By Scott Roblin

Injury bug doesn’t slow down Mohawks at ‘Green & White Invitational’

Dec 9, 2018 | 8:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s still early in the high school basketball season, but the Medicine Hat High School Mohawks are already facing their share of adversity head on.

Injured up and down the lineup, the Mohawks rolled through their home ‘Green & White Invitational Tournament’ over the weekend to take home the gold medal.

Medicine Hat held off a furious rally late from Calgary’s Lester B. Pearson Patriots on Saturday night in the championship final, hanging on for an 84-79 victory on home court.

Saturday’s win capped off a perfect tournament for the Mohawks, who took down Lester B. Pearson, Central Memorial High School, and Riffel High School in all three of their round robin games.

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Head coach Chad Watson said they had to rely on their bench players extensively over the tournament, adding it was frustrating not having all of his weapons available.

“I couldn’t play guys like Ethan Egert, Bailey Gosse, and Eidan Jonker as much as I wanted to because they were always coming out with some kind of injury,” said Watson. “We picked up one more with Elijah [Buachie-Kaba] right at the very end, so we’re a little banged up. We need a little rest and relaxation.”

However, the spread out minutes opened the door for players like Fred Kabore and Austin Walton, who drove the Mohawks offence over the weekend.

Kabore, who was named a tournament all-star, said the team gets fired up any time they see bench players getting the chance to shine.

“It’s great to see guys that are on the bench ready to just deliver when they’re called upon, just give us everything they’ve got,” said Kabore.

Medicine Hat outscored their opponents 354-271 over their four games, adding to a silver medal they won at their home tournament last year.

None of the injuries are expected to be long-term, but Watson added he knows the team’s depth is up to snuff as their chase for a provincial title continues Tuesday against the Raymond Comets.

“I feel like we’re so deep it doesn’t matter who we put in,” he said. “Austin Walton is a kid we brought in from the bench, he scored 28 points [Friday] night in a game and he had a great weekend. The boys believe in each other and I think that’s the biggest thing.”

The senior Kwahommies weren’t able to complete the Medicine Hat High sweep however, as they fell to the W.R. Myers Rebels out of Taber on Saturday in the championship final.

Settling for silver and a 3-1 record in tournament play, the Kwahommies are back in action on Monday night with a league game against the L.C.I. Clippers out of Lethbridge at 8:00 pm.