On Saturday, March 5, the Barrhead Junior Varsity Gryphons basketball teams competed to see who would advance to represent the North Central zone at provincials.
The tournament featured three teams, in a three game round robin tournament, with the top two teams playing in the championship game. Because of the odd number of teams each school played two games and were ranked based on wins, and in case of a tie, upon the lowest to highest scored points against.
The Barrhead Gryphons kicked off the tournament opening with a pair of games against Westlock’s R.F. Staples High School. On the girls side the Gryphons lost 65 to 43. In the boys’ matchup the Gryphons defeated the Westlock in a thrilling come from behind victory.
From the onset the game was close and at halftime the score was tied 21 to 21.
However, about midway through the fourth quarter R.F. Staples took command of the game scoring three unanswered baskets taking the lead by six points, but by the time there was two minutes left the Gryphons had narrowed the gap to one point (34 to 33), after Tanner Whiting successfully scored on one out of his two free throws. Then with just over a minute left, Whiting helped the Gyphons take the lead, making a basket on a close range shot. In the final minute of the game Barrhead played strong defensively and held on to win 35 to 34.
After the round robin the top two teams for the boys were Edson and Barrhead. For the girls it was Westlock and Barrhead.
In the final games Edson defeated Barrhead 80 to 83 on the boys’ side and Westlock defeated the Gryphons 49 to 34 to earn the top spot for the girls.
