CWOSSA Junior: All-Star Selections

First and foremost, my apologies for the delay.  Of course, there is a reason for it as I'm moving this week (Christa and I have purchased a place in the "Southwood area" of Cambridge). 

Anyways, here's a quick rundown of my CWOSSA junior all-stars.  Once I have a little more time, I'll update this post with some further details, highlights, etc.  Thanks for your patience during this busy time!

CWOSSA First-Team Junior All-Stars
Juwan Miller, Forest Heights (5'10" G, Grade 10)
Tim Dawson, St. John's (5'9" G, Grade 10)
Chuder Teny, Grand River ( G, Grade 10)
Chris Clouthier, St. Mary's (5'11" F, Grade 10)
Jesse Kendall, Bishop Mac (6'2" G, Grade 10)

Wildhawk U19s Take "Home" Tournament

This past weekend, the Waterloo Wildhawks U19 squad captured another tournament championship, this one being their "home" tournament, the Wildhawk Invitational.

The Wildhawks started out by defeating Blessed Sacrament #2 (who are, ironically, much better than the Blessed Sacrament #1 squad) by a 69-61 final. 

In the second round, a Tyler Schneider lay-in with :07 to play proved to be the winning points as the 'Hawks escaped with a 72-70 win over the Niagara Falls Red Raiders.

This advanced the Wildhawks to the championship final where they bested the Kingston Impact 75-65.

Stefan Cvrkalj (23 PPG) was named as the tournament's MVP while Ryan Higgins (15 PPG) was a tournament all-star.

Ben Bankazo did not play for the double-W's (say that five times fast) this weekend due to injury.

CWOSSABasketball.com's Third-Team "All CWOSSA" Selections - Senior

Again, some very tough decisions. 

Please check below for our second team and first team selections!

Upcoming posts:  CWOSSABasketball.com's Players of the Year, Junior All-Star Teams, Junior Top Rookies (Grade 9s), etc.

Here are the six all-CWOSSA third team members:

2010-11 CWOSSABasketball.com "Third Team" All-CWOSSA
Tyler Schneider, 6'1" G, RCSS/Kitchener - 4th Year
Ben Reyhani, 6'0" G, SJAM/Waterloo - 4th Year
Javon Masters, 6'0" G, Forest Hts/Kitchener - 3rd Year
Osama Qahwash, 5'9" G, GRCI/Kitchener - 5th Year
Brian Doran, 6'4" G/F, SSS/Cambridge - 4th Year
Serge Khayipangi, 6'1" G, Centennial/Guelph - 4th Year

Tyler Schneider, Resurrection CSS/Kitchener
Particulars:  6'1" PG/SG, 4th Year
Next Year:  Returning to RCSS for 5th Year

Known for his excellent shooting ability but also isn't afraid to drive the lane.  Plays both guard positions, but is more comfortable at the 2 spot which is his natural position.  He's an underrated defender, and has extremely solid fundamentals.

Schneider has been attracting some CIS interest, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him end up at a local university.  In the meantime, he'll be returning to Resurrection for a 5th year. 

Ben Reyhani, SJAM/Waterloo
Particulars:  6'0" G, 4th Year
Next Year:  Undecided

Reyhani is well-known around CWOSSA for his shooting ability.  He will fire them up from just about anywhere on the court --- for most other players these would be "bad shots" but such is his unlimited range.
He can get hot in a hurry, and finished among the leaders in "20+ performances" with 12.

Reyhani will either attend a local university next year, or return to SJAM for a 5th year.

Javon Masters, Forest Hts./Kitchener
Particulars:  6'0" G, 3rd Year
Next Year:  Returning to FHCI for Grade 12

Also a member of our "all rookie team", Masters is the first grade 11 named as an all-CWOSSA selection.

As we noted in our earlier post, he's a smooth guard who excels off the dribble, which includes his runners down the lane against taller defenders.  Look for him to continue to excel next year in the FHCI backcourt which adds Juwan Miller (on a full-time basis).

Osama Qahwash, Grand River/Kitchener
Particulars:  5'9" PG, 5th Year
Next Year:  TBD

Qahwash was initially listed as a 2010-11 recruit for Quest University (British Columbia) but instead decommitted and elected to return to GRCI for a 5th season.  It ended up being a solid choice, as he demonstrated his all-around PG skills (scoring, passing, ball handling) en route to a WCSSAA semifinals appearance.

His best game of the year was in the QFs against Bluevale where he nailed a buzzer-beating three pointer while fading out of bounds.  This was one of his 8 three-pointers on the evening.

Brian Doran, Southwood
Particulars:  6'4" G-F, 4th Year
Next Year:  TBD

Didn't get a lot of recognition as a result of SSS's down year this season, but was a consistent threat that had to be accounted for in Southwood's games.  He has size (6'4" with bulk) and ability to shoot from deep.

He was the only CWOSSA player to hit for two 30+ games on the same day ---- at the SBCSS 32-team tournament, he poured in 30 points in a first-round win over Richmond Hill and followed that up with 32 against Resurrection in a second-round loss.

Serge Khayipangi, Centennial
Particulars:  6'1" G, 4th Year
Next Year:  TBD

Khayipangi took advantage of his increased role in the Spartans' offense this past season, as he helped guide them to yet another CWOSSA appearance.

He's extremely athletic, and is a superb penetrator and finisher at the rim ---- he uses the glass very well in those efforts. 

If he returns to CCVI for a 5th season, he'll be among the top 3-4 players in the league.



CWOSSABasketball.com's Second-Team "All-CWOSSA" Selections - Senior

Note:  The First Team selections are in the post directly below this one.

We'll keep things going here in our 'year end wrap-up' with our Second Team All-CWOSSA selections.  Some more notable names that have left their mark on CWOSSA hoops this past season, who come from all 4 major leagues (didn't plan it out that way - but nice to have some representation).  Here they are:

2010-11 CWOSSABasketball.com "Second Team" All-CWOSSA
Mike Pereira, 6'4" F, Resurrection/Kitchener - 4th Year
Ben Bankazo, 6'1" G, St. Mary's/Kitchener - 5th Year
Edem Ame, 6'0" G/F, SJAM/Waterloo - 4th Year
Cale McDonald, 6'1" G, North Park/Brantford - 5th Year
Mike Finoro, 6'0" G, Lourdes/Guelph - 4th Year

Mike Pereira, Resurrection CSS (Kitchener)
Particulars:  6'4" SF/PF, 4th Year
Next Year:  Returning to RCSS for 5th Year

Continues to make huge strides in his development --- not bad for a kid who didn't start a game at the junior level.  When he steps out on the court, he's generally good for double-digit points and rebounds.  He's 6'4" but has a wingspan that's probably the equivalent of someone 6'6" - 6'7".  Although no official stats are kept, I'd assume that he's among the CWOSSA leaders in blocked shots and offensive rebounds.  With regards to the latter, he always seems to be able to find a way to "vacuum" in the ball on the offensive glass, and has great soft hands around the rim.  Of course, he can also finish with authority, having put home several "and one" dunks during the season.

His overall skill was on display in the D8 championship game this past year, where he put home 20 points and 10 rebounds (including a key offensive rebound/putback in OT) to help RCSS to the victory.  Not to be outdone is his ability to get things done in the clutch.  His last second layup against St. Mary's in the aforementioned D8 finals forced OT, while a three-pointer in the waning seconds of a QF game in the SBCSS tournament against (eventual OFSAA AA #2) St. Basil from SSM forced OT.

I expect him to be a big recruiting target among CWOSSA players next season.

Ben Bankazo, St. Mary's HS (Kitchener)
Particulars:  6'1" SG, 5th Year
Next Year:  Graduating (interest from Fanshawe, Guelph and Toronto)

Through the roof athleticism --- that's one way to describe his game.  He had (arguably) the block of the year in the D8 finals on Resurrection high-riser Cam Gibbs when he met him ABOVE THE BACKBOARD for an (at the time) game-saving block.

Like so many on this list, he's continued to improve his game throughout his career.  He's got great range out past the three-point line, but you can't get up on him too much thanks to his quick first-step.  He particuarly excels in a fast-paced, up and down game, and came through with some great performances against "upper tier" competition --- 28 against JC Richardson in the Heinbuch, 20+ against Anderson CVI, Bluevale and ACMT among others.

Some of those key performances have put him on the recruiting map for several schools.  He's received some post-secondary interest from Fanshawe, Toronto, and Guelph so we definitely haven't seen the last of his talent on the hardwood.

Edem Ame, SJAM (Waterloo)
Particulars:  6'0" G/F, 4th Year
Next Year:  TBD (will attend university)

There have been a bunch of great Edem Ame moments in his senior career at SJAM over the past couple of years, but I think the one that will resonate the most with many CWOSSA fans (myself included) will be his "beast mode" performance in this year's WCSSAA semifinals where he poured in 27 points and hauled in 13 rebounds to help his #3 Highlanders upset the #2 FHCI Trojans by a 61-56 final in OT.

One of the best "inch for inch" rebounders & shot blockers that I've seen, a testament to his athletic ability.  On the offensive end, that athleticism is on display with his ability to make some tough twisting & turning shots in the lane (again, allowing him to succeed against taller opposition) but he's just as comfortable spotting up from mid-range or the three-point line.

Ame finished the season by being named as a first-team WCSSAA all-star selection.

Cale McDonald, North Park CVS (Brantford)
Particulars:  6'1" G, 5th Year
Next Year:  Toronto, York, and Laurier have shown interest

This heady 5th-year guard helped guide the Trojans to their second consecutive OFSAA "AAA" appearance this season. 

He has great shooting ability (and I'm talking "parking-lot" range) and is able to combine that with his game sense to essentially take games over.  In the CWOSSA semifinals against St. David, he drew a foul on a three-point attempt with the game tied at the end of the third quarter.  He would go on to knock in four threes in the final 8:00 stanza to help the Trojans advance.

It's an obvious statement that he'll be missed by the Trojans next year.  That being said, this Brant County all-star selection/MVP has a bright future ahead; he's received CIS interest from a handful of schools mentioned above. 

Mike Finoro, Our Lady of Lourdes HS (Guelph)
Particulars:  6'0" G, 4th Year
Next Year:  TBD; may return to OLOL for 5th year

Excellent shooter who can get things going in a hurry.  Named as the D10's MVP this past season, and helped guide Lourdes to their first OFSAA appearance in over five years and their first OFSAA win in school history.

As I mentioned in my previous article about his MVP honours, he's a prolific scorer but doesn't just rack up the points against the weaklings --- he scored at least 22 points against all of the other top squads (St. James, Ross and Centennial).

He's a solid ball-handler and will be a solid PG at the CIS level.  Though he has received some interest from several schools thus far, he remains undecided about his plans for next year ---- if he returns, Lourdes would appear to be the "on paper" favourites to retake the AA CWOSSA crown.

CWOSSABasketball.com's First-Team "All-CWOSSA" Selections - Senior

Note:  This is the first installment of the series.  The "second and third" teams (along with junior selections & a shoutout to our CWOSSA junior & senior "players of the year") will be detailed in further posts.

Without further ado, here we go:

2010-11 CWOSSABasketball.com "First Team" All-CWOSSA
Stefan Cvrkalj, 6'4" G, Bluevale/Waterloo - 5th Year
Amjed Osman, 5'8" G, Cameron Heights/Kit. - 4th Year
Ryan Higgins, 6'4" F, St. James/Guelph - 5th Year
Alex Thompson, 6'1" G, St. Mary's/Kitchener - 4th Year
Shamlo Saeed, 5'10" G, JF Ross/Guelph - 4th Year

Stefan Cvrkalj, Bluevale Collegiate (Waterloo)
Particulars:  6'4" PG/SG, 5th Year
Next Year:  NCAA D-1, Lehigh University

The 2010 Mike Moser (WCSSAA MVP) award winner saw his 2010-11 season get off to a "slow start" (from his perspective; he was still putting up 20+ with regularity) as he made his way back to full-strength from some (minor) nagging injuries.  In fact, the Knights held him out of several early-season tournaments to aid in the recovery.

He poured in 27 points in a Silver Fox upset win over (eventual OFSAA AAAA 4th place finishers) Father Henry Carr from Toronto.  During a two-week stretch in February, he was getting close to being back to 100% and posted three 30+ efforts, against pretty solid competition (32 - North Park, 30 - ECI, 30 - Grand River).  Unfortunately for him, his career ended with an upset loss at the hands of Grand River in the WCSSAA quarterfinals. 

Along with his usual slew of tournament all-star awards, he's received some recognition from all kinds of sources.  He was ranked as the #4 overall SG among all Canadians (here or in prep schools) by flagrantfouls.com, and was recently annointed as a "first-team" all-Ontario performer and a "second-team" all-Canadian performer by thehoop-la.com.  Pretty impressive stuff.

He leaves CWOSSA-area hoops as one of the top handful of players that the region has seen in the past decade.

Alex Thompson, St. Mary's HS (Kitchener)
Particulars:  6'1" SG, 4th Year
Next Year:  Returning to SMHS for 5th Year

The athletic Eagle shooting guard starting getting some major (scouting) attention after his early-season Heinbuch performance against one of the top-ranked schools in the province, JC Richardson (Ajax).  Though he hit for 20+ in that one, he also "successfully harassed one of the best shooters in the province, Aaron Redpath" (Flagrant Fouls).

That may not have even been his best game of the year, as he pumped in 28 points against Anderson CVI, one of the top teams in the province (AAA Gold medalists) with the Eagles leading most of the way only to fall by 1 point in that one.

Thompson excels in the up-tempo Eagle offense and would be well suited in such a program at the next level.  Though he's only 6'1", he has an excellent step-back jumper and ability to create space to get his shot off against taller defenders.

Shamlo Saeed, John F. Ross CVI (Guelph)
Particulars:  5'10" PG, 4th Year
Next Year:  Returning to JFR for 5th Year

Quickness --- that's the one thing most people think about when they think about Shamlo Saeed.  He's an absolute gym rat (when he was a junior, I'd see him constantly shooting hoops after school as I helped a teacher-friend of mine coach the Ross junior girls team) and has consistently improved his game over the past several seasons.

He's not going to put up huge numbers as he's more of a "pass first" PG (no 20+ efforts in league play) but he has the rare ability to make those that he plays with better.  With tremendous leadership abilites, a solid shot from outside (he's great shooting off the dribble as well) and outstanding quickness, we can expect to see him being recruited by a number of CIS schools next season ---- as he and his Royals seek a third consecutive OFSAA appearance.

Amjed Osman, Cameron Heights Collegiate (Kitchener)
Particulars:  5'8" PG, 4th Year
Next Year:  "Likely" university but hasn't ruled out returning

Talk about somebody that blew up over the course of this season.

Osman came in to the year as a solid talent, and left this year as one of the best players in CWOSSA.  He also provided arguably the most memorable CWOSSA moment, with a killer crossover in the WCSSAA finals that has garnered nearly 3000 total views (if you include the multiple versions) on YouTube.

Much like Saeed, he's not going to light up 20+ efforts every night (of course, with an offensively stacked team like Cameron he doesn't have to) but is a consistent double-double threat and for a 5'8" guy, has a knack for grabbing some boards too (9 assists & 4 rebounds in the WCSSAA championship game, for instance).

He garnered some increased attention at the OFSAA championships where he was referred to as a "hidden gem" by some of those in attendance.  Despite his size, he's all heart and has the ability to make a difference for a squad at the college or university level.

Ryan Higgins, St. James CHS (Guelph)
Particulars:  6'4" SF, 5th Year
Next Year:  CIS, University of Victoria (BC)

Ryan Higgins graduates from St. James this year as one of the more versatile players in Ontario.

Though you think of him as a scorer (six 20+ efforts in D10 play), he consistently impressed this year by showcasing the other assets of his game (like tremendous passing, for instance) at every occasion.  These things weren't lost on the coaching staff of his soon-to-be school, the University of Victoria Vikes.

"Obviously Ryan has a big upside. He is in position to be a very good CIS player with great flexibility - he's a 6-foot-4, six-foot-five guard who can play positions one to three or maybe even a four depending on what we are playing," Victoria head coach Craig Beaucamp noted.

I'll agree.  He's a smooth, heady player and was a pleasure to watch during his time at St. James. 

CWOSSA Year-End Wrap Up: Mark's CWOSSA "All-Rookie Team" (Senior Edition)

Note:  This list is for those players who were playing their first year of Senior basketball this past season.  Also, players must have been in their first "senior eligble" season (i.e. no grade 12s who didn't play in grade 11).

I've listed them below, and then added some detailed descriptions further down:

First Team
Sean Samuel, Huron Heights/Kitchener
Vedran Dmitrovic, Cameron Heights/Kitchener
Mike Friesen, JF Ross/Guelph
Javon Masters, Forest Heights/Kitchener
Adam Voll, St. Mary's/Kitchener

Second Team
Jacob Ranton, Waterloo CI/Waterloo
Cory Kenning, Resurrection CSS/Kitchener
Josh Johnson, Holy Trinity CSS/Simcoe
Marco Zanette, Centre Dufferin/Shelburne
Filip Cvrkalj, Grand River/Kitchener

Third Team
Carlo Zanette, Centre Dufferin/Shelburne
Wes Meertens, Preston HS/Cambridge
Erik Sterne, Centennial CVI/Guelph
Adam Anagnostopoulos, Waterloo CI/Waterloo**
Quinn Turner, SJAM/Waterloo**

** - Grade 10

First Team

Sean Samuel, 6'0" PG/SG - HHHS, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Scored 43 points in a league-game against Southwood which (eventually) helped propel the Huskies to their first WCSSAA senior playoff berth in school history.
Notes:  Pure scorer who didn't miss a beat by coming up to the senior level.  Had a couple 40+ efforts, including 44 against Lo-Ellen Park (Sudbury) in the SBCSS tournament which helped him snag a tournament all-star team spot.

Vedran Dmitrovic, 6'0" SG - CHCI, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Not his highest scoring effort by any means, but had 13 points (including a clutch 3 point buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter that broke a deadlock entering the 4th quarter) in the WCSSAA championship final against SJAM.
Notes:  Deadly shooter from outside but an underrated defender, especially his on-ball defense.  Key member of the WCSSAA & CWOSSA champions' starting lineup. 

Adam Voll, 6'5" SF/PF - St. Mary's HS, Kitchener
Grade: 11
Key Game: Hit for 19 points and missed only one shot (7-8 FG, 5-5 FT) off the bench as the Eagles passed a big early-season test at the Knights-Vikes shootout by blasting Waterloo SJAM 63-40.
Notes:  Arguably one of the "highest ceilings" among the grade 11s.  Super athletic and with some work could be headed south of the border.  Terrific length on the defensive end and has a great mid-range game for a 6'5" guy. 

Mike Friesen, 6'3" SG - JF Ross CVI, Guelph
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Paced the Royals with a 16-point performance as they defeated the Centennial Spartans 65-45 in this year's D10 final.
Notes:  Already with a "CIS body", Friesen is a great catch-and-shoot three-point shooter.  However, he isn't afraid to work with his back to the basket or to get into it on the interior.  Should continue to see his role expand next year on one of the deepest teams in CWOSSA.

Javon Masters, 6'0" PG/SG - Forest Hts., Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Had a season-high 28 point performance against the WCI Vikings --- all of which were needed as the Trojans held off the Vikes by one in that game.
Notes:  Smooth guard who excels shooting off the dribble, or hitting runners down the lane over taller defenders.  We continue to see improvement from Masters, so definitely another kid to keep an eye on. 

Second Team

Filip Cvrkalj, 6'3" SG/SF - Grand River, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Cvrkalj netted 26 points in a first-round playoff win over Galt Collegiate.
Notes:  Started really coming on at the end of the year, despite being part of a crowded backcourt (Osama Qahwash, Brodi Verbiski, etc.) with only so many shots to go around.  Has a nice ability to get his shot off with a defender in his face, and continues to make strides towards a post-secondary basketball opportunity (he's already been receiving some CIS interest).

Cory Kenning, 6'6" PF/C - Resurrection, Kitchener
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Without Andrew Mwangi in the lineup, Kenning led the Phoenix with 12 points (including a couple of clutch late-game jumpers and free-throws) as the Phoenix defeated FHCI 52-46 in the championship game of the SBCSS 32-team tourney.
Notes:  Due to his size, he could be one of CWOSSA's prized recruits among the current crop of grade 11s.  Like SMHS' Adam Voll above, Kenning can solidly hit the 15 to 17 foot jumper and has a great touch around the basket.  Should see some further minutes next year with the departure of Andrew Mwangi.

Jacob Ranton, 6'5" SF - WCI, Waterloo
Grade: 11
Key Game: Pumped home 21 points against Mississauga Loyola CSS to help the Vikes on their path to advancing to the consolation final at the 32-team Cambridge St. Benedict Tournament.
Notes:  Nice size for a guard/forward, deep range on his three-pointer (out to several feet past the line).  Length can give people fits as well.

Josh Johnson, 6'1" PG - Holy Trinity CHS, Simcoe
Grade:  11
Key Game:  With his team trailing 15-9 at halftime of a tournament game against College Ave. (Woodstock), Johnson (who was scoreless in the first half) put his team on his back by pumping home 30 points and 8 steals in the second half en route to a 49-22 win.  Johnson went on a personal 14-0 run during that second half.
Notes:  We don't see a lot of him here in K-W, but is a member of the Wildhawks U17 club.  Solid guard who should have no problem tearing things up in Simcoe-area next season.

Marco Zanette, 6'2" F - CDDHS, Shelburne
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Knocked in 27 points in an important league win over rival Westside SS.
Notes:  A "men's league player", and I say that as a compliment.  It means he's fundamentally sound, knows what to do when he has the ball, and that he's not going to back down from you.

Third Team

Carlo Zanette, 6'2" F - CDDHS, Shelburne
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Had several 20+ performances, including a 23-point effort against Norwell.
Notes:  Very similar to Marco in terms of build and style.  These two should continue to resurrect CDDHS hoops over the next year or two; keep in mind they won CWOSSA as juniors so an OFSAA appearance isn't out of

Wes Meertens, 6'0" SG - Preston HS, Cambridge
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Put up 19 points against the KCI Raiders, a crucial win as it helped turn the Panthers' season around (ending in a CWOSSA berth).
Notes:  Sleek-shooting guard with a lightning-quick release.  Doesn't get a lot of attention playing south of the 401, but look for his numbers to continue to blossom over the next month or so.

Quinn Turner, 6'5" PF - SJAM, Waterloo
Grade:  10
Key Game:  Turner scored 22 points as the Highlanders held off an early season test from the Grand River Renegades.
Notes:  Only in grade 10, so still has a lot of development potential.  Solid offensive rebounder and good finisher on the interior. 

Adam Anagnostopoulos, 6'0" PG - WCI, Waterloo
Grade:  10
Key Game:  Spurred the Vikes offensively (20 points) and defensively in a near-upset of the Forest Heights Trojans during league play at home.
Notes:  Thrown into the fire as the Vikes' starting PG and has great court vision and distribution ability.  Only in grade 10, so like Turner should continue to improve dramatically over the next few years.

Erik Sterne, 6'0" SG - Centennial CVI, Guelph
Grade:  11
Key Game:  Scored 21 points in an early season tournament game against eventual CWOSSA champion Cameron Heights.
Notes:  One of the top three-point shooters in CWOSSA, but has furthered his all-around game which helped the Spartans surprise a few pundits (including yours truly) en route to yet another CWOSSA appearance this season.

Cvrkalj Makes Jim Thomas' All-Canadian Selections

Graduating Bluevale Collegiate guard Stefan Cvrkalj hasn't stopped racking up the accolades just yet.

In a report out today on basketball website thehoop-la.com by Jim Thomas, Cvrkalj was named as a second-team All Canadian selection, and first-team "All-Ontario" selection.

Cvrkalj wasn't done there, as he was named as one of Thomas' "all-academic" team selections as a result of his basketball skills and his 94% academic average.

Meanwhile, Guelph St. James' Ryan Higgins also received some recognition as he was named as a third-team "all-Ontario" selection.

Cvrkalj (Lehigh University/NCAA) and Higgins (University of Victoria/CIS) will both be playing post-secondary basketball while pursuing their studies starting next fall.

The full list is at the link above, but here are the teams involving our CWOSSA representation:

All-Canadian Second Team
C Braxton Bunce 6'10" Kelowana/Kelowana, BC - Jr.
G Stefan Cvrkalj 6'4" Bluevale/Kitchener, ON - Sr.
G Dyshawn Pierre 6'5" Anderson H.S./Whitby, ON - Sr.
G Joe Deciman 6'4" LeBoldus H.S./Regina, SK - Jr.
G Justin Edwards 6'2" Anderson H.S./Whitby, ON - Sr.

All-Ontario First Team
F Andrew Wiggins 6'7" Vaughn H.S. Thorhill
F Dyshawn Pierre 6'5" Anderson H.S. Whitby
G Stefan Cvrkalj 6'4" Bluevale H.S. Kitchener
G Justin Edwards 6'2" Anderson H.S. Whitby
G Kevin Pangos 6'1" Dr. Dennison H.S. Newmarket

All-Ontario Third Team
F Rotimi Osontola 6'5" Holy Names H.S. Windsor
F Joe Rocca 6'3" St. Christopher's H.S. Sarnia
F Ryan Higgins 6'4" St. James H.S. Guelph
G Sean Stoqua 5'10" Sacred Heart H.S. Ottawa
G Mike L'Africain 5'11" Loyola H.S. Oakville

Mark's CWOSSA Year End Wrap-Up: The "CWOSSA Quandary"

Mark's note:  This opinion piece is the first installment in my year-end "wrap up" series which will also include a look at all-CWOSSA teams, etc.
------
When you discuss CWOSSA basketball with coaches, players, fans and parents, one thing that always seems to draw some discussion on a yearly basis is the CWOSSA format, particularly at the "AAAA" level where it revolves around pool-play.

I'll be honest, I've always been a big fan of the "8 team one-and-done" tournament, so I'll get that bias out of the way early. 

That being said, according to the CWOSSA regulations, this isn't a possibility right now at AAAA.  There are currently only 17 "AAAA" schools, and 18 are required to have an 8-team tournament.  Of course, there's a couple schools with budding populations who may soon make the jump to Quad-A, but let's go with what we know for now as the 6-team CWOSSA tourney.

The six-team tournament first started in the 2006-07 season, as a result of the changing structure (read: fewer teams) in AAAA (for instance, KCI dropping down to "AAA" due to a population shift with many students in the Westvale area now attending SJAM).  Up until this point, there was an 8-team tournament with 6 "set teams" and two wild-card entries.

Nowadays, with the 6-team tournament, it's only "set teams" --- 2 from D10, 2 from WCSSAA, 1 from D8 and 1 from the D5 league that form two three-team pools.  In my opinion, this is the first weakness of the pool system.

As we know, high school basketball is cyclical and certain leagues in certain years will be stronger than others.  I think it's fair to say that the senior St. Mary's Eagles (D8) would have probably been one of the top 2 or 3 teams heading into CWOSSA, but only one rep (Resurrection) came out of the D8 league.

Now, I'm not advocating on behalf of the D8, as there are years when other leagues will get the "short end of the stick" as well.  For instance, when I played at Bluevale in grade 10, our team went undefeated in WCSSAA as the champions of the league.  At CWOSSA, we were a #5 seed --- behind even a wild-card entry from Guelph (in other words, 3 of the top 4 teams --- St. James, JF Ross and Guelph CVI --- were Guelph schools that year).

In the 2005 CWOSSA tournament, the top 4 schools were all from WCSSAA.  In this year's format, 2 of those schools wouldn't even make the tournament.  Etc., etc.....

Other weaknesses have become evident in recent years.  This past year, you had Cameron Heights resting players in their second pool game against Resurrection.  Not against the rules by any means, and it obviously ended up working out in their favour, but definitely not the most "bang for the buck" to those that had paid $3 or $5 for entry anticipating a great battle between the region's top two CWOSSA entries.

Speaking of which, the rigidity of the CWOSSA schedule is another "issue".  As it stands now, the pools are set-up with WCSSAA #1, D8 #1 and D10 #2 in "pool A" and D10 #1, WCSSAA #2, and D5 #1 in "pool B". 

The last three years in AAAA junior, both finalists have come out of "Pool A", which really "shouldn't happen" to that degree.  However, WCSSAA and D8 have had strong junior teams over the past several years.    

Before I get to my "wish list", I will agree that there are certain benefits to the pool system.  Generally, the best teams will qualify for the semifinals, as if a top team has an "off game" in their first game, they can still have a chance to get through with a strong performance in their second outing.  

In addition, steps have been taken to ensure that the schedules are now rotated in a fair and equitable manner.  In odd numbered years, D8 #1 and D5 #1 will get the schedule with the most rest, while WCSSAA #1 and D10 #1 will get that benefit in even-numbered years.

My Thoughts
The purpose of this post isn't to trash CWOSSA in any way, but hopefully for those involved to begin some discussions with the end result being the best possible "AAAA" championship possible.

As such, I have 2 possible suggestions:

#1 - This suggestion would see the current format (6 fixed teams) remain the same.  However, teams would be 'ranked' with the pools adjusted/balanced accordingly.  So, for example, teams #1, #3 and #6 would be in "pool A" while teams #2, #4 and #5 would be in "pool B". 

The purpose of this would be to account for years where one league is particuarly strong (or weak).  For instance, if the top two teams one year were both WCSSAA schools, they would be the top seeds in the respective pools.

#2 - This suggestion would see the format of the tournament changed.  Although 6 teams (and two pools) would remain, 4 teams would be "fixed teams" (#1 from each of the four leagues - WCSSAA, D8, D5 and D10) with the remaining 2 spots "wild card entries" to the best non-qualifiers.

This would account for the cyclical "power imbalance" that certain leagues may have --- and is not restrictive.  For instance, some years there may be 3 WCSSAA teams or 3 D10 teams that would earn the spots.......this year, you probably would have seen St. Mary's getting one of the two spots with Forest Heights, Grand River or Centennial taking the other. 

Most likely, teams would need to be ranked in such a scenario, with a similar pool set-up to the one described above.

Conclusion
There are always pluses and minuses to every championship format and composition --- even the ones I've described above as suggestions.  However, it is my opinion that we need to be consistently looking for ways to improve all championships and ensuring their success.  The goal, naturally, would be to ensure that the best teams, regardless of league affiliation, are playing in late February, and in a tournament that is flexible to adapt to the year-to-year "changes in power" among leagues.

End of Year CWOSSA Wrap-Up

Stay tuned for the end-of-year CWOSSA wrap-ups, which will start in the next few days.

We'll cover all of the burning "end of year" questions including:

1.  My "All-CWOSSA" team (both junior & senior)
2.  My "All-CWOSSA" rookie team (seniors only)
3.  A top "5-10" prospects in this year's class, as well as in future years.  We'll try to get some detailed info to see who is planning on coming back, who's on the fence, and who is gone for sure among our grade 12s.

In addition, there will be a couple of opinion pieces.  Generally, these will be relating to the "much discussed" issues throughout the season, or things that I've received a lot of feedback on.

Enjoy!

Waterloo Wildhawks U17 Take Luke Santi Memorial Tournament

Looks like the Wildhawk U19's weren't the only team with CWOSSA reps to have some success this past weekend.

The Wildhawk U-17 squad also was victorious in their division at the annual event, rolling through three squads handily on route to the title.

The 'Hawks defeated the SNF (Hamilton) Eagles 85-36, the London Ramblers (74-51) and the KW Vipers (78-50) along the way.

Also, this past Tuesday night, in a match-up of total CWOSSA-based rosters, the Wildhawks U17’s defeated Guelph CYO 65-49.

Next Tuesday, April 12th, at 7:30 (RIM Park in Waterloo) the Wildhawks will take on the Oakville Venom U17’s, last year’s OBA Division #1, Major Midget Gold Medal winners. These teams will be D1 U17 contenders once again this year.

In an earlier match up, at Holy Trinity in Oakville, the Wildhawks lost to the Venom by a score of 61 to 56. In a bizarre turn events, the Wildhawks lost starters Vedran Dmitrovic and Juwan Miller to injury in the first quarter. Vedran took stitches to the head while Juwan required staples to close the gash in his scalp.

With an eight player bench, the Wildhawks held the game at 59 to 56 for the Venom with seconds remaining, but were forced to foul in order to get possession.

If you enjoy great basketball, it should be a good game to check out.
 
Members of the team are:
Jacob Ranton (WCI)
Theshawn Berry (SJAM)
Sean Samuel (HHHS)
Vedran Dmitrovic (CHCI)
Javon Masters (FHCI)
Josh Johnson (Holy Trinity/Simcoe)
Malcolm Piazza (WCI)
Filip Cvrkalj (GRCI)
Juwan Miller (FHCI)
Cory Kenning (RCSS)
Adam Voll (SMHS)
Chris Thompson (WODSS)

Senior Highlights: Central Arkansas' Imad Qahwash (ex-GRCI)

Here is a video montage from the senior season of Imad Qahwash (Grand River '06).  Qahwash played four years at the University of Central Arkansas, and had his best season this past campaign where he averaged 12.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.1 SPG.

Despite a new head coach at UCA (ex-NBAer Corliss Williamson), the Bears stumbled to a 5-24 mark, including a 1-11 record in conference play. This was UCA's first season as a "full" member of NCAA Division I (having completed a 5-year probationary transition period).

That win-loss record being said, they did have some shining moments, including a close 76-73 loss to Big XII school Oklahoma back in late December on the road in Norman, OK.  Qahwash led the Bears with 15 points in that one and earned some props from OU coach Jeff Capel in the post-game handshakes.

And, others definitely took notice. Qahwash recently signed with a pro agent, and is looking at several opportunities to play professional basketball overseas.

Anyways, here's a look at the former Grand River star:

D10: Finoro Captures D10 MVP Award

Mike Finoro, the prolific scorer from Our Lady of Lourdes CHS, was awarded the D10 MVP award during ceremonies at the D8/D10 all-star game last week.

Finoro beat out a couple of other excellent players from teams that finished higher in the D10 standings, including Ryan Higgins (St. James) and Shamlo Saeed (JF Ross).  However, it can be argued that Finoro was indeed the "most valuable" to his team --- Lourdes would have been in trouble without him holding down their backcourt, especially once rookie guard Chris Watson went down to injury early in the season.

Finoro helped the Crusaders to their first "AA" OFSAA appearance since the 2004-05 season, a moment that he described as the highlight of the season.  Lourdes picked up a victory up in North Bay, which registered as the school's first-ever OFSAA win.

"It was something I hadn't experienced and a goal we had from the beginning of the year; to accomplish that goal and get Lourdes' first ever OFSAA victory was quite sweet," said Finoro.

"It was a culmination of all the hard work we put in and improvements we made as the season went on," he added.

The Crusaders definitely improved during the season, as they gave the eventual D10 champion JF Ross Royals all they could handle during their semifinal game before falling by 2 (Lourdes actually held a double-digit lead at one point).  

At OFSAA, the Crusaders held a 34-22 halftime lead over #2 St. Basil of Sault Ste. Marie before falling in the second half.

Considering the relative level of youth on the Lourdes roster, this could mean some big things if Finoro decides to return next year for a 5th year of high school.

At this point, however, Finoro remains undecided about his plans for next season --- but he hasn't yet ruled out returning to Lourdes for a 5th year.

Congratulations, Mike!

Wildhawks U19 Capture Luke Santi Memorial Crown

The Waterloo Wildhawks U-19 team took home the Luke Santi Memorial Tournament this weekend, after completing a grueling 5-game weekend schedule with a perfect 5-0 record.

The Wildhawks, whose roster is almost entirely comprised of CWOSSA players, defeated the Whitby Wildcats, Blessed Sacrament, Kingston, London Ramblers, and the "host" KW Vipers en route to the title.

From left to right:  (Top Row) - Doros Theodosiou (Head Coach), Dan White (Coach), Perrin Smith (Bluevale CI), Matt Nelson (Peterborough), Ryan Higgins (St. James), Ian Farquharson (Bluevale CI), Amjed Osman (Cameron Heights CI), Tyler Schneider (Resurrection CSS), Ben Boucher (Coach), Andrew Beney (Coach).  (Bottom Row): Srdjan Stanivuk (Forest Heights CI), Stefan Cvrkalj (Bluevale CI), Fraser Voll (Bluevale CI).

Note - missing from the picture are Ben Bankazo (St. Mary's), Tyson Lavigne (St. David), and Isaac Lance (St. Mary's).

Achonwa & Irish Upset UConn to Make Women's NCAA Final

There's a reason why they play the games.

Although UConn had defeated Notre Dame on three previous occasions this season, it was the Irish who used a 15-4 second half run to seize control of a wide-open game; they eventually held on for a 72-63 victory over the Huskies in women's Final Four play on Sunday evening to advance to the championship final.

Former Guelph Centennial star Natalie Achonwa (a freshman) didn't look out of place in her first Final Four, as her stat line read 4 points (2/4 FG), 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist and 1 turnover in 22 minutes of action.

Achonwa tweeted after the game:  "(t)hank you to all of those who didn't believe we could do it....you've made this win SO MUCH sweeter."

Needless to say, there were a fair number of people who probably didn't believe the Irish could do it.  The Huskies had won 24 games in a row after dropping a game to Stanford by 2 earlier in the season (which ended an NCAA-record 90 game win streak).  So, that works out to 114 wins in 115 games for UConn's women's team.

Speaking of Stanford, the other #1 seed was also upset by a #2 seed in the semifinals.  Stanford dropped a 63-62 decision to #2 Texas A&M, setting up what seemed like a very unlikely final heading into the tournament.

The championship final goes Tuesday evening in Indianapolis, where there will undoubtedly be a lot of love for the Irish.  Conseco Fieldhouse is about 145 miles from Notre Dame's campus in South Bend.

WCSSAA: Cameron's Osman Takes MVP Award

The floor general for the WCSSAA and CWOSSA champion Cameron Heights Golden Gaels was the one who, appropriately enough, took home the Mike Moser MVP trophy as WCSSAA's MVP as announced on Wednesday at the league's annual all-star evening.

Osman was the Gaels' catalyst all season long but got things done in a number of different ways.  He has the ability to handle the rock, find his teammates, and hit long jumpers; sometimes overlooked is his tenacity on the defensive side of the ball.  Quite often, he could quickly change the momentum of a game with a single play (reference his 'killer crossover' in the WCSSAA championship game).

When we here at cwossabasketball.com asked about his "most memorable moment" this past season, Osman noted that "the championship in WCSSAA was the most exciting, because of the hype and the crowd; but I can't really pick just one moment --- the whole season was amazing.  (It) had its ups and downs for sure, but any of those taken out would have changed the whole season." 

Although Osman didn't rule out returning to Cameron Heights for a fifth year of high school, he mentioned that at this point a "5th year doesn't seem likely" and that he will likely be off to university next year, to pursue an academic career in the science field.

Osman joins an elite list of previous Moser award winners, including many former CIS and NCAA stars.  Knowing some of the talent that he was up against this year, including last year's winner Stefan Cvrkalj, Osman admitted that he was a bit surprised to be taking home the trophy.

"I was happy beyond belief after winning the Moser award," he said.  "In no way did I expect it, because I am quite aware of the talent in the league."

He was also quick to point out that this wasn't solely an individual effort.

"There is no way I could have accomplished this without my teammates," said Osman.  "(Also) my family, my big brother always pushing me on the sidelines, and the coaches were huge --- understanding the team and the strength we had," he continued.

Osman and the rest of the "strength" on the Gaels roster helped Cameron capture their first regional crown since 1994.  The Gaels didn't look out of place at the OFSAA championships; they went 0-2 but gave traditional power Eastern Commerce a huge scare and led eventual silver medalist Oakville Loyola by double figures early in the contest.

Osman's talents were definitely noticed at the tournament.

Tariq Sbiet, national editor from North Pole Hoops (@tsbiet) tweeted during CHCI's first-round game that "Amjed Osman of Cameron Heights is a talent!!! 5'8 PG but is the quickest player on the floor! #HIDDENGEM #NPH"

Indeed, he may not have been the biggest guy out on the court but it was tough to measure the size of Osman's heart and his will to win.

Congratulations, Amjed, on a well-deserved award!

All-Star Games: D8 All-Stars Sweep D10

For the first time in recent memory (historians, help me out), the D8 junior and senior boys all-stars both posted wins over their D10 rivals on Wednesday night at Resurrection CSS in Kitchener.

That being said, the wins didn't come easy.

Junior Game - D8 70, D10 66 (in OT)
In the junior all-star showdown, St. Mary's star Chris Clouthier (who missed the CWOSSA championship due to injury) was back in action and definitely made the difference in this one.  With the D8 all-stars down two in the dying seconds of regulation (:03 left), Clouthier was fouled on a lay-up attempt and converted both free-throws to send the game to OT, tied at 56-56.

In the extra session, another Eagle, Tyler Hergott, connected on a big three-ball while Resurrection's Adam Schneider knocked down a key two and another couple of free-throws to help the D8 outscore D10 14-10 in the extra session en route to the 70-66 win.

Mike Blumel (15 points) was D8's player of the game.  Look out for this kid as I expect him to be (arguably) one of the best grade 10s in CWOSSA next season.  According to my contact (I wasn't at the game), he dominated the paint and took it hard to the rack.

Kristian Vande Kemp, JF Ross' standout player, was the player of the game for the D10 squad --- he finished with 8 points.  A pair of Bishop Mac stars, Owen Brombal (12) and Jesse Kendall (10) led the way for D10.

D8 (70)
Mike Blumel, St. Mary's (15); Tyler Hergott, St. Mary's (15); Chris Clouthier, St. Mary's (9); Matt Murawsky, St. David (8); Tyler Schneider, Resurrection (6); Jacob Gilbert, Resurrection (4); Avery Sutton, St. Mary's (4); Erwin Zapanza, St. Benedict (4); Telloy Simon, St. Mary's (2); Alex Sheedy, Rockway (2).

D10 (66)
Owen Brombal, Bishop Mac (12); Jesse Kendall, Bishop Mac (10); Ben Morris, Bishop Mac (8); Kristian Vande Kemp, JF Ross (8); Liam McCormack, St. James (8); Braewyn Bird, Centre Wellington (8); Nolan Ireland, JF Ross (3); Jonah Hopkins, GCVI (3); Stephen Gade, Lourdes (2); Zach McClenaghan, St. James (2); Alex Turvey, JF Ross (2).

Senior Game - D8 110, D10 105
The D8 led the entire game by as many as 10 points, and held an 86-76 lead heading into the fourth quarter.  However, the D10 promptly went on a 12-2 run to tie things at 88 due to too many highlight reel alley-oop dunk attempts and fancy passes that went awry by the D8 squad. 

After that, there were no fewer than eight lead changes with D10's biggest lead being 94-91.  In a game with numerous highlight reel plays, it was actually one of the most "boring" things --- free-throw shooting ---- that helped propel the D8 to victory down the stretch.

As you might expect, run and gun specialists Ben Bankazo and Alex Thompson (both from SMHS) excelled in this type of game.  Bankazo had a game-high 27 points, while Thompson had 21.  Resurrection's Tyler Schneider poured in 24 points as well, including 3 three-pointers.

Bankazo was D8's player of the game.

For the D10 squad, St. James star Ryan Higgins had 27 points, all from inside the arc (and a free throw).  Mike Finoro from Lourdes had 13, while Alex Campagnolo from St. James scored 12.  Shamlo Saeed of JF Ross had 11 points, but was a great distributor and named the D10's player of the game.

D8 (110)
Ben Bankazo, St. Mary's (27); Tyler Schneider, Resurrection (24); Alex Thompson, St. Mary's (21); Mike Pereira, Resurrection (8); David Nolet, PRDG (7); Dan Hummel, St. David (5); Santo Dak, St. Benedict (5); Tyson Lavigne, St. David (4); Isaac Lance, St. Mary's (4); Kueth Geng, St. Benedict (3); Josh Klassen, Rockway (2).

D10 (105)
Ryan Higgins, St. James (27); Mike Finoro, Lourdes (13); Alex Campagnolo, St. James (12); Shamlo Saeed, JF Ross (11); Serge Khayipangi, Centennial (8); Ben King, Lourdes (8); Evan Karl, JF Ross (6); Erik Sterne, Centennial (7); Reid Giondi, CWDHS (4); Jack Cornett, JF Ross (3); Kyle Holmes, ODSS (3); Konrad Babol, St. James (2).