Spotlight on hoops
Defending champion Phoenix tip off Standard High School Basketball Tournament as top seed
Will the Phoenix rise again or will the Cougars emerge as the top cats at The Standard High School Basketball Tournament next week in St. Catharines.
The defending champions St. Francis Phoenix and the Welland Centennial Cougars enter the fourday, 16-tournament seeded 1 and 2, with the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs, the reigning silver medallist, and the Governor Simcoe Redcoats ranked third and fourth, respectively.
St. Francis returns six players from the team that defeated Churchill 59-49 in the Standard Tournament final last year. Among the returnees is Jack Riddell, who was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player.
Head coach Mike McGinnis rates depth, experience and shooting as his team’s strength heading into the tournament.
As for weaknesses, the Phoenix can lose “focus at times,” he conceded.
St. Francis, which has the two biggest targets on its back as the top seed as well as the reigning champion, is “cautiously confident” on the eve of the tournament.
“There are good teams in the tournament, we need to play well,” McGinnis said. “Everyone is healthy and ready to play.”
While the Phoenix are the team to beat — and the team everyone wants to beat — the must-win nature of tournament play is motivation enough, according to McGinnis.
“We have to play well, each and every game, realizing every team wants to win,” he said. “This alone is our motivation.”
Welland Centennial, back in the
TIPOFF ACTION
Following are venues and times for qualifying-round action Monday at the 56th Standard High School Basketball Tournament:
Denis Morris Catholic High School: St. Catharines Collegiate at Denis Morris, 1:15 p.m.; Blessed Trinity at Governor Simcoe, 2:45 p.m.
Eden Secondary School: E.L. Crossley at Eden, 1:45 p.m.; Laura Secord at Welland Centennial, 3:15 p.m.
Ridley College: Holy Cross at Ridley College, 1:45 p.m.; Lakeshore Catholic at Sir Winston Churchill, 3:30 p.m.
Thorold Secondary School: Grimsby at St. Francis, 1 p.m.; Greater Fort Erie at Thorold, 2:30 p.m.
tournament for the fourth year in a row, is healthy and coming off of a championship at its Cougar Classic last week.
“It is very early in the season,” head coach Phil Mosley said. “We are hoping to get better and more confident with more games.”
The Cougars are excited to be seeded second in the prestigious tournament, “especially because we are new to this tournament and its traditions.”
The Cougars hope to nullify an overall lack of size and strength with their experience and wellbalanced scoring.
“We want to continue to test ourselves against the best in the region and certainly we hope to live up to our seeding,” Mosley said. “We take one game at a time and look past no one.
“St. Francis is very strong, and we know that they are the team to beat.
“However, any of the top seeds will be tough opponents, and we will have to play smart, tough and passionate basketball to move forward.”
Rounding out the top eight in the rankings are Denis Morris Reds, Ridley College Tigers, E.L. Crossley Cyclone and Greater Fort Erie Gryphons, Niagara’s newest high school and competing in its first Standard Tournament.
Teams were seeded by a rankings committee which received input from the coaches of the participating teams.
Action in the 56th edition of the senior boys showcase tips off with Monday with qualifying-round games at three high schools in St. Catharines and one in Thorold.
Denis Morris, Eden, Ridley College and Thorold each host two games on opening day, with Churchill, Eden, Governor Simcoe and St. Francis the sites for two games each in the quarterfinal round Tuesday.
After a day off Wednesday, the remaining action shifts to Collegiate, where all four semifinal will be played Thursday and the two finals the following night.
Only winners on Day 1 remain in contention for the overall tournament title which will be decided in the nightcap of a championship doubleheader Friday at St. Catharines Collegiate. Teams relegated to the consolation side of the bracket compete to play in the B final, Friday’s early game at Collegiate.
St. Francis was also the No. 1 seed at last year’s tournament after falling 66-49 to Ridley in the championship final in 2016.
Ridley defeated the Holy Cross Raiders 45-36 for the consolation championship last year.
Following are capsules of the 16 teams participating this year:
BLESSED TRINITY THUNDER
Number of returning players: 5 Key returning players: Patrick Alvarez, Kyle Love, Daniel Marinelli, Lewis Marinelli, Max Mosquite
Key newcomers: Spot left blank on submission form
Strength: Team defence Weakness: Spot left blank on submission form
DENIS MORRIS REDS
Number of returning players: 2 Key returning players: Michael Cassidy, Mitchell McArthur
Key newcomers: Michael Conlon, Max Grant, Noah Honsberger, Zubeer Liban
Strengths: Four starters from a strong junior team, basketball IQ Weaknesses: Youth, size
EDEN FLYERS
Number of returning players: 3 Key returning players: Ryan Gilbert, Jacob McMillan, Micah Nieuwets
Key newcomers: Charlie Edgar, Ryan Ghosh, Eddie Zhou Strength: Commitment to hard work
Weakness: Limited experience at senior level
E.L. CROSSLEY CYCLONE
Number of returning players: 5 Key returning players: Durieal Bell, Evan Dobie, Graeme McKinley, Liam Milan, Davison Shepherd
Key newcomers: Owen Dobbie, Tyler Dobbie, Ryan Dyskstra, Dalton Malaschenko, Ethan Mergl, Hayden Milan, David Nunn Strengths: Speed, ball movement, defence
Weaknesses: Offence, size
GOVERNOR SIMCOE REDCOATS
Number of returning players: 4 Key returning players: Rahim Bardi, Sean Climengage, Alex Cochrane, Darren Johnston
Key newcomers: Cal Anderson, Dainon Bango, Steve Christie, Mason MacEachern
Strengths: Experienced guards, scoring, intensity
Weakness: Slow start, defensive lapses, size
GREATER FORT ERIE GRYPHONS
Number of returning players: Not applicable, new school
Key returning players: Ethan Vannatter, Bailey Wright
Key newcomers: Joel Coopman, Austin Ladoucier
Strengths: Speed, athleticism Weaknesses: Size, depth
GRIMSBY EAGLES
Number of returning players: 2 Key returning players: Brodie Down, Nick Pagaluko
Key newcomers: Jacob Baker, Mason Thiele
Strengths: High character, team defence, transition
Weaknesses: Team offence, rebounding
HOLY CROSS RAIDERS
Number of returning players: 4 Key returning players: Sebastian Balsom, Kyle Dickson, Matt Ferron, Adrian Waszak
Key newcomers: Tinashe Dandato, Omer Omer, Patryk Solomin
Strengths: Unselfish play, communications, work ethic Weakness: Inexperience
LAKESHORE CATHOLIC GATORS
Number of returning players: 6 Key returning players: Issac D’Amico, Quinn Hill, Eric Veldman Key newcomers: Trey Moureau, Nic Qua
Strengths: Size, experience Weakness: Bench depth
LAURA SECORD PATRIOTS Number of returning players: 3 Key returning players: Hussein Al-Harazi, Devon Groves, Willie Seward
Key newcomers: Evan Craig, Nathan Pennel, Josh Ramnarain, Kiefer Sonnenberg
Strengths: Defence, ball control, team unity
Weaknesses: Rebounding, overall basketball knowledge, inexperience
RIDLEY COLLEGE TIGERS
Number of returning players: 4 Key returning players: Jaden Kidd, Kofi Osei-Opare, Dimitri Nitsopoulos, Alex Schramm
Key newcomers: A.J. Adeyemi, Kenneth Anaebonam, Alula Hilawe, Jordan Mitchell
Strength: Speed on the wings Weaknesses: Lack of a true point guard, lack of size
ST. CATHARINES COLLEGIATE SAINTS
Number of returning players: 5 Key returning players: Robert Smith, Clayton Thomas-Harris Key newcomers: Chris Ceide, Noah Melason, Ronan MacNally Strengths: Good speed, athletic Weakness: Inexperience
ST. FRANCIS PHOENIX
Number of returning players: 6 Key returning players: Sam Braithwaite, James Hughes, Tyrell McLannen, Jack Riddell Key newcomers: Mitch Demers, Igor Mbaya, Cam Van Hezcwyke Strengths: Depth, experience, shooting
Weakness: Focus at times
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
Number of returning players: Spot left blank on submission form
Key returning players: Ryan Benevento, Mo Esseri, Matt Johnston, Diego Ruiz, Asim Serri Key newcomer: Noah Garnace Strengths: Experience, speed in backcourt, solid big guys Weakness: Inexperience on the bench
THOROLD GOLDEN EAGLES
Number of returning players: 5 Key returning players: Loni Babjide, Braydon Harietha, Jake Stirtzinger, Colton Spencer, Alec Young
Key newcomers: Yvan Canlas, Cameron Klassen, Devon Maltby, Elijah Patterson
Strengths: Speed, athletic ability Weaknesses: Height, team experience
WELLAND CENTENNIAL COUGARS
Number of returning players: 7-8
Key returning players: Jacob Bray, Tyler Dilts, Connor Joliffe, Kennan Larmund, Carl Paulemont, Reese Radabenko Key newcomers: Nick Yioldassis Strengths: Solid, experience, well-balanced scoring, teamwork Weaknesses: Overall size and strength