One last road trip with the boys.
A chance to go out as a champion.
Anthony Cox appreciates the opportunity to compete for the provincial 3A male basketball tournament being hosted by Gander Collegiate this weekend.
Cox, who will graduate in June, is the point guard for the Templeton Academy Tigers squad vying for gold in an eight-team, two-division tournament that gets underway today in Gander.
The Tigers lost to the Elwood High Lakers in the 3A regional tournament so it looked bleak for a chance to play in the provincial tournament in his final year of high school.
However, luck was on Cox’s side because there were two wildcard berths up for grabs to turn it into an eight-team event instead of six and the Tigers and St. Kevin’s of Goulds gained entry through that avenue.
“It means a lot. I was pretty upset losing regionals, but I was hoping for this tournament because it’s my last-ever road trip in my senior year,” Cox said Wednesday morning from Templeton Academy.
The Tigers will compete in Division A with St. Bonaventure’s College, host Gander Collegiate and Menihek High School of Labrador City. The Elwood High Lakers of Deer Lake is the only other west coast entry, suiting up in B Division with Exploits Valley High, Lewisporte Collegiate and St. Kevin’s High of Goulds.
Cox believes his team can hold their own against most teams because they have had good games with them in the past.
It’s an exciting time for the guys and they are eager to make a run at the championship. As the point guard, Cox knows he will have to be at the top of his game making sure he keeps turnovers at a minimum, makes good passes and has a knack for finding the open lanes to the basket.
He likes how the team has meshed together over the year and considers the Tigers a legitimate contender for the 3A banner.
“Everybody loves playing and everybody always wants the ball,” he said. “I think we could come out on top, but it’s going to be a hard fight because every team is pretty well even out there I think,” he said.
Tigers round-robin run
Today
4:30 p.m. — Tigers vs St. Bonaventure’s
7:30 p.m. — Tigers vs Gander Collegiate
Friday
4:30 p.m. — Tigers vs Menihek High of Labrador City
