Barrhead Composite senior boys basketball Gryphons prepare for run to provincials

BARRHEAD - The Barrhead Senior Boys Gryphons basketball team has a promising future.

Last week, on Jan 27, the Gryphons defeated the Athabasca Predators 68-52. The game was up for grabs, going back and forth until about halfway through the fourth quarter when Barrhead pulled ahead for good.

"We are a young team," Thijs de Wildt said in an e-mail interview following the game. "The youngest we've coached."

This year, the senior Gryphons have six returning veterans, all in Grade 12 and seven rookies. de Wildt co-coaches the Gryphons with Thomas Koekkoek, who are both Gryphons aluminus.

de Wildt said he was pleased with his team's progress this season, especially by the Grade 10s.

"[They've] taken big steps and, as a result, are getting to play more and more minutes," he said.

de Wildt added that the Gryphons will need them to continue to improve and play big minutes as Barrhead approaches the meat of its schedule, with three successive tournaments starting in February.

"We are going to need everyone," he said. "Otherwise, you risk injury and players getting fatigued."

de Wildt also said he and Thomas are particularly impressed with the intangibles this group of players brings to the team.

"They are very coachable and show up every practice and game to work hard and improv," he said. "It's really fun to be part of this group; everyone gets along, and there is great team spirit, which in previous years has lacked. We are very impressed with every individual on this team, and we're ready to give it everything we've got to, hopefully, make it to Provincials in mid-March."

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com