suffered sprained ankles.

While the team soldiered through the league semi-final against Carstairs without much of their inside presence, they had to pick up three members of the OHS JV team to play in a tournament last week in Drayton Valley.

Coach Tom Christensen said having to opt out of the zone tourney was disappointing but he was encouraged by how well the team came together in Drayton Valley despite all the adversity.

"It was a tournament that we would have won, but were happy with the results given the injuries and how well the JV players fit in," he explained.

With a makeshift squad including JV players Sam Prevost, Ty Rosenbargo and Shawn Harnack, the Spartans posted wins over Onoway and Fort Saskatchewan JVs, followed by consecutive 10-point losses to Drayton Valley and Strathmore.

Considering the JV Spartans have league playoffs and their own zone tournament next week, there was no opportunity to continue on with a makeshift squad, according to Christensen.

Overall the team finished third in the league and had some solid tournament results despite a season where injuries were too often a factor. Christensen expects the team to have a promising future considering the young players already with the senior team and in the JV program.