The Cochrane Classic Basketball Tournament, Dec. 14 -16, gave a sneak peek of what's to come for the season for Cochrane high school basketball teams and their opponents in the provincials.

And while there isn't a provincial finals tournament for the junior teams, you can be sure there will be plenty of exciting matchups between the Cochrane Cobras and Bow Valley Bobcats in junior varsity girls divisional and zone play as well as some upcoming tournaments.

The Cochrane High JV girls team won a thriller in overtime after the teams were stalemated, 39-39, in regulation. In the five-minute overtime, the Cobras came out ahead 46-39.

It was the first time the two teams met this season and both head coaches believe there are many great matchups to come.

"I'm so happy for our girls and I want to give a shout out to Bow Valley girls and their families," says Cobras head coach Tom Knitter. "They're an awesome team."

Knitter is a first-year teacher and a Cochrane High alumni who played football for the Cobras, then for the University of Calgary Dinos before joining the Dinos coaching staff. He especially enjoys the rivalry between the local high schools.

"I grew up in Cochrane and I love the rivalry. I think it's great for the community, it's good for both schools to have a competitive rivalry and it was an exciting finish. I know they're going to mark us on the calendar and we're going to do the same. We're looking forward to playing them again."

Knitter believes there is some stiff competition ahead.

"There are lots of really good teams out there in Rocky View. The message I've said to our girls is we just want to control what we can affect. We're going to go in and work hard each week and I know we have some good competition in this division right now."

Bobcats coach Kris Nielson agrees there are many games ahead against the Cobras and would be surprised if they see them less than four times this season.

"We knew that both teams matched up really, really very well," says Nielson. "We knew it was going to be a close game; we were planning for it. We wanted games like that."

The game was their only loss of the season and Neilson said they were hoping for tough competition in the tournament and knocked off some 4A school teams along the way.

Losing their star point guard Jorja Powers late in the first half of the final hurt, though, he says.

"She's a real game changer, so that really hurt us."

He says the Cobras are bigger and play a more aggressive style and how that approach is officiated can make a difference in the game result.

Sr. Girls Cobras Make Finals

The Cobras senior girls made it to the tournament final and lost, 54-41, to the Wetaskiwin Sabres. Randy Perron, who has been the Cobras head coach for eight seasons, says he's very happy with how the team competed in the tournament.

"It's been a while since we've been in the final and very proud of getting into the final, considering we have six injuries. Some recovered back, but we still have injuries."

Falling behind 10 points in the first quarter was the difference in the matchup and there's much to be learned from the slow start.

"The second half was an even score, it was that first quarter that cost us a chance to have a victory over them," says Perron. "But they're (Sabre) a very good team."

It's early in the season and Perron doesn't want the team to peak too soon. On Boxing Day they leave for five days in Phoenix with the senior boys' team to compete in a tournament and catch some college and NBA action while doing some team bonding. It will be their first time travelling there.

Besides some exhibition and divisional games, the senior girls are participating in Strathcona-Tweedsmuir tournament in January and just before March Madness they're playing in the Notre Dame High Classic, where they have previously come first, second third and won the consolation over the last eight years.

"My goal is for us to peak by the end of February in time for March Madness. There are some better teams right now, but were still a long time from peaking and I want to ensure we don't peak too early and I've always been that way as an older, experimented coach."

After games this week, the regular basketball season of the Rocky View Sports resumes in early January and divisional playoffs begin the last week of February, followed by zone finals and, in the case of senior teams, provincials.