Article By: Darryl Smart
Belief is a big thing and can go a long
ways. Just ask Brian MacCormack and his Holy Trinity Titans teammates.
Despite being beaten every time they played
the Simcoe Sabres this season, the Titans believed they could change
things. And that’s exactly what they did Friday, by capturing the
Norfolk Secondary School Athletic Association junior boys basketball
title, thanks to a 37-25 upset over their previously unbeaten cross-town
rivals.
“It feels great after the season we just
had,” Titans’ Brian MacCormack said. “We really competed hard. It means
so much. At the beginning of the season I dreamt of it. We thought it
was possible, but to actually do it is great.”
After a pretty cautious first quarter that
had the Titans up 6-3, they continued to lead by one at the half.
That’s when even more belief set in.
“We really came in here with a positive
attitude,” Devin Defreyne said. “We were nervous. They’ve had a great
season. But we got rid of those nerves in the first quarter and just
brought it to them.
“I had that feeling that we could do it
today,” he said. “We were more aggressive, especially in the first
quarter. We really wanted to win the first quarter and keep it going.”
In the second half is where the Titans began
to separate themselves, thanks to a renewed commitment to defence,
while MacCormack played a big role down low on offence, leading the way
with 15 points.
Also scoring for the Titans were Cole Feeney
10, Defreyne six, while Mitchell Barker, Cole Robinson, and Jaxon
Martin all pitched in with two.
Matt Lyons led the Sabres with eight, while
Simon Storoschuk and Dallas Hunter had five each. Jake Luke added three
and Alex Peever netted one.
“This was the plan,” MacCormack said. “We
weren’t surprised how this game turned out. All week we’ve been working
on defence, and just pounding the ball. On offence, we threw some new
stuff at them. We thought if it worked, great. If not, oh well. But it
really worked.
“I trust them with all the shots,” he said.
“This is a huge team effort and for us to do well, we needed that team
effort. Right now it feels great.”
With the win, the Titans now play
Brantford’s North Park Collegiate Trojans or St. John's Green Eagles in a Central Western Ontario
Secondary Schools Association qualifier this week. The winner will play
at the CWOSSA AAA championships at St. James Catholic High School in
Guelph.
“It’ll be tough. We know they’re a really
good team.,” MacCormack said. “We just have to pound the defence at them
like we did and throw some of our new offence at them.”
The Sabres will participate in the CWOSSA AA
championships February 26, 27 at West Hill Secondary School in Owen
Sound.
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