Top-seeded Patriots clear schedule for tourney
St. Paul Patriots top seed in tournament that kicks off Friday
City bragging rights will be on the line when the 36th annual Niagara Falls Review Basketball Tournament kicks off Friday at Westlane.
A.N, Myer and Westlane will do battle in the opening game Friday at 1:30 p.m. with games going every one and a half hours until 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the consolation final will be played at 5 p.m., the bronze- medal game will go at 6:30 p.m. and the championship game will be played at 8 p.m.
Saint Paul is the top seed at the tournament and are returning after a one-year absence. The Patriots won the title in 2012 and are coming off a tournament win last weekend at the Matthew Hofland Memorial Tournament in St. Catharines.
Saint Paul decided not to attempt to qualify for this week’s Catholic Classic in St. Catharines so it would be able to play in the Review tourney.
“It’s important for our kids and important for our school,” Saint Paul coach Frank Capretta said. “We’ve played in local tourna-
It’s important for our kids and important for our school. We’ve played in local tournaments but this
is the Niagara Falls tournament.”
ments but this is the Niagara Falls tournament.”
Below are brief capsules of all the competing teams. A.N. MYER MARAUDERS Coaches: Vito DiMartino and assistant Anthony Biamonte.
Last season: 6- 2 in season shortened by teachers’ job action. Overall record of 14-6. Beat Saint Paul in the Zone 3 final, the school’s sixth straight title. Lost to Saint Paul in the SOSSA final.
League record going into exam break: 3-3.
Tournament results this season: Lost to Saint Paul in final of Bob Coull Classic.
Key player: Shooting guard Eric Marriott.
Newcomers: Three juniorage players moved up to sen- ior, including point guard Tyler Thomson, small forward Donavan Vanegas and power forward Mike Casciano.
Strengths: Good team speed and chemistry; very coachable group.
Weaknesses: Lacking in size, therefore, rebounding at both ends is an issue. CENTENNIAL COUGARS Coaches: Phil Mosley and assistant Tony Ferusi.
Key returnees: 5-foot-10 guard Mark Fehrman; 6- foot- 2 guard Rich Stayzer; 5-foot-11 guard Alex Elliot; 6-foot-5 forward Evan Roberts.
Key newcomers: Six foot guard/ forward Mike Hardy; 5- foot- 7 point guard Nick Fitzgerald.
Record last year: Lost in sem- ifinals of Zone 3 AA to Saint Michael’s. Went 16-5, including 6-0 in regular season.
Tournament results this season: Lost in semifinals of Notre Dame Tip- off to Notre Dame; made it to quarter- finals of the Waterloo Tourney; and, lost in finals of Welland Tribune tourney to Notre Dame.
Strengths: Team speed; balanced scoring. Weakness: Rebounding. FORT ERIE FALCONS Coach: Ian Longmuir. Last season: .500 in league play.
League record going into exam break: 4-1.
Key players: point guard San- tiago Maynard; power forward Connor Mitchell.
Strengths: Deliberate on offense and multiple sets on defence to confuse opponents.
Weakness: Inexperienced bench, small in numbers.