SFDCI claims four Lanark County championships on a single day
Posted Feb 24, 2011 By Stacey Roy
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Amy Hogue and Stacey Roy, Smiths Falls EMC
EMC Sports - Curtis Onion (above) looks to make a pass last Wednesday during the senior boys RedHawks' LCIAA-clinching win at Perth last Wednesday. Both senior and junior volleyball and basketball teams at SFDCI earned their trophies Feb. 16.
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Amy Hogue and Stacey Roy, Smiths Falls EMC
Right, the junior girls volleyball team celebrates on their home court after beating Notre Dame.
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EMC Sports -The Smiths Falls RedHawks combined their skill, dedication and teamwork to earn not one but four county championship titles in a single day.
Stacey Roy, Smiths Falls EMC
EMC Sports - The Smiths Falls RedHawks were soaring on a unique day of sports that no one will soon forget. Both junior (right) and senior basketball (left) and volleyball teams won their Lanark County championships Feb. 16. In the centre are members of the SFDCI wrestling team of whom five members will be competing at the provincial level on March 2. EOSSAA tournaments take place this week in a variety of locations including SFDCI which hosts the senior boys basketball championship this Thursday and Friday, Feb. 24 and 25.
The boys junior and senior basketball teams and the girls junior and senior volleyball teams battled for their Lanark County championship victory on Feb. 16. This is certainly a day not to forget, according to Dan Dufort, coach of the junior basketball team.
"That was fantastic," he said. "I've been here 21 years and I don't recall seeing anything like that."
Gord Cooke, principal at the school, echoed these thoughts when he congratulated the students and coaching staff for their successes.
"I can't think of another time when a school has won all four championships," Cooke added. "And the really unique thing about it was that all of our teams won on the same day."
The majority of the championship rounds pitted Smiths Falls against their rivals Perth with the exception of junior girls volleyball who faced Carleton Place's Notre Dame.
JUNIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
Dufort is proud of his boys for sweeping the Perth Blue Devils in the best-of-three final by clinching two games in a row.
"We knew they were tough," Dufort said of their opponents, adding of his team, "Everybody played well."
The boys kept on the pressure throughout the play. The second game saw Smiths Falls with a 17-11 lead going into halftime.
Travis Ferrier credits solid coaching by Dufort for the RedHawks' strong return after the break.
"The coaching was very good that game. He brought us into reality," Ferrier said.
Coach Dufort proudly reports that his boys kept the score board on their side in the second half ending in an impressive 40-14 when the final buzzer went.
"We allowed them to score three points in the second half," Dufort said.
The junior boys headed down to Arnprior this Wednesday, Feb. 23 for EOSSAA where they were hoping to be seeded first. Dufort said he will focus on staying calm and encouraging his players to have fun and work as a team.
"It's anybody's ball game," Dufort said of who will win the EOSSAA trophy. "I certainly have the team to do it."
SENIOR BOYS BASKETBALL
The senior boys basketball team had its work cut out for it against the Perth Blue Devils who never let up on the RedHawks' star players. This didn't ruffle the feathers of the hawks who took advantage of their depth of talent to pull away. "Our team play is very strong," said coach Todd Spencer. "We had some guys step up."
After nailing down a tough 37-29 win last Tuesday, the senior 'Hawks were pushed again, securing a close 38-30 victory the next night.
Sean McEwen was one of those key performers contributing eight points in the second half of game two. Coach Spencer is very proud of how his players used their basketball intelligence to out-think their opponents.
"Our guys stayed competitive and made a lot of really good decisions," he said.
SFDCI will look to defend its EOSSAA championship when it hosts the Eastern Ontario tournament today (Thursday) and Friday.
Curtis Onion thanked the RedHawks fans who traveled to Perth and brought their spirit to every play.
"It makes a difference," Onion said.
JUNIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The junior girls volleyball team's strong connection played a role in their LCIAA victory against Notre Dame. The girls used communication and skill to outplay the black jerseys in every one of the three games played in Smiths Falls last week.
"Our main focus is to bump, set and spike," said Danika Terwilligar.
The girls are very excited to experience EOSSAA for the first time this year and plan to bring their game that has gotten them this far. "I think we're going to stick to what we've been doing because it seems to be working," said Nicole Boisclair.
Coach Cliff Woods was confident going into the county finals knowing the strength of his team's ability and connection.
"They believe in themselves and they believe in their teammates," he said.
Woods and senior volleyball coach Kristen Drouin have challenged their teams to play the sport using university standards where the players take on more responsibility on the court.
SENIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
The senior girls brought this system to their county tournament in Perth last week where they set the gym on its head with a stellar comeback in the third game thanks to Carla Hogan who, serving, brought them back from a 24-14 deficit.
"She served 10 points to tie us at 24," said coach Drouin. "The gym was electric."
This was absolutely the highlight for everyone on the court, including Laura Kayser who says the turn around is a testament to the team's work ethic.
"We work hard even when we're down," Kayser said.
OTHER WINS
The local high school has been making a name for itself in athletics this entire season. On March 2 five SFDCI wrestlers will be heading to the provincial championships. Please see future issues of The Record News EMC for an update on their success.
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