Weich doing double duty for Vikes

By Sean Rooney on December 13, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

It’s not uncommon for a Grade 10 basketball player to see minutes on both their junior and varsity teams, but what Niall Weich’s doing so far this season has little precedence, at least in Medicine Hat hoops.

On a Crescent Heights roster with only a couple Grade 12’s, Weich isn’t just helping the Vikings, he’s leading them in scoring — for both teams.

“He’s a heck of a shooter, and to see him being able to step up at the senior level, it doesn’t matter,” said coach Sterling Hamilton following a 98-66 home loss to WR Myers’ Rebels Wednesday. “Looking forward to watching him grow in the next two years is really exciting.”

No doubt the Vikings are a young team, and Weich isn’t being called a wunderkind. But the 6-foot-1 guard has a deadly shot, is gaining confidence each time out and doesn’t seem fazed by the tougher competition or the longer nights on the hardwood.

“I just try to go out there and shoot when I’m open, that’s basically it,” said Weich, who had 19 points in Wednesday’s varsity loss. “There’s some games I would like back but all in all I’m happy.”

The junior team also fell, 92-71 to the Rebels with Weich scoring 14 points, second for the home side behind Gavin Angstadt’s 30.

Neither coach nor player is worried about burnout, with Hamilton noting he keeps Weich for the varsity side on tournament weekends, like one in Airdrie which starts today.

Long-term, the extra game time should only help the youngster develop, or so the theory goes.

On Wednesday Weich’s offence wasn’t enough to keep his team close. They had a tough time with WR Myers’ full-court press, and Quinn Baily netted 21 for the Rebels.

On Tuesday the Vikings lost 84-70 in Brooks, the latest witnesses of the Deng Dak show.

Dak, who dropped 46 points in a win over McCoy last week, had eight of his 18 points in a 23-9 opening quarter. The lead stretched to 19 at halftime.

Chris Gilham had 25 for Crescent Heights, Weich added 17 but the poor start was too much to overcome.

In Tuesday’s junior game the Vikings won 71-59 over the Buffalos. Jeylen Ferreira-Smeed had 18 points and Weich had 16. Brayden Livingstone led Brooks with 18.

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