The Cochrane Eagles basketball team has clinched first place in the Alberta Basketball Collective U18 Club Basketball League.

On Nov. 7, they beat Edge School to claim the regular-season title.

Head coach Kris Nielson says they are now one of two teams waiting for the results of the quarterfinal. Both the Eagles and Genesis Black enter the playoffs in the semifinals.

"We beat the Edge School on the weekend, and we beat Genesis Black the week before, so we've beat every single team in the league now. We're looking forward to seeing a couple of more teams in the playoff, and hopefully, get to the championship."

The nonprofit Cochrane Eagles program was having great success with both their boys and girls teams before being shut down by the pandemic.

The core of the U18 boys' team is formed by the same group of boys he coached before the pandemic. Now they're older, stronger, and more mature.

Nielson says when the pandemic hit, the players dispersed and found other basketball options. They reunited this fall to take a run at a championship.

"It's all the same kids," says Nielson. "I started coaching them back when they were in grade 6. We ran a few successful teams with them. Then COVID hit, and we couldn't run it anymore."

The collective league started play in September and the Eagles have nine games under their belt.

"For a small, unknown, nonprofit program to win against the huge dollars and year-round training in programs like Genesis Basketball and the Edge School for Sports, in addition to the other clubs, is kind of a big deal. We’re quite excited to see how we do in the playoffs next weekend."

Nielson has signed on as the head coach of the senior boys' team at the Bow Valley High School this season. He previously had great success with their girls' teams.

The high school basketball season is drawing near.

The Bobcats kick off their season with a tournament at Bearspaw Christian, Nov. 26-27.