Brantford Expositor: Senior Trojans Hold On To Edge Lions

Article By:  Darryl G. Smart

Nick Minutillo has been a warrior for the North Park Collegiate Trojans basketball program.

Exhausted and excited that he and his teammates pulled out a 36-33 win over the Assumption College Lions Thursday on the road, you could also see a look of disappointment as blood dripped down from the nose of the fifth-year player.

After the players shook hands, Minutillo, who has been the grit of the Trojans' championship run over the last few years, had his head down.

He was reflecting on a basketball career that was suddenly over because of a job action by public high school teachers that will start Monday.

"All I really wanted to do was come back and play basketball and now it's going to end," said Minutillo.

"On Tuesday, it was the very last game I was going to play at North Park as a Trojan. I was obviously thinking about that. And this was the last Brant County game I'll ever play.

"It was good to get those two wins, especially this one, because they beat us in the Tip-Off (tournament). But it's disappointing all the same."

The teachers job action means that all extra-curricular activities, including sports at Brant County high schools, have been cancelled.

So, with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them, the Trojans and Lions played a sloppy game Thursday. Both teams seemed to wake up in the last three minutes with the Trojans holding on to a 31-26 lead.

With 38.9 seconds left Austin Tlustos hit a three-pointer to get the Lions within four. Then Andre Toic hit another three-pointer with 25 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game.

But that's as close as the Lions got thanks to some solid Trojans' defence on the last play of the game.

"I know we didn't play the best in that game but at the end we got that stop and it was big," Minutillo said.

"It was a good end and I'm glad we got the win. Assumption's good competition and they always come gunning for us. "They've got a good young team this year and have a good future. Good for them for coming out and battling.

"It's just too bad the season ends like this."

For Toic and the Lions, the game was a heartbreaker.

"We came close," Toic said.

"I guess we're happy with how we battled with them. It just would've been nice to get the win."

Senior
NPC 36, ACS 33
NPC: Visaal Brar 12, Jon Dulmage 11, Eric Hamilton 2, Andrew Silla 2, Nick Minutillo 2, Matt Minutillo 5, Tyarr Powell-Hoages 2.
ACS: Andre Toic 10, Nolan Drong 8, Austin Tlustos 5, Ron Taylor 4, Zoltan Barna 3, Brandon Vincent 3.

SJC 66, Paris 37
SJC: Michael Beal 13, Tim Dawson 13, Adam Peters 8, James Terejko 8 Duncan Dubicki 8, and Connor Kuzmich 7.
Paris: Ian Lawrence 9, Isaac Sollazo 6, Graeme Campbell 6, and Harji Gill 6.

BCI vs PJC: Score not available at press time.

Junior

NPC 49, ACS 44
NPC: Ryan Timms 14, Matt Kraison 10, Yash Bhomare 12.
ACS: Mike King-17, Tanner Baldin 16, Mike Heron 9.

St. John's 48, Paris 23
SJC: Adrian Mendoza 14, Mo Harriri 7, Niel Wiacek 6.
Paris: Ryan Campbell 6, Chas Nolson 3, Wes Small 3.

PJC vs BCI: Score not available at press time.

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