TheRecord.com: Chevaliers Never Say Die

(Note:  Though the article says that the win clinched a CWOSSA spot for Rockway, it should be noted that they haven't officially clinched but have a "firm grasp" on the "A" CWOSSA spot from D8.  PRDG is still alive in the running but would need some big (and unlikely) upsets for that to happen).

Article By:  Mark Bryson

CAMBRIDGE — David Nolet rolls his eyes and then smiles as he admits he had no idea what he was getting himself into.

A newcomer to Ecole Secondaire Pere-Rene-de-Galinee, the Grade 12 transfer student was the driving force behind the tiny school’s decision to field a team in the District 8 senior boys basketball league. The talented player pitched his plan to school administration, teacher Lisa Allain stepped forward to coach and the Chevaliers were up and running.

Success on the court hasn’t been quite so easy.

The Chevaliers dropped to 1-6 in their return to the D8 circuit on Wednesday with a 63-39 loss to the visiting Rockway Flames.

“Regrets? Not really,” said Nolet, whose family relocated to Kitchener from the Windsor area. “I only wish we were a little better, a little bigger, had more players and more talent.

“I just try to play as hard as I can and I try to get the boys to play as hard as they can.”

The Chevaliers had a vacant bench against Rockway as two players called in sick and a third quit the team earlier this week. The five players who suited up — Nolet, Mathieu Lacroix, Dylan Floyd, Malcolm Duncan and Brad Townsend — had no choice but to play the entire 32 minutes and be extra careful to not foul out.

Even coach Allain was forced into extra duty as she sat at the timekeeper’s table and kept score.

“They don’t quit and they play their hearts out,” said Allain. “They know they’re not always going to be competitive but they don’t care. They just keep going.

“They want to play, they love to play and they’re still here, which is great.”

Allain started with a roster of 10 at the beginning of the season but that number has dwindled. Nolet is the team’s best player, but Floyd is an up-and-comer with loads of potential. The Grade 9 guard is a good outside shooter with a good head for the game.

The Chevaliers actually jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on Wednesday after three-point efforts from Floyd and Nolet. It was pretty much downhill after that though.

Anner Gonzalia put the Flames up 10-9 by sinking a first-quarter foul shot and Rockway would never relinquish the lead. Michael Hewson had 19 points for the Flames, while Josh Klassen added 16. Nolet topped all scorers with 20, while Floyd added 13.

The scoreboard showed the “visiteurs” leading the “local” side 29-20 at half and 45-31 after three quarters.

With the victory, the Flames earned a spot in the Central Western Ontario single-A championship tournament. The Chevaliers were the only other school going after the berth and this was the second time Rockway had beaten the newcomers. The Flames scored a 74-45 win in their first meeting on Nov. 24. The single-A tournament is open to schools with a student population of less than 500 — Rockway is listed at 240 and Pere Rene weighs in at 261.

Now the Flames can focus on improving their game for CWOSSA in regular-season games against the likes of D8 giants Resurrection and St. Mary’s.

“We know they are going to beat us, blow us out of the water, but we try to work on the small things that will help us at CWOSSA and hopefully OFSAA,” said Gonzalia.

Coach Bernie Burnett’s Flames have number problems as well. The team had only eight players in uniform for the game after two starters were sidelined earlier in the day for academic reasons.

The Chevaliers’ only victory this season came against the Monsignor Doyle Mustangs, a 43-42 squeaker in which the winners came very close to coughing up a big lead.

Next up for the Chevaliers is Monday’s game at St. Mary’s, where the visitors will attempt to close the gap on the Eagles. St. Mary’s scored a 92-44 victory in the first meeting.

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