The Senior boys Gryphons went undefeated in a tournament at Barrhead Composite Friday and Saturday, taking home the North Central Zone title.
The boys kicked off the tournament in a game against Drayton Valley. Off to a good start, the Gryphons defeated their opponents 25-10 and 25-13.
Next up was Morinville, where the Barrhead boys continued to display their skill and determination. They defeated Morinville 25-13 and 25-16, moving on to the third round robin match.
Match number three the Gryphons found themselves facing Edson. Their first win came with ease, claiming a 25-13 victory. Though the second had the boys fighting harder, Barrhead still came out with a win of 25-20.
With a three game winning streak under their belts, the Gryphon boys headed into the playoff round.
In the semi-final, the Gryphons were once again challenged by Morinville. However, much like earlier in the tournament, Barrhead was able to bring their best to the game and conquer. The boys won their two matches 25-12 and 25-13, and earned themselves a spot on the court in the finals.
With four wins to show for the weekend, the Gryphons took to the court against Athabasca in the championship game.
After a hard fought match that could have gone either way, Barrhead took the first win 25-23. The second match came a little easier to the Gryphons, and the earned the championship with a win of 25-12.
Head coach Rod Callihoo said the boys evidently played very well over the weekend.
“We were very consistent and were able to control our play,” he said. “That allowed us to control the outcome of the game.”
The year in general has been a good one for the Gryphons. Barrhead has qualified to represent the North Central Zone at 3A Boys Provincials in Edmonton Nov. 28-30.
As the boys prepare to head to the city to take on other zones across Alberta for the provincial title, Callihoo said he hopes the team’s performance continues to be as impressive as it has been this season.
“We have been successful in many tournament matches and we hope to continue our strong play into the provincial championships in Edmonton this upcoming weekend,” said Callihoo.
