Hoops all-stars shine at Niagara College

Niagara entered the between-semesters in men’s and women’s college basketball with a split at home against Fanshawe.

They won’t be resume league play until Friday, Jan. 12, but that doesn’t mean their home court at the Athletic Centre in Welland won’t see any action in the meantime.

It will be put to good use today when the college hosts the second annual Niagara Region High School Basketball Showcase.

A doubleheader featuring 67 of the top high school players in the region gets underway with the girls game at 6 p.m. The boys game tips off at 8 p.m.

Coaches were invited to nominate players and 20 high schools from Grimsby to Port Colborne will be represented in all-star games that will be live-streamed by broadcasting, radio, television and film students at the region’s community college.

Teams for tonight’s doubleheader will be selected at random and players from the same highs school will be assigned to different teams whenever possible to add to the fun.

Showcases are intended to shine the spotlight on high school student athletes, and basketball is one of three sports the college recognizes with the ongoing initiative. Soccer and volleyball are also showcased.

Both basketball games will be streamed live at goknights.ca/ watchlive by the college’s broadcasting, radio, television and film (BRTF) program. The broadcast will feature students providing play-by-play, colour commentary, as well as in-game interviews with participants.

Split decision in hoops

Niagara defeated the Fanshawe Falcons 72-58 in men’s basketball to enter the break with a 7-3 and in sole possession of fourth place in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) West division.

The Knights won their second in a row despite not bring their A game.

“We didn’t play great as we need to play better team defence and improve our offensive efficiency, and do it for 40 minutes,” head coach Mike Hurley said.

“It was nice to beat a rival Fanshawe team heading into the long holiday and exam break.”

Van Hutchinson, 16 points, 12 rebounds; Jordon McDonald, 14 points, 10 rebounds; Jordan Wilson, 18 points, eight assists; and Levi Mukuna, 12 points, eight rebounds; were standouts for the Knights.

Head coach Mike Beccaria’s women’s team enter the break with back-to-back losses after ending a five-game winning streak.

A 75-66 setback to Fanshawe dropped the Knights, 6-4, to fifth place in the West Division.

In his post-game comments, Beccaria focused on the progress the team has made since the outset of the season rather than on the disappointing loss to Fanshawe.

“While it’s never good to lose a game, we’re taking the position that we are in good shape going into the break overall,” he said in pointing out the Knights are at the halfway point of the “marathon” that is the 20-game regular season.

“Having said that, there are certainly things that as a team we need to figure out.

“I think it ultimately comes down to improving our fundamentals, particularly rebounding and defending.”

St. Catharines native and Governor Simcoe graduate Mary Ingribelli, Fonthill native and Notre Dame alum Courtney Kilyk and Hope Brown of Mono Mills, Ont., near Orangeville, scored in double digits for Niagara netting 20, 15 and 11 points, respectively.

Unlike past years, neither team will be playing at tournaments or exhibition games against U.S. schools during the break.

The decision to forego all activities but practices was prompting by a strike by college instructors which moved final exams for the first semester to Jan. 2 to 10 from Dec. 11 to 15.

Battles for basketball bragging rights

Following are the players who have been invited to compete in the second annual Niagara Regional High School Basketball Showcase. Today’s doubleheader at Niagara College in Welland tips off with the girls game at 6 p.m. followed by the boys game two hours later:

Boys roster

A.N. Myer: Adam Lamb, Nick Murdaca, Tom Rigas-DiDomenico Denis Morris: Noah Honsberger Eden: Ryan Gilbert

Great Lakes Christian: Ezchiel Garcon

Holy Cross: Matt Ferron, Adrian Waszak

Jean Vanier: Phillippe Angervil, Jacob Labonte

Lakeshore Catholic: Isaac D’Emico, Nick Qua

Laura Secord: Evan Crai, Kiefer Sonnenberg

Notre Dame: Braidon Moore

Port Colborne: Stephen Kapellas, Baxster Pearson

St. Catharines Collegiate: Robert Smith

St. Francis: Sam Braithwaite, Juan Guerrero, Tyrell MacLennan, Jack Riddell

Saint Michael: Steven Cabrara, Dusan Krkljus

Saint Paul: Victor Kariuki, Will Schmahl, Richard Werner Sir Winston Churchill: Asim Serri

Stamford: Victor Hayes Thorold: Jacob Stirtzinger Welland Centennial: Tyler Dilts, Connor Joliffe

Girls roster

A.N. Myer: Julia Colavecchia, Tori Rigas-DiDomenico, Rosie Tait, Molly Taylor

Blessed Trinity: Mia Dipasquale Eden: Beth DeBoer, Rachel Frena, Mackenzie Schroeder, Jeniah Weins

Governor Simcoe: Hana Parkin Great Lakes Christian: Chioma Nwebube

Grimsby: Paige Epp Holy Cross: Mack Brown, Amanda Hemphill Notre Dame: Jessica Ciolfi, Kate Raso, Olivia Turko

Jean Vanier: Alex Hebert, Andrea Hebert, Morgan McAvoy, Isabelle Sinclair

Lakeshore Catholic: Isabelle Favero, Logan Tworyczuck,

Maddie Wilcox

Port Colborne: Allyce Andrews, Victoria Fraser

St. Francis: Sophia Al-Kayed, Victoria Cubelic, Erin Giroux, Abbey Ruetz

Saint Michael: Carly Ibey Stamford: Lyssa Stewart

Welland Centennial: Kirstyn Atkins, Catharine Maltais, Destiny Paquin