D10 Finals: Celtics Seek Repeat Against Royals

It's a rematch of a season ago when the Bishop Mac Celtics and the JF Ross Royals meet this evening at the University of Guelph (8pm) in the D10's Senior Boys' Basketball title game.

After the Celts took the title last year, it would appear as though the Royals are the slight favourites this time around; the teams split their season series but JF Ross has played some great basketball down the stretch, including a 72-54 win over Bishop Mac in their season finale last week.

Tommy Yanchus and Ryan Stulp have been major contributors recently for Ross, including 33 of JFR's 48 points against St. James in their semifinal win.  Kristian Vande Kemp is also a threat for the Royals, who in recent years are usually one of the deeper teams not only in D10, but CWOSSA.

Bishop Mac had just five players show up at tryouts this year, after taking OFSAA bronze at the "AA" level last year, and there were some questions as to whether the Celts would even field a team in 2013-14. 

As such, four grade 10s from what would have been a very strong junior team (Chris Poloniato, Evan Hosker, and Jake Chaput) were all moved up to the senior ranks, and have all contributed.

Jesse Kendall, who will likely be playing CIS basketball next season, is averaging over 21 PPG in league play with seven 20+ efforts and three games of 29 or more. 

Kendall, along with fellow 5th year veterans Adam MacEachern and Owen Brombal, will be called upon to provide the bulk of the Bishop Mac offense in this one.

It's one that could certainly go either way, but I'll go with the hotter team right now, which I think is the JF Ross Royals.

Projection:  JF Ross 61, Bishop Mac 54

Junior
Despite the wild year it was in D10 junior, it will be the top two teams -- JF Ross and St. James -- facing off in the D10 championship final which tips off at 6pm tonight at the U of G.

Both teams have solid backcourts (JF Ross - Curtis Gordon & Mengis Hiyabu; St. James - Nick Marquis & Keegan Feeney), which is crucial for success at the junior level.  For the Lions, Marquis & Feeney often find St. James' leading scorer, Alex Durigon, around the rim where he's a solid finisher.

JF Ross received key contributions from Nathan Berry and Julian Renzetti in the semifinal game; similar efforts from them tonight will go a long way towards putting Ross in the driver's seat for the D10 title.

Projection:  JF Ross 45, St. James 39