SPORTS FLASHBACK 1992: Sprague basketball tradition continues

The success of the Ross L. Gray Raiders varsity girls basketball program at Sprague continues to be an amazing story, bordering on the unbelievable.

One of the smallest high schools in Manitoba, Sprague won the Manitoba High School Athletic Association ‘AA’ varsity girls basketball championship in Warren on the weekend.

There are only 14 girls attending grades 10-12 in total at the Ross L. Gray School and eight of them play on the basketball team. The Raiders had the option to compete at the MHSAA ‘A’ level for the smallest schools in the province, but instead opted to compete at the higher ‘AA’ level, as they have for the past three years.

Two years ago, the Raiders lost in the finals at the provincials, and last year, had to settle for the consolation championship.

Sprague opened this year’s tournament against Neepawa Collegiate, a school that has an enrolment of 350 students, and easily won that game 76-48, as tournament MVP Michelle Jernberg poured in 33 points.

In the second game, Sprague was up against the host team from Warren Collegiate, and came away with a 51-45 victory over the Wildcats. Melissa Hovorka was the leading scorer for the Raiders with 15 points.

The tournament final featured second-ranked Sprague against the top-ranked Boissevain Broncos, and the Raiders emerged with a 50-45 win in overtime for the MHSAA ‘AA’ championship.

The Broncos led 19-16 at the half and increased their lead to 33-23 after three quarters of play. The Raiders erased that 10-point lead by outscoring Boissevain 22-12 in the final quarter to finish regulation time deadlocked at 45.

In the overtime period, leading by two, Sprague coach John Bukich decided to have his team go for a stall with possession of the ball and go for one final shot. The tactic worked, as Melissa Hororka, who sat out the fourth quarter with an injury, came off the bench in overtime to drive the hoop with 37 seconds left, sinking the basket to give Sprague a four-point lead. Fouled on the play, Hovorka sank the free throw to extend the lead to 50-45.

Boissevain came back and rang a three-point attempt off the rim, and the Raiders were able to preserve the victory.

Michelle Jernberg was named the MVP at the provincials and Melissa Hovorka was selected to the all-star team.