Cochrane High School Cobras junior-varsity boys basketball head coach Jim Forrest didn’t have much time to prepare his team for its season-opener against the Bow Valley High School Bobcats. He was busy coaching a provincial-championship football team into late November.
But the lack of preparation seemed to benefit the Cobras as they neutralized Bow Valley 102-32 in Rocky View Sports Association JV boys basketball play Dec. 5 at Cochrane High.
“That was our first game,” said Forrest. “We got a late start. But I thought our kids played well.”
The Bobcats, meanwhile, had three games of tournament play coming into the league season-opener against their crosstown rivals and appeared a little flat.
“I think we played with a bit more energy on the weekend,” said Bobcats head coach Harv Davies. “We just have to bring that to the league games.”
The Cobras were definitely running on fresher legs. Jacob Nielson scored 15 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter. Teammate Ethan Forrest poured in 27 points as the Cobras swarmed to the ball and attacked the rim all night.
Defence is something Davies is hoping his Bobcats will embrace as the season progresses.
“Not that the score was showing it tonight, but I think we’re going to be a good defensive team,” Davies offered. “That’s what we’re really working on is the defence.”
With the season-opener behind them, the Cobras intend to impose themselves on opponents all season long.
“We want to be hard-nosed on the basketball and then everybody else helps,” coach Forrest surmised. “Our mantra is: five guys guard one ball.”
On Dec. 12, the Cobras are in Springbank and Bow Valley hosts Bert Bert Church. Both games tip-off at 6 p.m.
