Injury-riddled Vikings make way to Three Hills tournament

By Greg Price
Vauxhall Advance
gprice@tabertimes.com

With injuries mounting for the Vauxhall Vikings boys basketball team, an undermanned Vikings team made its way to Three Hills this past weekend and limped to a 1-3 record.

“There were good teams there and we didn’t have enough to get it done. We are still battling with injuries. I went there with seven guys, but really six-and-a-half with one guy playing at half speed,” said Daryl Johnson, head coach of the Vauxhall Vikings boys basketball team.

“There’s injuries with backs, knees and ankles. Lots of different stuff. The JV team had a tournament too, so I couldn’t call up any players from there, or else I would of.”

The Vikings had the legs for its first game which it won against New Norway.

The Vikings then went on its losing streak starting off with a tight loss against Rimbey, a school that made it to the championship final.

“They had a couple of big 6-foot-8 kids. We held in there. What really impressed me on the weekend is our first three games, our defence held us in it,” said Johnson.

“We had absolutely no fast break, all the points we scored were in the half court. Our defence was really effective the first three games despite our low numbers which was good to see.”

Saturday’s slate started with a four-point loss to Livingstone, where while the team was on fumes, they almost mounted the complete comeback.

“At one point I think we were down as many as 15 points. But we battled and we battled. It was a good, competitive game,” said Johnson, adding the spent Vikings followed up with a blowout loss to Three Hills.

“We were just finished at that point. Their fast break was pushing it on us and we couldn’t keep up anymore.”

The Vikings played Bow Island last night with results unavailable at press time.

Next week is a busy one for the Vikings with three straight games.

Monday features the exhibition game against the Harlem Crowns at 7 p.m. with the comedic game having a $10 entry fee at the door.

Tuesday’s game is a rescheduled game against Milk River at home starting at 7:45 p.m.

The team is then off to Foremost.

Last Monday’s home game against St. Mary’s from Taber also has to be rescheduled due to being canceled from weather conditions.

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