Redcoats defend home
Ridley rebounds to beat Greater Fort Erie on Day 1 of Standard tourney
Governor Simcoe Redcoats, the only top seed to host a qualifying-round game at the 57th Standard High School Boys Basketball Tournament, gave a nearcapacity crowd in their gym a lot to cheer about.
Mason MacEachern led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points as second-seeded Simcoe feasted on home cooking with a 78-27 victory over the Laura Secord Patriots, 15th seed in the field of 16.
Both teams are back on the same court for Tuesday night’s second round at the four-day tournament. Simcoe hosts the Thorold Golden Eagles, the seventh seed; in a championship quarter-final; Secord faces the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs, the 10th seed; on the B side of the bracket.
MacEachern said after losing to the eventual champion Saint Francis Phoenix in the semifinals last year, the Redcoats want to go all the way this time out.
“We want to win the tournament, that’s our goal,” the Grade 12 student said. “We’re a skilled team, we’re ready to do what it takes to win.”
He said it’s always a bonus when the Redcoats get to play a buyout game in their own gym.
“Playing on your home court, with your home fans, is a good experience,” added the secondyear senior, who was chosen player of the game for Simcoe. “It hypes you up, it just gives you good energy.”
On Monday, single A Secord was unable to match the speed and intensity of triple A Simcoe and it showed on the court — and on the scoreboard.
“We’ve got good boys, they work hard, but Simcoe? They work harder,” Patriots head coach Derek Boal said.
Secord, like all programs at this early point in the high school season, remains a work in progress. Impeding that progress with the Patriots is that turnout to practice have been inconsistent.
“Until such time that you get everybody on the same page, that’s what the score is going to be,” Boal said.
Unlike some other teams competing at the showcase, Secord’s lineup doesn’t feature anyone playing at the club level.
“They’re playing all year round,” the third-year coach said. “With me, they’re in for eight weeks and then out.”
Cal Andersen, Andrew Scott, nine points apiece; Duncan Belliveau, Max Grant, eight each; Darren Johnston, Mitch McPherson, seven each; Joe Fusek, five; Rex Hexamer, four; Moe Bentahlim, Deryck Burke, three each; Victor Hayes, two; rounded out the Simcoe scoring.
Secord scorers: Evan Craig, 12; Josh Ramnarain, six; Lucas Davidson, four; Ayden Ross, three.
Tigers 51, Gryphons 41
In a game of runs, Ridley College ran the furthest. All the way into the winner’s circle.
The Tigers jumped out to 19-7, but trailed Greater Fort Erie 26-22 heading into the second half of Standard High School Boys Basketball Tournament qualifying-round action Monday at Governor Simcoe.
Over the final two quarters it was the Tigers again earning their stripes, especially on defence. They denied the Gryphons rebound after rebound, while making the most of their scoring opportunities at the other end of the court.
Ridley head coach Mick Bett was pleased with Ridley’s intensity on defence in the final half.
“We talked about it at halftime,” he said. “We talked about how there was a big drop in intensity
in the second quarter, who wanted the loose balls more than anybody.”
Ridley, which has yet to begin league play in its conference of private schools, didn’t come into the tournament hoping to achieve a specific goal.
“It’s all about the kids having fun,” Bett said. “If we win, great, because the kids want to win; if
we lose, then we just learn from our losses and move on.
“I’ve seen too much basketball to worry about every little thing that goes on.”
Eighth-seeded Greater Fort Erie didn’t come into the game with much more experience that the ninth-seeded Tigers.
“That was our second game of the year, and it looked like our second game,” assistant coach Ian Longmuir said. “We haven’t had a lot of practice time, so it looked pretty rough on offence.
“We got beat on the boards, we don’t have a lot of height. The emphasis was on boxing out, which we didn’t do very well.”
Nolan Crawford, 19 points; Afam Akaraiwe, 13; Sisan Tuedor, 11; were top scorers for Ridley. Austin Ladouceur, Micah Stewart, Donovan Morgan paced Greater Fort Erie in points with 18, eight and five, respectively.
Ridley advances to play No. 1 seed Saint Francis for a berth in the championship semifinals, while Greater Fort Erie goes on play the Niagara Christian Navigators. Both games are at Saint Francis.
Results from other qualifyinground action: Denis Morris Reds 46, Holy Cross Raiders 40; Welland Centennial Cougars 57, St. Catharines Collegiate Saints 45; Thorold Golden Eagles 62, Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 35; E.L. Crossley Cyclone 61, Eden Flyers 49; Blessed Trinity Thunder 74, Lakeshore Catholic Gators 32.