It didn't start the way the SJAM Highlanders would have liked, but it certainly finished the way they wanted.Led by the talented tandem of F Nedim Hodzic and G Simon Petrov, the Waterloo high school overcame a 10-2 St. John's run to start the game, rallying to lead 24-23 by halftime and extending things in the second half for a 62-50 final of the Junior "AAAA" Championship game.
In fact, the Highlanders had all aspects of offensive balance on display Monday night with Hodzic providing the inside game, Petrov displaying an impressive mid-range game, and G/F Jan-Willem Scheele adding a couple of well-timed three-pointers.
SJAM also did a good job of keying on St. John's star guard, Adrian Mendoza. Mendoza finished with 23 points, but had to earn the majority of those at the free-throw line where he went 12-for-13.
Arguably the best individual performer in the tournament, Mendoza had JF Ross students chanting his number ("twenty-four!") with his spectacular outburst during the semifinal game. He led a 22-6 St. John's run over the final 6:00 of that game that turned a 5-point deficit into an 11-point Green Eagle win. Unfortunately for St. John's fans, the same script didn't play out in the final.
Hodzic notched a double-double for SJAM with 22 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 9-for-13 from the floor. Petrov added 21 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, while Scheele was also in double-figures with 10.
