Knights swept up in winning on road
Niagara’s varsity Big Four goes 6-0 on weekend
Niagara College’s home away from home on the weekend was the win column.
Niagara’s Big Four — men’s and men’s basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball — combined to go to 6-0 on the road.
At Sault Ste. Marie, the Knights swept the Sault Cougars in doubleheaders Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.
Niagara took six of nine sets from the Bruins on the volleyball court at Sheridan College in Oakville.
Five Knights, including three starters, scored in double digits in a 116-45 dominance of the Cougars in men’s basketball.
“In the second game of a backto-back, the Knights kept a high pace and put the game out of reach early,” said head coach Phil Mosley after his team improved to 7-2 with Sunday’s win.
There was plenty of playing time to go around with all 11 Knights getting into the game for at least seven minutes. All but one scored.
“Once again, we were able to play lots of guys and work on some defensive systems, which will help us later in the season,” Mosley said.
Key contributors for Niagara: Van Hutchinson Jr., 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists; Keveshan Padachey, 22 points, off the bench; Alex Elliott, 14 points; Joe Ramos, 13 points, off the bench;
Livingston Bromwell, 11 points, 13 rebounds.
Hutchinson, 29 points, 15 rebounds; Notre Dame College School graduate Daniel Lokole, 18 points, all from beyond the threepoint arc; Ramos, 13 points; Johnnie Richardson, 12 points; stood out for Niagara in an 111-41 win Saturday night.
Mosley was pleased with the “solid team effort.”
“We played with defensive intensity and had players take advantage of extra playing time to contribute to the win.”
Niagara closes out the first half of the 20-game Ontario Colleges
Athletic Association regular season with a home game against the 5-3 Fanshawe Falcons 8 p.m. Friday at the Athletic Centre in Welland.
Three straight wins
Niagara swept the season series versus Sault College — 64-47, Saturday; 73-51, Sunday — to improve to 5-4 in women’s basketball.
“Nice to win against an improving Cougars team,” head coach Mike Beccaria said. “They’ve had some very tough games this year, playing good teams well.
“So we are pleased with the wins and also pleased with progress we’re making.”
Bridget Atkinson, a Welland Centennial Secondary School graduate and transfer from Brock University, scored in double digits in both games. She had 21 points, 10 rebounds, four steals on opening night, and 16 the following afternoon.
Alannah Yates netted 16 points in Game 1 and 17 in the rematch.
Third-year guard Rysa Delmundo led Niagara with a gamehigh 18 points Sunday.
Beccaria is pleased the Saint Michael Catholic High School graduate from Niagara Falls is starting to make a name for herself on the scoresheet.
“Rysa has struggled with injuries and is now starting to show the form and potential that we saw last season at the provincial championships.”
The coaching staff likewise is impressed with the progress
Yates has made as a rookie.
“Alannah Yates is also stating to play like we thought she could in September,” Beccaria said. “Alannah’s progress has been steady and her confidence is growing.”
Up next for Niagara is a 6 p.m. tipoff Friday against visiting Fanshawe, 7-1.
Volleyball
Niagara swept the Sheridan Bruins Sunday in Oakville to extend win streaks in both men’s and women’s volleyball to four games.
Jordan Koslowski had 18 kills, Kelsey Soules added 13 and second-year setter 37 assists for Niagara in a four-set victory: 20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23.
“The first set was a bit of slow start for us,” head coach Natasha Spaling said. “We did some good things, but ultimately unforced errors and Sheridan’s servings runs cost us too many points.”
The final three sets, she said, were a “complete team effort.”
“Everyone did their job and contributed exactly what they needed to.”
The match at Sheridan was the closest of the season for the Niagara men. After winning the opener 31-29, the Knights dropped two sets by identical 25-23 scores before rebounding with 25-23 win following by a 15-12 victory in the deciding set.
Robert Zalewski, with 16 digs; was a standout for Niagara as were Elijah Bugiardini, Jaydon Milne and Micah Nieuwets, who all finished with double-digit kills.
“We played our best volleyball in the fifth set, siding out very effectively, and I thought Ben Fillmore’s decision-making as a setter was crucial to our success,” head coach Tommy Sloan said. “We also got some huge digs from Robbie Zalewski throughout the match, and it’s great to see his game really round into form.”
The Niagara women, 5-2; and men, 4-3; close out the first half of the season by hosting the Humber Hawks on Thursday before travelling to Windsor to take on the St. Clair Saints on Saturday.