Brantnews.com: Eagles, Trojans on Collision Course

Retrieved From: http://www.brantnews.com/sports.cfm?page=sports§ion=read&articleId=6179

By: Sean Allen

Mark Tuesday, January 5 on your calendar.

The two favourites in Brant County high school boys’ basketball are laying the groundwork for an exciting meeting when they play each other for the first time this season early in the New Year.

“I’m looking forward to that,” said North Park Trojans’ coach Todd Andrews. “It’s going to be a battle [versus St. John's].”

Andrews’ Trojans took an early 16-0 lead and rode out a 76-34 victory over the Pauline Johnson Collegiate Thunderbirds on Tuesday night.

“Really, we have so much experience on this team with a great nucleus,” said Andrews. “All I want to work hard on right now is fitness, to get the boys in mid-season form.”

Starter Tyler Johnston led the way for the Trojans with 18 points, including a pair from beyond the arc in the first quarter.

He was also 2-for-3 from the line.

Cale McDonald contributed another 12 points that included a perfect 5-for-5 showing on free throws.

Thunderbirds’ coach Joe Tice liked the attitude he saw from his team in the loss.

“I told the boys at halftime that we were down a ton, but not to give up,” said Tice. “They weren’t quitting in the second half, they played a hard game start to finish.”

Tice noted that his team is still making too many silly mistakes, and said his team turned the ball over 22 times before the half.

“That’s 22 more chances to score for them,” said Tice. “You just can’t do that.”

Meantime, the defending champion St. John’s College Green Eagles watched an enormous halftime lead get whittled away in their game with the Brantford Collegiate Institute Mustangs.

SJC led 40-17 at the half, but the Mustangs made the final score much more respectable; 64-48.

Jake Elek and Harrison Dickson scored 12 points for BCI, while Tyler Minco added seven.

St. John’s was led by the long-distance shooting of Kyle Sewell and his 13 points, followed by Matt Digout with 10.

Meanwhile, the Assumption College Lions and Paris District High School Panthers played out a nail-bitter, with the Lions prevailing 44-41 for their first win of the season.

PDHS chipped away at Assumption’s lead throughout the fourth quarter, with scores of 38-33, 40-35, and finally 44-37.

That’s when Don Harrington stepped to the free throw line with two shots and nine seconds to go.

After hitting the first bucket, Harrington missed the second but Paris got the rebound to Josh Fabe who hit a three-pointer to make the score 44-41.

Paris had one last Hail Mary chance after forcing a foul with one second left on the clock, but Cole Perry’s desperation throw from the other end of the court was far from the mark.

Assumption’s Peter Baterseh had a big game, scoring 23 points, while Brady Jonker had nine.

Assistant coach Mike Petrella said the team played better defensively.

“But we still took too many unnecessary fouls,” said Petrella. “Luckily our bench stepped up when Justin Tibideau and Brandon Howe fouled out of the game.”

For Paris, Fabe had 15 points and Harrington had 13 points which included a stellar 5-for-6 record from the line in the fourth quarter.

On Thursday, Dec. 10, the 1-1 teams in the league will battle it out at Assumption College as the Mustangs and Lions meet at 7 p.m.

The other two games feature a 2-0 squad hosting an 0-2 team as the Thunderbirds are at St. John’s at 7 p.m. and the Paris Panthers are at North Park for a matinee at 2 p.m.

FULL RESULTS:

Junior

NPC def. PJC 66-28
Trojans' top scorers - Danny Howell 11, Eric Hamilton 8, Brodie McIvor 8.
Thunderbirds' top scorers - Dylan Williams 7, Zack Benin 5, Dakota Brush 4.

SJC def. BCI 56-15
Green Eagles' top scorers – J.P. Yurrich 12, Tyler Van Leeuwen 10, Arthur Koent 8.
Mustangs' top scorers - Mackenzie Merk 8, Kolby Sakaluk 4, Branden Morley 3.

PDHS def. ACS 47-26
Panthers' top scorers - Quinn Attlebery 10, Casey Ransahai 9, Taylor Shipp 6.
Lions' top scorers - Dextor Hamilton 10, Nolan Drong 7, Wyatt Hawthorn 6.

Senior

NPC def. PJC 76-34
Trojans' top scorers - Tyler Johnston 18, Cale McDonald 12, Brandon Webster 11.
Thunderbirds' top scorers - Tyler Campbell 11, Mike Campbell 8, Tyler Thibert 7.

SJC def. BCI 64-48
Green Eagles' top scorers – Kyle Sewell 13, Matt Digout 10, Bret Burleigh 9.
Mustangs 'top scorers - Jake Elek 12, Harrison Dickson 12, Tyler Minco 7.

ACS def. PDHS 44-41
Lions' top scorers - Peter Baterseh 23, Brady Jonker 9, Paul Sobolski 3.
Panthers' top scorers - Josh Fabe 15, Don Harrington 13, Parker McIntyre 8.