Brantford Expositor: T-Birds Advance to Senior Semifinals

Victorious in a game on Tuesday with a nail-bitter of second half, the Pauline Johnson Collegiate Thunderbirds move on to the Brant County high school senior boys basketball semifinals on Thursday.

The Thunderbirds earned the spot after defeating the Brantford Collegiate Institute Mustangs in a closely fought sudden death quarter-final on Tuesday night, with a final score of 49-44.

"It was bad the first half but we really picked it up in the second," said Thunderbird coach Kevin Monahan.

"We really fed off the crowd."

Team captain Austin Roloson said the win "was a great feeling," with the team's tough defence coming through as it had all season.

With a basket just seconds into the game, PJ posted the first three points on the scoreboard. By the end of the first period, BCI had tied it at 8-8.

The Mustangs dominated the second period, ending it with a 22-15 lead.

Although BCI was still leading 34-31 at the end of the third, the period really belonged to the Thunderbirds.

Monahan credits Swapnil Sharma, another captain, with carrying the team in the fourth.

Sharma's basket tied it at 42-42 with three minutes left in the game, followed by two successful penalty throws.

"It was a tough game," said Sharma.

"But we pulled through and showed what we can do."

In addition to Roloson and Sharma, Zach Sewell was outstanding for the Thunderbirds.

Outstanding for BCI were Tristan Almas, Noel Bomberry and Dalton Mark.

Monahan said he's confident going into Thursday's semifinal against Assumption College, which he called "the toughest team in the league.

"We can compete," he said.

"We've had some tough losses this season but we've played well.

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