After a gruelling, exhaustive post-season performance, the Elphinstone senior boys have drawn silver after a 62-56 loss to Seycove Secondary School on Thursday, Feb. 11, in the North Shore final.
The game was held in neutrality at Sutherland Secondary, but a host of Cougar fans made the atmosphere utterly electric.
A fierce rivalry in the low block ensued throughout the game between Elphi's Dolf Vermeulen and Seycove's Fedor Mikhailytchev, both taking turns to dominate each end of the hardcourt.
The lead was traded several times in the first half, but the fourth quarter saw Elphi in an uphill battle as the Seyhawks began to pull away. Then the Cougars' deadly full court zone press disrupted the Seycove run and cut the lead to 53-50 with under a minute remaining. However, Elphi was unable to capitalize on the three-point deficit as Seycove continued to answer back with each offensive possession.
The Cougars were forced to foul in order to slow down the clock, but Seycove's free throw shooters iced the game at the foul line, thus propelling them to a six-point victory and an AA provincial berth.
Both Dolf and Oliver Telfer were named North Shore playoff all-stars, along with Seycove's Daniel Asch and Fedor, the latter capturing MVP honours.
Emotions were running high in the locker room after the game, and both players and coaches alike could not help but marvel at the successful season they had just completed.
As an assistant with the team, I would personally like to congratulate seniors Dolf, Oliver, Evan, Shane, and Aidan for their contributions to an incredible senior season, and I wish them luck in their post-secondary endeavours.
Now even though a heart-breaking loss in the finals isn't going to sit well with anyone, the senior boys have much to look forward to as the basketball program at Elphi continues to make its way to the upper echelon of the North Shore.
