The Teams: Forest Heights Trojans (12-0 Regular Season) vs. SJAM Highlanders (7-5 Regular Season)
Where and When: Preston HS, Cambridge (8:30pm approximate tip time - though with the junior awards presentations it's usually more around the 8:45 range).
The Fan Vote: 72% say Forest Heights will win (as of 9:00am, Wednesday)
Regular Season Meeting: Forest Heights comes back from 14 points down entering the fourth quarter to win 61-57. Javon Masters & Juwan Miller had 20 each for FHCI; Ben Reyhani had 24 for SJAM.
How They Got Here: FHCI defeated #9 HHSS 79-54 in QF; defeated #5 JHSS 66-47 in SF. SJAM defeated #11 BCI 48-38; defeated #3 GRCI 47-42; defeated #2 WCI 41-40.
SJAM - Projected Starters
Ben Reyhani, G, 6'0" (5th Year)
Nathaniel Ellis, F, 6'2" (Grade 12)
Theshawn Barry, G, 6'1" (Grade 12)
Connor Bradley, F, 6'1" (Grade 12)
Quinn Turner, F, 6'5" (Grade 11)
Forest Heights - Projected Starters
Adrian Russell, G, 5'9" (Grade 12)
Juwan Miller, G, 5'10" (Grade 11)
Javon Masters, G, 6'0" (Grade 12)
Josh Falkenstern, F, 6'4" (5th Year)
Dylan George, F, 6'5" (Grade 12)
Game Background
For starters, let's throw the "rankings" right out of the window. These are the two hottest teams in the league, and SJAM's 7-5 regular season record is a bit deceptive after they started 0-4 (with a couple of key players missing during that stretch). SJAM has more than earned their time in the limelight tonight with playoff upsets over #3 Grand River and #2 WCI respectively.
Forest Heights has been a "wire to wire" leader in both the WCSSAA standings and they have held down the #1 spot in the CWOSSA rankings since a one-point nailbiter over the St. Mary's Eagles in the WCI-BCI tournament final back in December.
A few weeks back, in their regular season meeting, the 'Landers actually held a 14-point lead entering the 4th quarter before the Trojans came racing back to nip them at the wire by 4.
Forest Heights will be making their first finals appearance since 2008, when they captured the WCSSAA title.
SJAM, meanwhile, will actually be making their fifth consecutive finals appearance, although they have dropped three of their previous four WCSSAA senior championships with a win coming over KCI in 2009.
What the Stars Have To Say
We asked a couple of key players on each squad what they felt would be the toughest challenge in today's game, as well as what they were most looking forward to about tonight.
"Probably the toughest thing is limiting Ben (Reyhani's) touches and containing there ability to attack the lane and hit 3's," noted FHCI standout guard Javon Masters, who says that with good reason after 27 of SJAM's 43 field goal attempts in the semifinal came from behind the arc.
SJAM guard Ben Reyhani was equally complementary about the dangerous FHCI backcourt of Miller and Masters.
"Our toughest challenge will be to contain their back-court from penetrating into the paint," he said.
With regards to what those players are looking forward to most, Masters is pleased to make the next step (and advance to the finals) after being ousted in the semifinals last year.
"I'm really looking forward to playing in front of a large crowd," Masters said, "this is the first time I'm playing in the finals so I'm really looking forward to it."
Interestingly enough, after FHCI's first regular season game, Masters told Record Sports reporter Mark Bryson that "we’re quite aware of it, how in previous years we’ve never lived up to expectations, so this is the year that we get over the hump and get a WCSSAA title. We’ve got something to prove . . . I’ve got something to prove . . . we’re hungry for that title."
Reyhani, who has 2 years of finals experience already under his belt, also noted that he's looking forward to the atmosphere of the WCSSAA finals.
"Of course, I'm hoping the outcome will be different than it was the last 2 years," he added.
Game Preview
There's some unique contrast between these two clubs.
The Forest Heights Trojans love to get out in transition. Though the SJAM Highlanders aren't afraid to take fast break opportunities, they're more comfortable in a slower paced, halfcourt game.
The FHCI guards love to get to the rim (though they're equally competent in hitting things from deep), while SJAM's backcourt doesn't mind hoisting up three-pointers --- often from well beyond the stripe.
Both squads, though, can get big contributions from their frontcourt. Dylan George had a 16-point, 10-rebound performance for FHCI in their semifinal win over JHSS, while Quinn Turner was held in check during his semifinal outing but is certainly a double-double threat most nights on the court.
SJAM did have a few issues with WCI's halfcourt pressure (albeit many turnovers were unforced), so I wouldn't be surprised to see Forest Heights use their halfcourt press (which they did effectively against JHSS) here. If FHCI elects to go this route, SJAM mustn't get too caught up in the crazy finals atmosphere and take their time in executing.
Defensively for SJAM, as Reyhani stated, everything comes down to attempting to limit Miller & Masters. You can't shut that duo down, so making them work for what they get will be high on the 'Landers priority list.
The X Factors
Going to go with a "themed" X-factor part of the senior preview, as both of my X-Factors are new transfers to their respective schools.
Nathaniel Ellis, from Tillsonburg Glendale HS, is a 6'2" forward that isn't afraid to do the little things on offense or defense. You'll probably be most familiar with his three-point shooting capability, but it's his overall game that's been a key to the 'Landers making this impressive run. If he can play as well as he has the past two games, there's a good chance that SJAM may be hoisting the WCSSAA plaque at the end of the night.
For FHCI, 5'9" guard Adrian Russell has seen an increased workload, especially after usual starter Paul Anderson left for the States on a baseball scholarship in January. He transferred over from Resurrection in September, and was immediately eligible as he didn't play at Rez last season (after starting on the 2010 CWOSSA championship squad).
He had a respectable 6 points, 3 'boards and 2 assists in FHCI's semifinal victory, and he'll need to make a few jumpers or finishes inside tonight to keep the SJAM defense honest.
Russell came up big in Rez's D8 and CWOSSA junior final wins, so I'm actually predicting a breakout performance from him today.
Prediction
First and foremost, I'm expecting a loud and bustling atmosphere at Preston. It's my understanding that both schools have organized "fan buses" to the game, which is great to see.
Now, will it be the undefeated squad that's been at the top all season, or the team with past final experience that comes through. Both are important to consider, but I expect the Trojans to finish what they started today --- albeit in a close one.
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