Article By: Darryl G. SmartIt may not have been the most conventional way, but the North Park Collegiate senior Trojans are heading to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations AAA boys basketball championships for the third time in four years.
Despite playing only one exhibition game a couple of days prior to the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association tournament, the Trojans reeled off three-straight wins on the weekend to win the qualifier.
This year's OFSAA tournament is slated for Windsor, March 4-6.
In the final, Matt and Nick Minutillo led the offence in a 49-35 win over St. James Lions from Guelph.
Leading 15-14 after one quarter, the Trojans made it 25-18 at the half. The Lions then chipped away, with the Trojans holding a 30-29 lead after three quarters.
But in the fourth quarter, the Trojans surged, outscoring the Lions 19-3 and went 9-for-10 from the foul line down the stretch.
Matt Minutillo led the way with 19 points, while brother Nick netted 16, and Vishal Brar added seven.
In the semifinal, the Trojans defeated Waterloo's St. David Celtics, 58-31, despite seeing centre Jon Dulmage injured on the opening tipoff.
The Trojans led 17-13 after one quarter and 29-17 at the half.
The Trojans hunkered down in the fourth quarter, giving up only six points.
Matt Minutillo again led the way with 15, while Brar netted 10. Nick Minutillo and Eric Hamilton each added nine points.
In the opener, the Trojans took on Simcoe's Holy Trinity Titans and cruised to a 53-26 victory.
The Trojans were sharp, allowing only five points in the first quarter and four more in the second.
Matt Minutillo scored 14 points to lead the Trojans offence, while Dulmage added 12, Brar had eight. Nick Minutillo and Eric Hamilton each pitched in with six points.
Josh Johnson led the Titans with 11 points, while Hayden Black scored five, and Stefan Peters added four.
Retrieved From: http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/2013/02/24/senior-trojans-earn-berth-in-provincial-championship
