Twelve and one. When first seeing those numbers, most Elphinstone basketball fans would consider them to be the odds of winning a North Shore title, but what 12-1 actually represents is the current win-loss record that the senior boys squad holds a record that isn't surprising considering the talent and work ethic that the team possess.
"I've had good groups in the past, but these kids are the best team I've had the privilege of coaching," said head coach Mike Sopow. "It's not often that you get 13 guys that all share the same common goal. They all work hard, they all have that desire to win. I can't ask for anything more than that."
For any skeptics out there, the stats don't lie. The Cougars sit atop the AA North Shore standings with an early season record of 2-0, beating Rockridge and Mulgrave by an average of 31 points.
In a recent exhibition game against Howe Sound, Elphi fought back from a nine-point deficit in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter, tying the score, and ultimately winning by 16 points after overtime. Then, what can be viewed as their most impressive feat so far, is a tournament record of 9-1, including most recently a 4-0 showing in Pemberton where Elphinstone dismantled local rival Chatelech en route to their second first-place finish this year.
And behind all the numbers and statistics the Cougars have accumulated, there lies something greater that this team possesses: an unrivaled level of team chemistry. They all seem to function as a unit on and off the court, yet without hindering the individuality that makes this group so unique. Their dedication was evident on Boxing Day, where the boys decided that four practices a week over the holidays weren't enough, enduring sub-zero temperatures and organizing a pick-up game at the icy outdoor courts in Roberts Creek.
Now with the annual Cougar Classic set for this weekend (Jan. 8 and 9), a tournament that Elphi hasn't won in over three years, and the North Shore playoffs in a rush to finish before the looming Vancouver Winter Olympics, these seniors are looking to continue their winning ways and show no signs of slowing down.
