Casualties come with a post-season ‘live-fire exercise’

Huron Park’s Daniyal Faisal (right) tries to tip the ball away from East Elgin’s T. Smith. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

Playoffs are a live-fire exercise.

And that reality carries the unavoidable fact that with expanded exhilaration in victory, there will also be painful casualties.

“That one just stings,” said Woodstock Huron Park Huskies coach Tyler Anderson following a 65-39 TVRA South East AA preliminary-round setback to the visiting Aylmer East Elgin Eagles on Feb. 4. “Not the result we were looking for, playing for, but that’s the result we got.”

The Eagles took charge of the contest in the second quarter, overcoming a one-point (12-11) deficit on the strength of a 20-6 run fuelled by nine points from C. Wall. The visitors extended their 13-point advantage modestly through a 13-10 third quarter, before putting the game away against a frustrated Huskies squad.

“Shots weren’t dropping,” said Huron Park’s Garrett Foster. “Not like they were in the regular season.”

East Elgin had also played well credited Foster, who finished with 11 points in a losing cause. “They wanted it, obviously, and it showed.”

Wall finished with 19 to lead all scorers with K. Friesen adding 16 and J. Yan 10. Kallel Jarquin had 16 to lead the Huskies, Avi Bhangu added seven, Daniyal Faisl four and Aiden Menton one free throw.

“It was a fun season,” said Foster, who enjoyed playing with a group of ‘good guys’, all of whom wanted each other to succeed. However, as much as he loves basketball, he was preparing to move on to sports.

“Gotta keep healthy,” he smiled.

The sun would come up tomorrow regardless of the outcome. However, there was an undeniable sense of loss for Foster, as well for players like Bhangu, who had moved from Brampton to Woodstock to find a hardcourt home with new and migrating teammates, or coach Anderson, who had mentored some players on this year’s roster since grade 9 and enjoyed working with them all.

“They worked their butts off all season,” Anderson concluded. “It was an honour and a privilege.”

TVRA South East Senior Boys’ AA Basketball Playoffs

Friday, Feb. 7 Quarterfinals

Woodstock College Avenue 50, Ingersoll DCI 30

Lord Dorchester 66, Woodstock St. Mary’s CHS 46

St. Thomas St. Joe’s 61, East Elgin 41

St. Thomas Parkside 59, Tillsonburg Glendale 39

Tuesday, Feb. 4 Preliminary Round

East Elgin 65, Huron Park 39

Tuesday, Feb. 11 Semi-Finals

Parkside at College Avenue, 3 p.m.

Lord Dorchester at St. Joe’s, 3 p.m.

Thursday, February 13 Final

TBA at top seed, 3 p.m.

TVRA South East Junior Boys’ AA Basketball Playoffs

Friday, Feb. 7 Quarterfinals

St. Mary’s CHS 56, Ingersoll DCI 43

Huron Park 51, Parkside 45

Glendale 56, Lord Dorchester 36

St. Joe’s 46, East Elgin 26

Tuesday, Feb. 4 Preliminary Round

Lord Dorchester 56, College Avenue 54

East Elgin 51, St. Thomas Central Elgin 34

Tuesday, Feb. 11 Semi-Finals

St. Mary’s CHS at Glendale, 3 p.m.

Huron Park at St. Joe’s, 4:30

Thursday, February 13 Final

TBA at top seed.

Tuesday, Feb. 11 A Final

St. Thomas Arthur Voaden at Woodstock CI, 3 p.m.