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Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots February 24th Edition

By Hartley Miller

-by Hartley Miller

When a team accomplishes something that has never been done before, they achieve a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Just ask the John McInnis Royals Junior Boys Basketball Team.

On Saturday, February 18th, at North Peace Secondary, in Fort St John, John McInnis won the North Central Zone title, for the very first time, ending a 35 year drought. They finished the tournament with a 4-0 record, winning its last two games against Columneetza, of Williams Lake, 56-51 in overtime, in the “A” side final, and 48-45, in the Championship Game. Coach Kap Manhas was quick to make reference to this historical day by stating, “They (the boys) feel that they made history. Its history on a small scale, but for them, they made history. They feel so good about it”.

I was in Fort St. John for the junior boys and junior girls zone tournaments. On the girls’ side, I was part of the D.P. Todd coaching staff, but on the boys’ side, I was strictly a spectator and watched those final two J-Mac games. In the opener, Columneetza was aiming at a win when they attempted a shot at the end of regulation time, but it came up inches short. In game two, John McInnis trailed by four with less than a couple of minutes left, but rallied to victory just as the Caribou team took a failed three-point shot at the buzzer.

The Royals demonstrated that they were the best team in the zone all season, compiling an overall record of 31-6, including 28-1 vs North Central opposition. However, the 29-year-old Manhas isn't a big believer in fate. “I think you make your own fate. I think our guys had more composure down the stretch and that was the difference”.

Manhas, John McInnis Teacher during the day, and Westwood Sports Pub Boss at night, believes that intangibles such as team unity and character led his nine player squad (six of them returnees) to victory. “It's the tightest bunch of guys I've ever coached in my life. We had really good chemistry. They grew up together and are all close friends. When your character gets tested, and your desire gets tested, and your knowledge gets tested, and your adjustments get tested; when all those things in a close game gets tested as a player, as a coach, as a team, when things come together as they did this weekend, it's really sweet, and I don’t think I could have enjoyed it much more”. Yes, there is no substitute for having a family atmosphere.

So, it's on to the Provincials (in Port Coquitlam), where traditionally the North Central Rep gets tossed around like the Italian Women's Olympic hockey team. Could the Royals pull a shocker and win a medal? Not a chance, but don't tell that to the media evasive Manhas, who has his own spin on the upcoming tournament. “I know the guys believe they can compete with anyone. You can't worry about winning or losing. You can only worry about performance”. In other words, the goal is to be prepared.

The John McInnis Boys have lived up to all expectations, but as they move to the next stage, the odds suggest the team will no longer receive the “Royal” treatment.


From the quote rack:

• "The skeleton."
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, on the ideal Olympic sport for super models. 

• “Read that the coach of the US Olympic women's skeleton team has been accused of sexual harassment. The headline I hoped to see but didn't: 'Is Skeleton Coach Jumping Bones?'” 
Greg Cote of the Miami Herald 

• "Mariners pitcher J.J. Putz."
Jack Finarelli of sportscurmudgeon.com, on a complement to the U.S. Golf Association's executive committee president, Walter Driver. 

• "Because he cannot be Sirius."
Bud Geracie of the San Jose Mercury News, on why former tennis bad boy John McEnroe got a show on XM satellite radio. 

• "Dennis Rodman has withdrawn as commissioner of the Lingerie Bowl. Somebody must have given him a pink slip.
Syndicated columnist Tom Fitzgerald 

• "And, Mrs. Bryant can only pray, he means 100, not 20,000."
Bill Littlejohn, in Tom Fitzgerald's syndicated column, on Kobe Bryant insisting he has no intention of breaking Wilt Chamberlain's legendary NBA scoring record.


And, how was your week?

--Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94x and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press.

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