Mt. Boucherie Bears Defeat Carson Graham Eagles In Consolation Game

Carson Graham Sr. Boys vs Mt. Boucherie Bears

December 13, 2024

(photo credit: Blair Shier)

This game started with an authoritative smack of the tip-off ball downcourt as Carson’s #20 announced his intended dominance of the game which turned into a stat line of 15 rebounds plus a whole bunch of other big-guy stuff. There followed some back and forth steals before the Bear’s Hayato Miyazaki pulled off a rare open court airborne block that led to their first score. It took Carson 4 ½ minutes to score from the foul line  at which time the Bears were up 10-1.

Since Carson was playing at home, there were lots of kids in the stands who took it upon themselves to bang the bleachers so loud as to possibly put off a foul shot but certainly put off your poor scribe. Later, when I regained consciousness, I witnessed a slick passing sequence involving the Bear’s Ty Goruk leading to a trey. Down low, Carson’s big man logged a deuce BUT, with only 3 seconds on the shot clock the Bears inbounded the ball and hit a 3 to beat the clock. At the end of Q1 it was 22-17 for the Mountain folks.

With 48 seconds to go in Q2 the score was tied at 28 with Carson out scoring the Bears 11-6 in that period. At the end Carson was ahead 30-28. This game proved to revolve around Carson’s #20 Abkenor. He dominated the boards, scored well (14) and set picks that channeled his teammates to the basket.

This was a high tempo, scrappy game which devolved into a series of technical/flagrant or other kinds of fouls which left shooters at the line alone. The Bear’s #5 Noah Watters was a constant force with fearless and high-energy moves to the basket while he supported his teammates. Moreover, he dared to sport a buzz-cut defying the current fashion of wearing what looks like a muskrat on your head. He played like a man possessed in a take-no-prisoners sort of way.

With Carson down 42-38 they called a timeout. The game had slowed with the specialty fouls including one against Carson for not having his shirt tucked in, after having been warned. Ask Coach Thornhill about this one if you are looking for a colourful opinion. Q3 ended at 45-38 in favour of Mt. Boucherie. Carson’s Zalizniak converted an “and-1” and the Bears’ Watters hit a beautiful off-balance jumper. The score was 55-45 for the Bears with 5 ½ minutes to go. Carson then went on a fire drill where a missed layup led to an Abkenor offensive rebound, an errant fast break pass that turned into 2 points, and two more emergency scores to lead to a 57-54 lead by the Bears with 3:20 to go. But Carson flagged and the dagger came from Watters on a 3-ball at 35 seconds left. Final score Bears 67, Carson 58. Congratulations to both teams on a spirited and intense contest.

Mt. Boucherie Bears 67 – Carson Graham Eagles 58