The JPII junior boys basketball team with their first-place plaque for winning Hot Hoops in Lloydminster. (submitted photo/Nate Jurgens)

By Martin Martinson

Nothing but Net

Crusaders junior boys take gold at Hot Hoops, remain undefeated

Jan 31, 2023 | 6:00 PM

The John Paul II Crusaders junior boys basketball team continued their sizzling start to the season over the weekend, taking home a gold medal at the Hot Hoops Tournament in Lloydminster.

Winning all three of their games on their way to the weekend gold, the Crusaders opened their schedule with a decisive 107-31 victory over Lloydminster’s Holy Rosary to open the tournament, followed by an 88-39 win over Lloyd’s College Park.

In the team’s third and final game, the Crusaders’ boys faced off against their cross-town rivals, topping the North Battleford Comprehensive High School Vikings 84-31.

While the offensive numbers may be the first thing to catch the eye, head coach, Nate Jurgens said it was the team’s collective effort defensively that paved the way to their success at both ends of the floor.

“The one thing we were really impressed with this weekend was their defensive approach,” Jurgens said of his team. “They really worked hard to play disciplined defence, and we always believe our defence ignites our offence, so they were able to get our offence firing on all cylinders from there for the entire weekend.”

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The 3-0 weekend sweep improves the junior boys’ overall record to a standout 13-0 this season. The Crusaders junior boys will return to action this weekend in Prince Albert.

The Friday-Saturday tournament will be a step-up for the team, as a Grade 9/10 tournament, for the Grade 8/9 Crusaders team. The junior boys will play their first game of the weekend Friday at 7 p.m. against Martensville.

In other action around the province, the Crusaders’ junior girls basketball team also medaled at Hot Hoops, taking home a silver, while the senior girls won bronze in Melfort.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1