CWOSSA representatives went 3-3 on the opening day of OFSAA basketball championships around the province on Monday.Starting in "A", the Rockway Flames (#12 seed) dropped a 75-44 decision to (#2) Trinity College in a game that was probably closer than the final score would indicate. The Flames trailed 44-30 after three quarters, but were outscored 31-14 in the last frame.
Michael Born (12) and Tyler Schwartzentruber (10) were the top point-getters for Rockway.
Rockway will take on #5 Elliot Lake in their second-round game today at 2:00pm.
In "AA", the Bishop Macdonell Celtics (#4 seed) survived some nervous moments against #15 St. Michael's CSS of Niagara Falls in a 54-46 win. Bishop Mac led by only three points after three, but survived the upset bid thanks in part to a 19-point effort from Mitchell Wood.
Bishop Macdonell is currently playing a 10:00am game against the #13 seed, Timmins CVI, in the second round.
North Park advanced through to the "AAA" quarterfinals on Monday, despite losing their first-round game.
In their opener, North Park trailed Burlington Notre Dame 22-18 at half, but the Irish held the Trojans to just 10 second half points in a 49-28 final. Matt Minutillo had 10 for NPC in that one.
However, a first-round upset by Windsor Herman (#13) over Sacred Heart of Newmarket (#7) meant that the Trojans would be the "higher seed" in their second round game. They locked down defensively to the tune of 21 points against through three quaters (32-21 NPC), and held on in the fourth for a 53-48 final. Minutillo again led the way for NPC with a 12-point effort.
North Park will have a challenging quarterfinal today at 11:40am against #2 Jean Vanier (Scarborough). The Trojans are actually the lowest-seeded team remaining; today's quarterfinal play features:
(1) Windsor Catholic Central vs. (8) SSM Korah
(4) Burl. Notre Dame vs. (5) Holy Cross - Kingston
(3) Ottawa St. Patrick's vs. (6) St. Theresa Midland
(2) Scarb. Jean Vanier vs. (10) North Park
Over in AAAA, both CWOSSA teams were eliminated after the first day of competition.
Kitchener St. Mary's (the #8 seed) demolished #14 Joan of Arc (Maple, ON) in a 74-53 final. The Eagles actually led by 29-points after three quarters in that one, and were led by the 16-point effort from Nathan Riley.
In their second-round game against one of the "home teams", #9 Holy Names, the Eagles raced to an 8-point first-quarter advantage but were outscored 46-30 the rest of the way in a 58-50 defeat. Tesloth Simon (12) and Nathan Riley (11) led the way for the Eagles.
Despite the loss, you have to figure St. Mary's will be in the mix for a third consecutive OFSAA appearance next year with the bulk of their scoring offense only in grade 11.
Meanwhile, it was "heartbreak city" for CWOSSA's other representative, #13 Waterloo Collegiate, in their OFSAA opener on Monday.
In a finish that was something like you might see in a couple weeks come March Madness, Davion Parnsalu helped #7 Notre Dame (Ajax) snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by scoring 5 points in the game's final :23.
With Notre Dame down 2 and under :30 to play, Parnsalu hit a go-ahead three-pointer to put Notre Dame up 54-53. On the subsequent WCI possession, Dani Elgadi finished inside with under :10 to play, giving the Vikes a 55-54 lead.
However, Parnsalu drove the lane and was fouled --- making both free-throws --- and thus giving Notre Dame the 56-55 win.
Elgadi led WCI with 17 points.
The Vikings didn't have much time to dwell on that loss, as they played #4 D'Youville (Brampton) in their second-round game later on Monday. D'Youville raced to a 37-14 halftime lead, which was all they would need in a 58-36 victory. Despite the large halftime deficit, the Vikings kept fighting and were able to outscore D'Youville in the second half, thanks to strong play from Adam Anagnostopoulos and Dani Elgadi.
The two combined for 33 of WCI's 36 points, with Anagnostopoulos knocking in 21 points and Elgadi contributing 12.
Today's quarterfinals at "AAAA" feature:
(1) St. Michael's - Toronto vs. (9) Holy Names
(4) D'Youville vs. (5) Cardinal Newman
(2) Henry Carr vs. (7) Notre Dame Ajax
(3) Holy Trinity vs. (6) Campion
