The Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) Eagles’ Midget team played their last basketball game of the season last Wednesday, facing off against the LaSalle Community Comprehensive High School (LCCHS) Wolves.
The court was action-packed as spectators cheered on their teams. The Wolves took the lead 37-20 by halftime and pushed forward in the third quarter, with a 49-20 score after only a couple minutes. The game wrapped up with a loss for the home team as the Wolves took the victory 67-29.
Regardless of the game’s result, neither the Eagles nor the Wolves will be making a run in the playoffs since both teams were counted out earlier in the season.
The Eagles’ as well as for the Wolves’ season was cut short last year because of the pandemic, so this season served as a wake-up call of sorts for the players. “They’ve been working really hard and they’ve come together as a team… and improved a lot since the beginning of the season, for sure,” said Anne-Marie Wasacz, a parent of a player from the Wolves team.
Over the season, Christian Gaudette, in charge of organizing the sport activities at KSS, was glad to have seen the team develop and evolve. “The kids have gotten a lot better. The main thing was that they were able to have fun with their friends,” he said.
“It was good to see them come back from not having any sports teams to being able to interact with their friends, go on road trips to away games, and just be kids again,” he said of the benefits this season brought to the players.
The pandemic had put a hold on school sports, and basketball is no exception due to the high level of physicality of the game. Being able to get back on the court was a common source of motivation among the players eager to get back into the game.
After the game, the players shook hands and headed towards the locker room. “We did everything we could,” said Tiohahes Morris, a 13 year-old-player for the Eagles. “Most of the guys, it’s their first year now, but I’m sure it’ll get better as the years go on,” He felt better communication during the match would have helped the team on the floor.
He takes this loss as a learning experience to improve his game. “Probably my finishing can get more aggressive and (I could) just be a more accurate shooter.” Even though the Eagles missed the playoffs, Morris said he and his team had a fun season.
The Eagles Midget team, despite falling short this season, are looking to the future and staying confident, with hopes to make the playoffs next year.
