The junior boys Cochrane Cobras rebounded from a close divisional final to successfully defend their zone championship title for 3A schools in the ASAA South Central Zone last weekend in Airdrie.

The Cobras handily won their first two games before facing a stingy the 2-3 zone defence of the Canmore Crusaders in the final, 50-36.

Head coach Jamie McLellan says it was the lowest point count for the Cobras in the season, but that particular defensive formation tends to create a tedious, monotonous style of basketball.

"I think that's the lowest scoring game we've had all year, but every single basket mattered so it made it a pretty intense and exciting final," says McLellan.

Prior to that, the Cobras opened the 10-team tournament with a pair of wins over Spartans teams. They beat Strathmore, 67-42, and dominated Olds, 84-29.

The zones gave the team a chance for some redemption after losing the divisional final to Chestermere, 80-71.

"In the divisional final, I thought they played extremely well, but sometimes there are things that are out of your control. Every planet in the solar system lined up against us and it just wasn't our day, which is unfortunate," says McLellan.

"At the zones, the boys felt they got the opportunity to show that they deserved to win."

McLellan says the team did something special by winning back-to-back zone championships.

"It's something super special that they were able to create and we're hoping we can continue at the senior level."

McLellan was in his second year with the junior team, working with many players he previously coached in community ball. Now he hopes to be able to carry through to the senior boys level with the team that already includes a half dozen players he previously coached.

"I'll be sitting down with school and seniors boys program officials and try to figure a way to transition to continue to be part of the fabric and landscape of basketball in Cochrane. I've been with most of the boys for seven years and I hope to be able to continue."

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Jr. Boys Cobras Continue to be a Dominant Force