Alberta is known for being great at basketball.
Our universities have won six men’s and women’s Canadian championships, and now, a new generation of high school players is extending the legacy.
Local teams finished their season strong at the 2024 RVS Basketball Championships on March 2.
Several Rocky View Schools (RVS) teams ended the 2023-2024 season with perfect records and were crowned champions.
But one of the most surprising outcomes of the Championships was the Cochrane Cobras Senior Varsity boys’ surprise win over the undefeated Croxford Cavaliers.
Cochrane Cobras Bite the Cavaliers
Leading up to the Championships, the Croxford Cavaliers boys’ team dominated all their opponents, winning every game by ten points or more.
The Cochrane Cobras team came the closest with an 85-74 loss against the perfect Cavaliers during the season.
The Cochrane boys avenged their loss in the Championships.
In their rematch against the Cavaliers, the Cobras crushed their rivals, winning by 14 points, 87-73!
The Phoenix Rises
The Springbank Phoenix Senior Girls team also shone as bright as a phoenix’s feathers and finished the season with a 53-49 championship win over the George McDougall Mustangs.
The Phoenix won all six of their season games, but every victory was hard-earned.
In December, the team fought tooth and nail to squeeze a 56-52 victory over the Bow Valley Bobcats girl team.
The Phoenix faced off against their Bow Valley rivals again in the semifinals and showed how much they have improved since December with a massive 66-31 win.
Not Too Cavalier
The Croxford’s Junior Girls team also finished their 2023-2024 season undefeated.
The Cavaliers racked up an impressive 327 points through their regular season games.
Outscoring their closet rivals from Cochrane by 78 points, the Cobras scored 249 points, the second most in the regular season.
Leading up to the Championships, the Croxford dominated their opponents with an 84-11 win over the Phoenix and a 64-23 win over the Mustangs.
Cochrane’s team was just as ruthless heading into the Championships. They dominated the Bow Valley team 67-22 in the semifinals.
The Cobras fought well against the Cavaliers in the finals but were bested 57-40.
“Our girls just came with the mindset of wanting to prove to themselves that they would be able to maintain their mental toughness throughout the entire game,” Tassia Rushford, Cavaliers’ Head Coach, told Airdrie City View.
Charging to Victory
The Bert Church Chargers Junior Boys team also finished the 2023-2024 season undefeated, but their perfect record didn’t come easy.
The team had some close calls throughout the season, including a 90-80 win over the Mustangs and a narrow 84-76 victory against the Cavaliers.
The Chargers widened the gap against the Cavaliers in the semifinals with a 93-64 victory. But the Chargers championship game was anything but smooth sailing.
Their opponent, the Bobcats, sharpened their claws and bared their fangs. Eventually, the Chargers overcame their fierce opponent and finished the match 69-67.
The Bow Valley Gymnasium was a battleground for talented RVS athletes.
Each team represented their school and community with passion and sportsmanship.
For there to be a winner, there must be a loser. But losing isn’t everything. After a loss, our province’s athletes come back swinging, no matter their level or skill.
That’s why Alberta is home to some of the best athletes in the world. Who knows? Some of these RVS athletes could go on to win collegiate championships or represent Team Canada one day.
