BAA Finals: OSCVI Seniors, Sacred Heart Juniors Take Titles

"Singbeil Up to the Challenge"
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Article By: Bill Walker

There are no nights off for Ben Singbeil.

As the OSCVI Falcons' designated shutdown guy, the 17- year-old Grade 12 student knows he'll be matching up with the opposition's top gun each game.

This season Singbeil has been more than up for the challenge, with his latest victim being Walkerton District's Mat West.

Singbeil held West to just 12 points -- most of those coming from the free throw line -- as the Falcons won their third straight Bluewater Athletic Association championship with a 50-30 victory Friday.

"I didn't really worry about help defence very much and I just focused on him and it worked out," said Singbeil.

"Sometimes it's pretty scary but once you get in the game, you get over it pretty quickly. It's all about hard work and just being excited about winning the game."

Not only is Singbeil a tough defender, he's one of the Falcons' snipers with 10 points in the final.

Matt Monk led all scorers with 14 points while Ben Ewasko added 10 for OSCVI.

"West might be the best player in the district and (Singbeil) did a great job on him," said Falcons coach Lee Jacques, who raved about his bench, which played extended minutes and more than held their own against Walkerton. "We played 13 guys and we played them when the game was close and they did a great job."

Trevor Robinson added eight points for the Raiders.

"We started with eight guys and we need all 10 of our guys out if we're going to compete with them," said Walkerton coach Dan Rourke, whose squad will be host for a CWOSSA A qualifier against Peninsula Shores Monday.

The winner advances to the CWOSSA A championship at Walkerton District Thursday.

With the win, OSCVI advances to the CWOSSA AA championships next Friday at Walkerton's Sacred Heart.

OSCVI cruised into the final with a 54-39 win over the Kincardine District Knights. Monk had 21 points while Singbeil added 12.

Walkerton beat the West Hill Raiders 64-59. West had 33 points while Robinson added 17. Mike VanZyverden had 20 points for West Hill.

The junior final saw Walkerton drop a 43-41 decision to the Sacred Heart Crusaders. Jeff Ruttan had 13 points while Brennan Basra added 10 for the Crusaders, who hung onto the ball for the first 4:30 of the fourth quarter in a battle of wills with Walkerton.

"I felt we could beat them one on one," said Sacred Heart coach Darryl Striukas, explaining why his players hung onto the ball near the half court line and waited for the Raiders to eventually come out and challenge them.

"We tried to play big against them down low but while they might be a smaller team, they've got guys who play like they're six-five. I knew it was going to be a tough game and maybe a five-point spread either way."

JD West had 16 points for the Raiders while Calvin Robinson had 10 points.

The Crusaders earned a spot in the final with a 53-23 win over the St. Mary's Mustangs in the semifinals.

Ryne Weppler had 17 points for Sacred Heart while Jeff Ruttan added 11. Walkerton beat OSCVI 47-29 in the other semifinal. Colton Marois had 18 points for the Raiders while Robinson added 12. Jason McMillen had 15 points for the Falcons.