D8 Senior: Season Tips-Off Today

After winning back-to-back D8 titles, the St. Mary's Eagles are again at the forefront when it comes to D8 and CWOSSA contenders this coming season.

The guard-loaded Eagles are keyed by Telloy Simon, Tyrick Thompson, Jermaine Lyle, Nathan Riley and Jamari Stephenson, any of whom can go for 20+ on a given afternoon. 

Henoak Abara is the top grade eleven coming up from a very good --- but youthful --- junior program.

Resurrection is also well ahead of the rest of the D8 pack, and have gotten off to a strong start in exhibition and tournament play despite not having the services of two projected starters.  Guards Adam Schneider (back) and Thomas Hunter (hip) are projected to be out until closer to the Christmas break.

Newcomer Korbil Gany (transfer/CHCI) has stepped into the starting rotation, and has been a solid addition to the Rez roster.  5th year swingmen Patric McGlynn and Jacob Gilbert are two of the key offensive options, but also provide valuable veteran leadership.

In total, Rez has four starters back from last year's D8 finalist team, including F Kirolos Milio.  G/F Mark Wylie and F Zack Holness are also back and should play a role of continued importance this season.

There should then be a three-way battle for third place, with St. Benedict, St. David and Monsignor Doyle being the squads in contention ahead of "A" schools Rockway & Woodland Christian.

Of those schools, I still St. Benedict seems like the logical choice to take the 3rd spot in the standings (they finished 6-4 last year, ahead of the others at 2-8), as they'll be led by key returnees Omar Comanto & Aaron Zammit, but I think Monsignor Doyle could be in a solid position to make some noise and move up the D8 standings ladder this season.

Doyle brings up a solid group of grade eleven rookies, led by the leading scorer in the D8 junior league from a season ago, Ryan Stafford.  Sohrob Sultani, a D8 all-star last season, is the other notable junior moving up.

Not to be outdone by the influx of youth, 1st team 2012-13 all-star Uzair Khan (who had 29 points in a game last year against SBCSS) returns for the 'Stangs, along with Tyler Saris and Jamal Bell, both of whom had numerous double-digit efforts in league play last year.

The St. David Celtics will also have an influx of youth from last year's "AAA" CWOSSA championship team, with guard James McBride and forward Alec Scheffler leading the way.

Here's my initial thoughts on the D8 standings:

Projected Order of Finish
1.  St. Mary's CHS / Kitchener
2.  Resurrection CSS / Kitchener
3.  St. Benedict CSS / Cambridge
4.  Monsignor Doyle CHS / Cambridge
5.  St. David CSS / Waterloo
6.  Woodland CHS / Breslau
7.  Rockway MC / Kitchener

Oh, and there's a couple games today so, so here's the picks for those:
Resurrection over Rockway
St. David over Woodland Christian