Several local high school basketball teams used basketball tournaments over the weekend to continue to build momentum towards "March Madness."

Among them was the junior boys Cochrane High Cobras who continue to not only be a dominant force in junior basketball here in Rocky View but against other larger Calgary schools.  

The Jr. Boys Cochrane Cobras won the boys' division of Robert Thirsk Space Jam basketball tournament last weekend but it wasn't without having to dig deep in the final.

Head Coach Jamie McLellan says they won all three of their games against larger Calgary schools leading up to the final against a team they had met earlier in the season.

"The team we faced in final we played earlier in the year and won by 30, so the kids really didn't show up," says McLellan.  "We ended up going down 20 points in the first half."

To make the second half even more challenging, two of their grade 10 starters had fouled out and they had already lost one due to sickness.

"So we were down to three grade 10s and five grade 9s to play against a bunch of grade 10s and 11s. To be down 20 and bring it back and win the game is quite the feat."

But let's back up one step further. Just three hours prior to winning the final, 76-70 over Lord Beaverbrook, the Cobras had faced the host Robert Thirsk Comets in a match that went into overtime.

"To put it all out on the table three hours before and then have to come back to dig that deep was an immense challenge for all those boys."

It's a continuation of the solid play by a team that has its roots in community basketball, explains McLellan.

"It started in Cochrane minor basketball and they just stuck together and worked hard. Quite honestly, this is the culmination of years and years of diligent hard work by these kids and it has paid off."

In community ball, they have won both silver and gold at the provincials.

"We have high hopes for this year and also for the coming years with the opportunity to maybe go back and play again at the provincial level because we have shown that they can compete at that level. We're building and working, which is why we're playing all these older tougher teams hoping that we will continue to improve to be ready for the years to come."

RVS Divisional Playoffs

Friday they host a semifinal RVS divisional playoff game against the winner of tonight's game between W. H. Croxford Cavaliers and George McDougall Mustangs. The Cobras are the defending divisional champions and, like last year, remain undefeated in Rocky View play.

The divisional finals go Saturday and on Mar. 9-10, Airdrie's W. H. Croxford hosts the zones.

The Jr. Cobras are 50-5 over the last two years and have only lost two games this year, both against older teams. They've also won four of the five tournaments they entered this season and lost the other one against an older team.

"We haven't lost to a regular and matched opponent for two straight years, so it's really fun to be part of that. For two years in a row, we've had a great group of boys committed to play together as a team."

Other teams have noticed and are attempting to rise up to the Cobras level. Some coaches practice with the catchphrase, "Yes, but is it good enough to beat Cochrane?" 

"There's a lot of people out there trying to take us down, so we know we have our work cut out for us."

He doesn't say it, but you can tell he likes the challenge and you suspect his team does as well.

"It's like the football program. The idea of development kids and creating a generation that continues to improve and the next generation comes in to learn how to play."

McLellan has been coaching basketball for 30 years and has been involved with high school teams for about the last six or seven years.