NSSAA: Playoff Picture Takes Shape

Article by Jeff Dertinger, Simcoe Reformer

Retrieved From: http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2436660

If the Delhi Raiders senior boys basketball team would've won yesterday, the playoff picture would've become pretty muddy.

Instead it was the Simcoe Sabres grabbing a 55-39 victory, and the picture became clear as day.

All the other pieces of the NSSAA playoff puzzle fell in place as well last night, as Waterford defeated Port Dover and Valley Heights came from behind to down Holy Trinity. That means:

* Waterford (9-0) finishes first;

* Valley Heights (6-3) is second;

* Port Dover (2-7) and Delhi (2-7) are out;

* and Simcoe (4-5) and Holy Trinity (4-5) will face each other in the final game of the regular season to determine third and fourth place.

Last night's game between the Sabres and Raiders belonged to Simcoe right from the opening tip-off. A wild and flashy first quarter, in which hardly any defence was played, ended with Simcoe up 30-17.

The home team pull away in the second quarter, as their press defence created turnovers and fast break points galore. By halftime it was 44-20 Simcoe and the game was all but over.

Delhi rallied to play much better in the second half and even out-scored Simcoe 19-11, although it came against a half-court vanilla defence for the most part. Nevertheless, Delhi did represent themselves well, moving their feet and defending their territory.

At Holy Trinity, the Titans blew a seven-point fourth quarter lead and were edged out by a single bucket, 43-41. The win by Valley Heights guaranteed their second place seeding, and was just what the doctor ordered following a mid-season slump.

Over in Port Dover, the undefeated Wolves dashed the Lakers' playoff hopes with a 66-22 drubbing. Mike Couperus and Gary Hill-Stone each poured in 22 points to lead the offensive outburst.

In junior action yesterday, the Simcoe Sabres beat Delhi 45-24 and Port Dover beat Waterford 60-30. The result of the Holy Trinity-Valley Heights junior game was not known at press time.