NSSAA: Sabres Enter Playoffs on a Roll

Sabres enter playoffs on a roll
Posted By JACOB ROBINSON, SIMCOE REFORMER

Retrieved From: http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2443069


The Simcoe Sabres last game of the NSSAA regular season was a microcosm of the entire year.

The defending league finalists found some tough sledding early on, but turned it on in a big way down the stretch.

Once 0-4, the Sabres are now 5-5 following a 51-40 win over cross-town rival Holy Trinity Tuesday. With the victory, the Sabres leapfrogged the Titans in the standings to secure third place when the playoffs begin Feb. 16.

Down two points heading into the second quarter, the Sabres showed why they've been one of the hottest teams as of late, going on a 23-3 run to grab hold of a big 31-13 lead at the break thanks to the effort and hustle from the entire nine man roster.

"We just came out with more intensity and ran the floor a lot more," said Kaleb Matschke, who had five points. "And then we calmed down a bit."

With a large advantage heading into the third, Simcoe chose to focus more towards defence in the second half.

Led by point guard Josh Johnson and his 24 points -- including three straight three pointers to open the fourth quarter -- Holy Trinity was able to get close with plenty of time left, but their comeback hopes were dashed when Connor Pettersen and Sam Baskerville scored back-to-back field goals late for SCS that served as the dagger.

"We kept up the intensity, kept that press, but they got through it," said Holy Trinity's Omer Vandenheede.

Vandenheede said the Titans were as much to blame for their second quarter collapse as Simcoe's hot shooting.

"Just bad D, not very good communication and we fell apart," he explained. "It's like our volleyball team, once you start getting down, they start getting points."

Unlike the first time the two teams had met -- a 43-34 victory for Holy Trinity -- the Sabres are scoring my by committee rather than relying on one or two players to carry the load.

"The first time we played them it was mostly all Connor taking the ball," said Vandenheede. "Now they're spreading the ball around. Everyone is taking shots."

Though Pettersen led the Sabres scorers with 15 points, six of the team's nine players had at least five points including James Tran, who just hours after a root canal, chipped in with eight and was a force on defence all night.

"I just think all the people on our team are fast guys, we don't really have much height but we're one of the quickest teams in the league," noted Matschke.

The Sabres will need that speed when they take on Valley Heights in the semifinals. In beating Holy Trinity, the Sabres avoid a date with the undefeated and defending champion Wolves in the first round.

"It's a big relief off our shoulders now because we think we can beat Valley," said Matschke. "Hopefully we can go to the finals and play Waterford."

Holy Trinity (4-6) will go into the playoffs as the four seed and play the Wolves in the second of a back-to-back semifinals night Tuesday in Waterford.

Dan Fettes had nine points for Simcoe while Holy Trinity centre Kevin McDonald had seven for the Titans.

In the junior contest, the Sabres clinched first place with a 38-29 victory. Tommy Tran (13 points) and Wes Monkman (10) led the way for SCS.