May 8, 2024 – 07:00
Three basketball players from the region stand out on the provincial scene
By: Jean-Philippe Morin
Brothers Julien and Grégoire Bilodeau as well as Scott Juteau-Strohblberger, three basketball players from the Sorel-Tracy region, have achieved great accomplishments on the provincial scene with their respective teams.
After playing for the Polypus during his high school career, Julien Bilodeau played for the Lauréats du Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe in D2 college basketball. After two decisive victories during the regional championships in Jonquière, the Laureates advanced for the first time in 14 years to the Provincial Championship which took place at the Cégep de Sainte-Foy, in Quebec, from April 19 to 21. The Laureates, however, suffered two defeats and finished seventh in the province.
His younger brother Grégoire Bilodeau, for his part, started the year with the Atome D3 team of the Collège Durocher St-Lambert Impact (CDSL) before making the jump to the youngest D2 team, the highest level of this category. In front of a noisy and partisan crowd, the youngest CDSL team lost in the provincial final against Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf by a score of 72 to 71.
Finally, Scott Juteau-Strohblberger also had a dream season with the Atome D3 Impact du Collège Durocher St-Lambert (CDSL) team – the same as Grégoire at the start of the year. The team had a perfect season with nine victories in as many games during the season. Two convincing series victories later, the Impact raised the champion banner on April 13. This 2024 vintage also won the St-Laurent tournament as well as the 40th edition of the prestigious Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf tournament which ended on April 21.
Grégoire Bilodeau was able to savor the title of this Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf tournament with his atom teammates to end his season. Both Grégoire and Scott played for the Sorel-Tracy Sonic in elementary school, on the same team as well.