The junior girls' varsity CHS Cobras team has taken on all challengers throughout Rocky View Sports divisional play and they kept their unbeaten streak alive by winning the divisional championships in Airdrie, Mar. 3.
The Cobras had another close match with the Bow Valley Bobcats in the final and once again came out on top, 63-50, to claim divisional gold in advance of this week's zone finals being hosted in Cochrane.
Three other Cochrane teams reached the divisional finals and return returning with silver medals were the senior boys and girls Cobras and the junior girls' Bobcats.
"That's probably the most excited I've been in awhile and I'm super proud of the way our girls played," says Cobras Jr. Girls Head Coach Tom Knitter. "I couldn't be happier with how they responded and how well they went out and executed."
"All of our games against the Bobcats have been super competitive. Both teams played well on Saturday."
The game was tied after three quarters and the Cobras went on big 10 point run to kick off the final quarter, lead by Maggie Smith and Alex Verkenstedt. In contrast, The Bobcats went 1/14 on free throws in that quarter and couldn't keep pace with the Cobras.
The Bobcats overcame the second place W. H. Croxford for the first time this season with a 44-29 win in the semifinals to reach the finals.
It's been several years since the junior Cobras have won the zone championship and that's been their end goal all season.
"We're right where we need to be right now," says Knitter, "But we know we keep improving and keep working so we finish the season and hopefully, we're successful with our goal."
Knitter says there's stiff competition this season and points to their 54-49 win over the Springbank Phoenix in the semifinals.
"I just think it shows the level of competition in Rocky View right now. The message to our girls is that we're not going to take anyone for granted and we're going out to play hard in each game."
Knitter is a Cochrane Cobras alumni before returning to teach and is best known for his skill on the football field. He's a skilled coach but he is a rookie when it comes to He's a rookie basketball coach and appreciates all the help he has received along the way.
"My knowledge of basketball isn't very good but I've had really solid help from within Cochrane High School. From all four teams, there are other assistant coaches that have been able to help me out plus there's a lot of community coaches in Cochrane. Even Kris Nielson, who's the coach of Bow Valley, has worked with some of my girls in years past and he has helped them develop their technique. I'm kind of spoiled in that I've had have this pretty talented team that the Cochrane community has helped develop."
The same could be said of the senior boys and girls Cobras. The senior boys lost a squeaker, 70-68, to the Bert Church Chargers, while the senior girls lost to the Chestermere Lakers, 67-42. The Lakers have been undefeated in divisional play and they're the only team to have beaten the senior girls' Cobras
Prior to this, the senior girls beat Bert Church 77-22 in their semifinal matchup and the Boys overcame a stubborn Chestermere Lakers team, 75-54.
The Bow Valley High School is hosting the junior girls' zone finals, Mar. 9-10, for the 3A schools in the ASAA south central zone. The junior boys travel to W. H. Croxford in Airdrie. There is no provincial tournament for junior high teams.
The seniors' boys teams travel to Brooks to compete in the zones while the senior girls will be competing in Strathmore.
Cochrane High School is hosting both the senior boys and girls 3A provincials, Mar. 15-17, and will be utilizing all three high school gyms in the community.
Sun, May 19, 10:00 AM
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