A well-timed timeout call may have helped the Norwell Redmen to another volleyball championship.
Late in a game three thumping at the hands of the Westside Thunder, Redmen head coach Dale Beer called a break in the action even though the game was out of reach.
“I knew we were going to lose anyway, but just to regroup for the next game and they came out strong. They had their heads down a little bit and I just thought, look, let’s get the next game. Then they came out and they played incredible,” Beer explained.
In game four of the best-of-five set, Norwell ran up a 7-0 score before the Thunder could answer. They won 25-10 to force a do-or-die fifth match to decide the District 4 junior boys volleyball championship, which they also took by four points.
Afterwards the same two schools met for the senior boys crown. Norwell won 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20) for their eighth straight district title and ninth in 10 years.
“That’s what we build all of our success on: defence and hard work,” said head coach Ian Strachan. “We take a lot of pride in winning in our own gym. Nobody comes into our barn and beats us. Our guys know how to win.”
The finals were played in Palmerston on Thursday, Nov. 10 because both teams finished first in their divisions.
Both clubs advance to double-A CWOSSA held in Simcoe tomorrow (Nov. 17).
The juniors had a rockier road to their championship. After going down two games to one, they had to recuperate and return to their style of play....please read more in this weeks Minto Express