Myer in Review tourney final

Last night’s championship final at the Niagara Falls Review High School Boys Basketball Tournament featured two teams hoping to rebound from losses in their last gold medal games at competitions in the region.

The A.N. Myer Marauders took the court at Westlane Secondary School as the hometown hoops hopeful eager to clear two hurdles.

Unlike last year, when they lost to the Saint Paul Patriots on the last shot, the Marauders were determined to capture the “unofficial city championship for schools in Niagara Falls” this time out. Myer also wanted to avenge a four-point loss the Welland Centennial Cougars in the semifinals at the Tribune Tournament.

As was the case with the Marauders, the memory of Centennial’s last tournament final was not a happy one. The Cougars dropped a 68-60 decision to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the title game at the Trib tourney.

Centennial, one of two teams from outside of the Review ’s circulation area to compete in the twoteam, eight-team tournament, defeated the Westlane Spartans 58-51 to advance to last night’s final.

Jacob Bray and Reese Radobenko paced the Cougars in scoring with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Kennan Lamand was selected as Centennial’s player of the game.

Player of the game Christien Anderson netted 15 points for the Spartans and teammate Joaquin Zarza 14.

A 67-60 victory over the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs carried the Marauders back to the finals. Stefan Miljenovic, 18 points; and Tre Ford, Myer’s player of the game with 16; topped the Marauders in scoring.

Ryan Benevento, 26 points; player of the game Asim Semi, 18; were the top ‘Dogs for Sir Winston.

Semifinals on the B side of the brackets had the Saint Michael Mustangs grounding the Fort Erie Falcons 53-35 to advance to the consolation championship, and the Stamford Hornets getting there with a 53-50 overtime victory over the Niagara Christian Navigators.

Steven Cabrera, 15; and Dusan Krkljus, 13; topped Saint Michael in scoring. Clark Ashley’s 14 points were tops for Fort Erie.

Leading scorers for Stamford were Jeremie Elysee, 15; and Victor Hayes, 14. Brett Warkentin scored a game-high 27 for Niagara Christian and D.J. Behal contributed 12 points in the loss.

Myer headed to the final seeking its 11th title in the 39-year history of the tournament and the school’s first since 2015.

Welland Centennial’s only Review Tournament championship was in 2014.