For many it was their last time playing basketball as high schoolers, but for at least one it was his first taste of playing at the Red Deer College Gym.
The 40th annual Central Alberta Schools Athletics Association Senior Bowl Games, held on Monday at Red Deer College features the top graduating players from Central Alberta at the 3A and 4A level.
Among them was Cody White, a Notre Dame Cougar who wrapped up his season just this past weekend at provincials.
The tall Grade 12 student wants to take his game to the next level with the RDC Kings.
“They have a good program, they’re usually going to nationals and doing well at provincials,” said White. “I really like their coach (Clayton Pottinger), he’s been helping me the last few years and I want to come play for him.”
He had a chance to showcase his game on Saturday before a packed RDC gym.
The senior bowl comes two days after provincials, held in Red Deer and in White’s home court at Notre Dame.
“I’m glad I ended my season like this, we won zones, we went to provincials and we gave Lethbridge Collegiate Institute a good run,” said White.
The Cougars lost their first two games in provincials, 106-87 to LCI and then 76-61 to Foothills. They won their 13th place game over Charles Spencer 85-77.
“In the summers I’m in the gym every day for five hours,” said White.
White and his Cougar teammates played on the light side in the senior bowl. They lost 122-78 to the dark side. The dark side led from the start and never looked back.
On the girls side, the game’s electric finish brought the crowd to their feet. The dark side fell behind 37-26 at the half, but rallied late to a 78-75 win. Morgan Jensen of Wetaskiwin Composite High School had the winning points.
Girl all stars: Lindsay Thurber — Kesley Lalor, Elizabeth Morneault, Kiera Fujimoto and Jenna Hawkes; Lacombe — Adi Waqatabu, Katie McMillen, Mackenzie Reiss and Jessalyne Stanvick; Notre Dame — Gemma Davis and Ayzhel Tultog; West Centre — Jessica Lublinkhof, Shallyn Lainchbury and Nicole Nicolay; H. J. Cody — Anna Carlson; Hunting Hills — Kristen Loney, Madi Nimmo, Gabby Spenst and Sarah Stewart; Innisfail — Elizabeth Maciborsky; Wetaskiwin Composte — Lauren Stashko, Katie Cown, Jensen and Sarina Peek; Camrose — Braxtyn Horbay; Ponoka — Lindsay Gartner, Alexandra Wynnychuk, Tawni Kjenner and Lily Raugust.
Boy all stars: H.J. Cody — Tyrone Noble, Chase Allan, Michael Branton and Tayler Deibert; Notre Dame — White, Josh Ballantyne, Griffin Moline and Rohit Razzaq; Hunting Hills — Joe Vincent and Gabe Duckering; West Central — Anders Eklund, Brandon Simmerlink and Carter Friesen; Lacombe — Thomas Willougby and Eryk Calkins; Lindsay Thurber — Ben Pasiuk, TK Kunaka, Jacob Higham and Jonathan Goulet; Wetaskiwin Composite — Kenje Espeleta, John Krause, Alex Omeasoo and Isaiah Feldberg; Camrose — Kyle Nickel; Ponoka — Nils Simon, Corey Fillinger, Iggy Cattleman and Shaden Littlechild; Innisfail — Jaycee Ellis and Reid Money.