If the way things went in the first game of the Moose Jaw High School Athletic Association high school boys basketball season is any indication of how the rest of the season is going to go, all three teams are in for a host of close games.
The Peacock Toilers and Vanier Vikings went toe-to-toe in their season-opener on Tuesday night, with the Toilers eventually taking a 72-65 victory at Peacock.
The Toilers -- 4A boys provincial silver medalists in 2021-22 -- took a 19-12 lead out of the first quarter before both teams put on an offensive show heading into the half, with Peacock outscoring Vanier 23-22 in the quarter and leading 42-34 at the break.
Peacock extended their lead to 60-47 in the third before Vanier staged a late-game comeback, winning the fourth quarter 18-12 and pulling back with seven points before falling short.
A balanced offence was the key for the Toilers, who were led by Mac Simpson with 14 points, while Kai Houghton and Makungu Mutabazi had 13 points each.
Things weren’t as close in the first girls' contest of the season in Assiniboia, as the defending city champion and 4A girls provincial bronze medalist Central Cyclones put on a defensive clinic on their way to a 55-26 victory.
Central held Assiniboia to only 10 points in the first half -- six in the first quarter, four in the second -- while building a 28-10 lead in the process. The Cyclones extended their edge to 41-18 heading into the final quarter before settling for their 29-point win.
Ava Nichols led all scorers with 18 points for Central, while Ellah Flanagan had a 12-point outing. Jenna Gronsdahl led Assinbioia with eight points.
Girls league action continues in earnest on Tuesday, Dec. 13, with the Lumsden Angels at Central at 5:50 p.m. and Vanier at Peacock at 6:20 p.m. The Toilers and Cyclones face off for the first time in boys league action at 7:30 p.m.
