The wait is almost over.
The St. Thomas More Knights packed in five games over the past week and have one more exhibition test on the table before getting down to the nitty-gritty: the playoffs.
After a 4-1 run that saw them cross paths with the top-ranked team in 3A, as well 4A’s No. 6 team, the Knights are eager to put the season on the line for real.
“I guess this is the dog days of the season,” remarked STM coach Aaron Mitchell, a day after his squad defeated the No. 6-rated 4A Killarney Cougars 79-58. “With all these exhibition games it really comes down to the guys’ internal motivation. They are ready for the next season, which is the post-season.”
Led by Grade 12 post Cam Morris, the Knights stayed ahead of Killarney but didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter. Morris opened the game with four straight treys in the first 1:30, but the shorter but speedy Cougars were not easy to shake, as STM led 25-24 after the first quarter.
"I don't know what (Morris) shot but he didn't miss much," said Mitchell.
With injuries to Ryan Yuen and Cedric Ducharme taking a toll, Mitchell turned to Cedric Alvarez and Nathan Hallam midway through Wednesday’s game, and both played well.
"They played the full fourth quarter and did lots of good things," said the coach.
Morris finished with 39 points, a day after counting 31 points against Sullivan Heights in a strong 75-48 victory. Twenty-seven of his points in Tuesday’s match came in the first half.
While the lanky 6-foot-5 senior -- who is committed to attending UBC next year -- is drawing a tonne of attention from opposing defences, Mitchell says it has so far played into the Knights hands most nights.
"He's getting extra coverage, they're box-and-one on him," said Mitchell. "The guys see that as a desperation move and they feel it kind of disrespects our team, that we don't have much else."
On the weekend, STM finished third at the R.A. McMath tourney, with the lone blemish coming in a 87-62 loss to 3A rival Rick Hansen.
They opened the tourney by topping Fleetwood Park 63-37, before running up against Hansen.
The Knights had a good bounce-back in besting MEI 92-75 to claim third place.
They close out the exhibition season on Saturday against Steveston-London in Vancouver.
