By Gemma Karstens-Smith
St. Matthew Catholic High School has been a basketball powerhouse for decades.
The Tigers have been the kings and queens of the high school hardwood several times in recent years. The boys even brought home a provincial championship in 2009.
But the Tigers are now facing a somewhat new set of opponents since they are now a ‘AA’-classified school due to a declining student population.
“Even the year we won OFSAA, we were within, I think, five people of being A/AA,” Tigers senior boys’ basketball coach Jason Wren notes. “There’s still very talented teams in A/AA.”
The other teams may have talent, but the Tigers dominated their new division, going 9-1 in regular season play.
The one loss came in December at the hands of the Deslauriers Phénix, the reigning OFSAA ‘A’ bronze medalists. The Phénix bested the Tigers 62-41 in the match up.
But in their final game of the regular season, the Tigers took their revenge, thrashing Deslauriers 57-21 on Jan. 18.
St. Matthew point guard Mack Wakefield attributed the big win to his team’s rebounding skills.
“We knew they were big rebounders and we just boxed them out this time,” Wakefield said.
Moving the ball around the court has been another key priority for the Tigers this season, Wren said. “We have a couple of very experienced players who know how to move the ball around well,” he said. “You have to take advantage of those assets. And the other guys have to know what to do with the ball.”
The win put the Tigers on top of the Eastern A/AA division going into the playoffs.
Wren wants to see the same ferocity in his team when they hit playoff competition.
“This really shows the way we can compete in the playoffs and I really hope we can continue it,” he said. “The goal for us is to always have a chance at a championship.”
Wakefield is sure the Tigers are up to the challenge.
“We just have to get to (city) finals this year and make sure we close the deal,” he said.
Though the schools they’re playing against are smaller, the journey to the top of the division hasn’t been a cakewalk for St. Matthew, said Wakefield, who’s now in his final year with the team.
“The skill level isn’t as competitive,” he said. “But the teams are still very good.”
The competition has changed and St. Matthew’s population is declining. But there’s one thing about the high school Wren said hasn’t changed – and won’t anytime soon.
“St, Matt’s has always been a basketball school, from when I played here and certainly all the time that I’ve coached here,” Wren said. “They just seem to show up every year wanting to play basketball. As long as they want to play, I’ll keep coaching.”