My List for CWOSSA Basketball 2011

I'll welcome everyone back to the CWOSSA basketball scene with a quick list of things I either expect to see this year (or would like to see).  Enjoy:

Like to See:  More fan support

Sure, this is a common theme with high school sports (especially regular season games).  I'm not expecting things to be like the WCSSAA/D8/D10/Brant County finals every night, but a little extra fan support would be great to see.  Players, some of the onus goes on you to try to get your friends out via your social media networks.

Like to See:  Night games.....anyone?  Bueller?

I think Southwood hosted Galt in a senior boys' game at night a couple of years back, and it was fairly successful.  Of course, many schools aren't available in the evenings (due to outside groups having booked them), and I know that the many coaches who volunteer their time would enjoy spending their evenings with their families.  However, one or two "rivalry games" would be pretty cool to see in the evenings (and likely help out with #1 above).  How about a SMHS-Rez or WCI-FHCI guys matchups? 

Like To See:  OFSAA Medals

We've become pretty good at securing medals on the girls' side of things, and now it's the guys' turn.  We've been on a bit of a drought lately, but that's not to say that our guys haven't been competitive (look at CHCI's close loss to #8 Eastern Commerce last year, and the way Ross played in their elimination game).  Of course, our better medal hopes may be at the lower levels --- such as "AA", where Lourdes and Bishop Mac should be solid again this year with key returnees.

Expect To See:  WCI winning one, if not two WCSSAA senior titles

The Vikes appear to be the clear favourites in girls' WCSSAA basketball and they could pull a rare "double" that hasn't been accomplished in some time (historians, help me out).  Their guys' team has a solid nucleus of returnees and should certainly be a top-3 club in what might be the most competitive WCSSAA season in recent memory.

Expect To See:  JF Ross' 3rd straight OFSAA and/or a D8 Team Making OFSAA Boys AAAA

With St. Mary's and Resurrection stacked with returnees (Alex Thompson, Adam Voll, Isaac Lance - SMHS; Tyler Schneider, Mike Pereira, Cam Gibbs - RCSS) and getting some key rookies as well, the time is now for a D8 squad to make their first AAAA appearance since St. Benedict did way back in 2003.  That said, they may not even be the preseason favourites.  That could go to the JF Ross Royals, who return practically everyone from the team that upset Rez in last year's CWOSSA semifinals.  Add in a couple of solid juniors coming up (Kristian Vande Kemp) and the Royals should again make some noise this coming season.

Expect To See:  More Brantford Domination at the Girls' Level

St. John's doesn't rebuild ---- they reload.  Despite losing several all-Canadian level performers, the Green Eagles will return Katie Polischuk (among others) and add in a high-quality group of girls who dominated the junior ranks, going undefeated in league and playoff action en route to the CWOSSA "AAAA" title.  Assumption (the 2009 CWOSSA gold medalists at the junior level) will provide some tough competition in league play for the CWOSSA "AAAA" berth.  North Park and Brantford CI will again be among the key contenders for an "AAA" OFSAA trip.