GUELPH — The St. James Lions are finding life on the inside to their liking.
The Lions improved to 3-0 on the season in District 10 high school senior boys basketball following a 64-50 victory over the Lourdes Crusaders Tuesday on home court.
“We had such a height advantage and we needed to use that,” St. James coach Dan Anstett said.
The coach of the junior squad, Anstett coached the senior team Tuesday in the absence of Mike Rafter who is coaching in Bob Sharpe’s place. Rafter missed the game as his wife had an operation while Sharpe is off for health reasons.
The Lions had trouble getting their inside game clicking and led 11-10 at the end of the first quarter before falling back into a 24-24 deadlock at the end of the first half. The third quarter was all St. James as the Lions roared ahead 41-27.
Ryan Higgins led the Lions with a game-high 26 points, including 17 in the second quarter and 10 from the foul line . Sarome Peetamber and Nick Pellizzari added eight apiece.
“He can slash,” Anstett said. “He’s got the talent and when he slashes, he’s incredibly difficult for a defence to stop. He can beat his man off the dribble, and into the middle. If no-one comes up, he takes it himself. If someone takes up, he’s got a dish to a big for an easy layup. ”
Higgins felt the outing was typical for him.
“I always step up in the third quarter,” the team captain said. “I kinda let the other guys do the work in the first and second and if we need points, that’s when I usually score.
“I’ve just got to produce anywhere possible. It doesn’t have to be on the offensive end. If I have to guard a guy and put all my energy into stopping one person, that’s what I’ve have to do.”
The Crusaders hit seven threes in the game while St. James sank one. Mike Finoro scored 23 points for Lourdes while Sharieff Peru had 12.
Centennial and St. James are atop the league at 3-0 while Centre Wellington and Ross are 2-1, Bishop Macdonell and Lourdes are 1-2 and Guelph CVI and Orangeville are winless so far after three games.
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