Owen Sound Sun-Times: Scouting Pays Off For OS

Article By: Bill Walker
Retrieved From: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2469789

There were few surprises for the OSCVI Falcons in the era of the Internet.

With a few clicks of the mouse, defensive stopper Ben Singbeil knew he was in for a tough CWOSSA AA senior boys basketball final against Guelph's Our Lady of Lourdes Crusaders.

With high-flying Sharieff Peru and three-point specialist Mike Finoro providing the bulk of the Crusaders offence, the Falcons shutdown specialist could only spread himself so far.

It was obviously far enough as Singbeil limited Peru to just nine points and Finoro to just 13 as he took turns covering them while also pouring in a game-high 24 of his own as the Falcons downed Lourdes 55-46 Friday.

"We had quite a bit of information because there's a CWOSSA blog with lots of information and one of our alumni went to one of their games and gave us a detailed scouting report," said Singbeil, whose squad advances to its first OFSAA championships since 1994.

"I knew I had a lot of help behind me so I just made sure they didn't get an easy shot because they're both amazing shooters. I just tried to make them work harder than I had to and it worked."

OFSAA runs March 8 to 10 in Windsor.

Kevin Bunn added 16 points for the Falcons, while pulling in several tough rebounds in traffic.

"I just felt like I wanted it more than anyone else and I just went for the ball," said Bunn. "I started off a little cold but I just kept shooting and not hesitating and things turned around."

Singbeil needs an assignment to keep his focus as he had an off game in the semifinals. But teammate Matt Monk picked up the slack with 16 points in a 69-45 win over Palmerston's Norwell District Redmen.

Curt Gibbons added 10 points as did Singbeil.

Lourdes beat the Kincardine District Knights 62-48 in the other semifinal.

Steve Young had 21 points for Kincardine.

OSCVI's junior didn't have the same good luck Friday as the squad fell 80-40 in the semifinals to Guelph's Bishop MacDonell Celtics. Game details were unavailable.

The Celtics went on to down the host Sacred Heart Crusaders 73-31 to win the junior championship.

Brennan Senra led Sacred Heart with 16 points while Ruttan had nine.

"Sticking with them in the first quarter showed us that if we were a little deeper we might have been able to run the game a little longer," said Crusaders coach Darryl Striukas. "Bishop Mac is a top quality team, not just in CWOSSA but all of the province. I'm proud of the effort they gave through the entire game."

Sacred Heart beat Norwell 52-35 in the semifinals. Senra had 18 points, while Ruttan added 12 and Ryne Weppler chipped in with 11.

There is no OFSAA tournament for juniors.