麻豆社区

The Porter Creek Rams successfully ran the table to win the Yukon Grade 8 boys volleyball title over the weekend.

Matched up against the underdog Vanier Crusaders in the final Saturday afternoon at Porter Creek Secondary, the Rams鈥� No. 2 team bent, but did not break, eventually winning in three sets.

After the Rams took the first set 25-19, the resilient Crusaders fought back to take the second set 25-23.

After Vanier jumped to an early lead in the third set, the Rams settled down to take it 15-12, helped out by some timely spikes from Porter Creek standout Dylan Cozens.

Taking the gold medal away from the defending champion Crusaders was a special feeling, said Rams player Evyn Dinn.

鈥淚 can go brag more often now,鈥� the 13-year-old laughed post-game.

鈥淏eing first 鈥� that feeling of being on top 鈥� is the happiest one.

鈥淢ost of us came from the same elementary schools 鈥� Jack Hulland, Holy Family and Hidden Valley. We just knew how to play volleyball, I guess.鈥�

Determined鈥坒ocus and continuing to cheer each other on when they were down helped the boys rally, he said.

鈥淚n the second set, we thought we had it,鈥� Dinn admitted. 鈥淲e were getting really cocky ... we didn鈥檛 try as hard and focus. That鈥檚 what happened there.鈥�

With the game on the line, emotions flickered across players faces as each point was won or lost.

Despite the eventual final loss, Crusaders 麻豆社区Arcel Siosan was named MVP by tournament organizers. Siosan鈥檚 teammate C.J. Dumadag also put in a stellar effort.

Vanier coach Ben Craigen was proud of his group鈥檚 effort.

The Crusaders denied the host Rams an all-Porter Creek championship final after defeating the school鈥檚 No. 1 team in the semifinals. Vanier had lost to both Porter Creek teams in the round robin schedule.

鈥淭hey showed a lot of hard work and depth,鈥� said Craigen of his 12-member squad. 鈥淭hey had their shot at redemption. They definitely pulled it together.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty amazing to see how far they鈥檝e come in so little time.鈥�

Porter Creek No. 1 went on to beat the F.H. Collins Warriors in the bronze medal game. Teams from Dawson City and Haines Junction finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Rams coach Jerry Heal said the gold medal caps a great season.

鈥淭hey are some very talented young men. We had senior boys coaching them,鈥� said Heal. 鈥淲e just all pitched in. That鈥檚 how we play volleyball here.鈥�

Other members of Porter Creek鈥檚 gold medal team include:鈥圵yatt Peterson, Aidan Adel, Garrett Kline, Teegan Quail, Grayson Turner and Tristan Snooks.

Heal said the squad did endure their share of hard lessons and losses throughout the season.

鈥淪omewhere along the way, they learned focus and to stick with it, never give up on a ball,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥坈an鈥檛 lie to you. They did have a lot of raw talent.鈥�

He said both Porter Creek squads had similar talent levels.

鈥淚t was a heartbreaker,鈥� Heal said of his second squad鈥檚 semifinal loss to Vanier. 鈥淚鈥檓 very proud of both teams.鈥�