It’s a Thursday night inside the main gymnasium – the Hornet’s nest – at Southern Okanagan Secondary School, and senior boys basketball head coach Mo Basso is working his troops hard.
He watches as players move the ball up and down the court.
When he sees something he feels important enough to address with the group, the shriek of his whistle can be heard throughout the gym. Players freeze, ears perk, and Basso begins to explain the reasons why he brought the play to a halt.
“Some of the problems we had last year that we need to work on for this year is rebounding. It has been our nemesis over the last couple of years,” explained the long-time Hornets head coach after practice. “Another thing that we had problems with last year was finishing strong and that is going to be key for the team if we are going have a successful year.”
Indeed, the focus of Basso’s instruction on this particular night was for his players to get tough under the basket. “Don’t play timid,” he called out to a number of players.
However, that timidness comes from youth, and Basso will have to deal with a young, and somewhat inexperienced group as the Hornets proceed through the BC High School Sports South Central league schedule.
“We lost four starters and the bulk of our scoring in the likes of Gurk Dhaliwal and Malcolm Heinrichs, not to mention key defensive and rebounding from Ravi Bassi and Navi Dhaliwal. So we have some shoes to fill,” concedes Basso. “But I feel we have key returning players to complement the only returning starter Austin Basso, guys like Anmol Malhi, Raj Bahniwal, Brett Harrington, Karn Mann, and Blake Miller Yuckin.”
The Hornets have also added a trio of juniors, young talents Basso is confident will help the squad achieve its goals, and return to the provincials. Kulbir Grewal, Gurshan Dhaliwal and Manveer Brar are new to the SOSS senior team this year. Basso looks forward to their contribution, and especially, the leadership skills one particular senior can add.
“Of course I am interested to see my son Austin play in his final year and to see how much he has grown as a player and to see what type of leadership he will add to the team,” said coach Mo. “And, I want to see how our three key Grade 11 players will fill the roles of those graduating players and also how they will fit in with such a large group of returning players.”
The Hornets enjoyed success in 2013-14, winning the South West zone for the sixth time in seven years, and playing in the Valley championship final for the sixth year in a row, coming up short by four points. At the provincial championship, SOSS lost by a bucket in the quarter final and ended up sixth overall with a record of 26 wins and 14 losses.
So, with a younger team, and some unproven players on his roster, how does Basso see the Hornets, and the league, shaping up in 2014-15?
“The valley is strong again this year as Clarence Fulton of Vernon is ranked fourth in the province so they have been dubbed the top team in the valley. Maggie of Penticton will be tough again as will Valleyview of Kamloops. The defending Valley champions will look to repeat,” cautions Basso. “The good thing is our tournament will have Fulton and Maggie, not to mention No. 3 ranked Southridge of Surrey.
“All in all, it is looking like it is going to be a great season.”
And it all starts this weekend, when the Hornets host the 54th Annual Okana-Qen Tournament.
Eight teams will be on the court through the weekend.
SOSS is positioned in the Okanagan Valley division with Maggie, Fulton and Westsyde.
The Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland division has teams from GW Graham, Pacific Academy, Southridge and Collingwood.
Teams will play against the opposing division in the tournament.
The Hornets will open the tournament Thursday at 3:30 p.m. against Chilliwack’s GW Graham. With tip-off taking place right after the final bell of the day, the Hornets are sure to play to a full gymnasium of students.
On Friday, SOSS takes on Collingwood at 11 a.m. and Southridge at 5:30 p.m.
The tournament wraps up Saturday, with the Hornets facing PAC in the finale at 2:30 p.m. Be sure to cheer them on!
SOSS opens South-Central League play December 10 at George Elliot.
Dale Cory
Oliver Chronicle
