Head coach of the Belmont junior boysB次元官网网址� basketball team, Curt Spaven, doesnB次元官网网址檛 know if he will have the pleasure of coaching a more special group of people than he did this year.
And what makes it extra special is that his players feel the same way about him.
The team finished fourth at the B.C. basketball championships after being a No. 23 seed entering the tournament, and beat three top 10 schools before losing to Lord Tweedsmuir in the semi finals.
Spaven is as proud of his teamB次元官网网址檚 off the court accomplishments as he is on the court, he has seven honour roll students on his team, and is humbled by how respectful the players are, he said.
B次元官网网址淭hey all shake my hand and thank me for my time after practice and ask me if thereB次元官网网址檚 anything they can work on,B次元官网网址� he said.
When the players were asked if they had any last thoughts on the season, each one of them wanted to give a shout-out thanking Spaven and assistant coach Aaron Williams for being an inspiration to them.
B次元官网网址淐urtB次元官网网址檚 coached me since I was in fifth grade,B次元官网网址� Adrian Vicente said. B次元官网网址淪o IB次元官网网址檝e known him for a long time and I really appreciate all the time he puts in, he has seven kids at home and spends a lot of time away from his family.B次元官网网址�
Of course, every day isnB次元官网网址檛 perfect, but the players felt that everyone involved with the team created a perfect storm for this seasonB次元官网网址檚 success.
RELATED: Belmont makes it to the semi finals at the B.C. Championships
B次元官网网址淚t was a team effort, if we were missing one we couldnB次元官网网址檛 do what we did, we needed everyone to do their part and chip in,B次元官网网址� Hunter Thomson said.
The team was deep, there wasnB次元官网网址檛 one player that took home every all-star all the time, it was spread around. Cole Belton was an all-star at the Victoria City Championships, Markus Modrovic took home two all-stars from the Island and provincial championships and Thomson was honourable mention at provincials.
The team came down with strep throat at provincials that spread throughout the whole team so Spaven gave them a pep talk about how he played in an important game when he was at Malaspina College and was sick with a high fever.
B次元官网网址淵ou can will yourself to do amazing things, itB次元官网网址檚 an hour and a half, so do what you gotta do,B次元官网网址� Spaven said.
Bulldogs point guard, Riley Merryweather, found it difficult to direct on the floor without his voice, but he wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to miss the biggest tournament of the season.
Even though they didnB次元官网网址檛 play at optimum health, they didnB次元官网网址檛 make any excuses for their shortcomings in the semi-finals. The Bulldogs were down early and didnB次元官网网址檛 shoot as well as they could have.
The Bulldogs went nine for 31 against TweedsmuirB次元官网网址檚 zone defense.
The team had a season wrap-up party at BeltonB次元官网网址檚 house, but itB次元官网网址檚 not the end persay, they are all friends and get together all the time, it just happened to be a special occasion they were celebrating this time around, Merryweather said.
Spaven isnB次元官网网址檛 sure if he will be back next season, basketball is a big time commitment and he would like to spend more time with his family. He is going to take some time and think about it, he said. He has coached at Belmont for four years, but has coached night league basketball in the West Shore for eight years and he loves helping kids learn the game.
For the players, they are looking forward to next season, hoping to make the senior team and another run at provincials.
B次元官网网址淚t was a roller coaster of a season, but we finished it on a high note,B次元官网网址� Belton said.
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