WCSSAA Finals: Junior & Senior Previews

Don't have much time today, but here's a quick note to set the table for the action tonight:

It'll be #1 vs. #2 in both the WCSSAA Junior and Senior finals, which go tonight at Cameron Heights Collegiate in Kitchener.  Tip times are 6:30pm (Junior) and 8pm (Senior).

The SJAM Highlanders, the top seed in both divisions, are attempting to add their name to the list of schools that have swept the WCSSAA finals.

Junior - (1) SJAM vs. (2) Eastwood
On the junior side, the CWOSSA #1-ranked SJAM Highlanders enter as prohibitive favourites over the Eastwood Rebels, having won all but one of their league games by double-figures.

These teams met back in mid-January, with the 'Landers pulling away to a 72-48 victory.

SJAM has a multifaceted offensive attack, with any number of players able to lead the charge on any given night.  Favourites to do so (in no particular) include Maksim Kopvivicia, Filip Popovic, Nicolas Milosevic, Nino Spasik, and Brian Zapp.

The Rebels are a team that loves to get out in transition, and they could benefit from the game being played on the big court at Cameron Heights.  ECI put up some point totals in the 60s and 70s during the season, with their "big three" doing most of that damage --- Layee Jabateh, Prabhjit Sangha, and Mubaraak Aden Ibrahim.

From Eastwood's perspective, they really have nothing to lose as a prohibitive underdog, which is always a factor that can make things interesting.  That said, I think the depth of SJAM will propel them to victory today.

My Pick:  SJAM by 16

Senior - (1) SJAM vs. (2) Cameron Hts.
A tremendous amount of interest surrounds this game, and most people suspect that one of these teams will be joining the St. Mary's Eagles at OFSAA in a couple weeks' time.  Still a lot of basketball to be played before that point, though, and it starts tonight at Cameron Heights.

These teams are fairly evenly matched, which was demonstrated by their tight regular season affair back in December, a 61-55 SJAM win.  Nedim Hodzic poured in nearly half of the SJAM points (28) in that one, so it's needless to say that the Gaels will need to do a much better job on him this time around.  Easier said than done, of course, as he always seems to find a way to put himself in optimal position.

SJAM is heavily reliant on the scoring outputs of their "big four", who actually combined for all of the 'Landers 68 points in their semifinal win over Grand River.  Hodzic, Brett Parrott, Justin Hardy and Simon Petrov are the main offensive threats, keyed by their two forwards (Hodzic & Parrott).  Hardy has had a nice rookie campaign for the 'Landers, while Petrov (who played up last year in senior as a grade 10) demonstrates nice court vision and usually racks up the assists.

Speaking of assists, Cameron Heights' PG Nikola Farkic had one of the highest-ever tallies in that category for a game I'd tracked in last year's final, when he registered a whopping 13 against Grand River in Cameron's 63-46 win.

Sharp-shooting guard Sasha Simic presents some match-up problems for the opposition with his size at the guard position, while 6'10" Ivan Cucak patrols the interior.

The Gaels have been getting contributions up and down their roster during WCSSAA play this year, including the playoffs, where Chris Phomsouvanh has led them in scoring both times.

SJAM hasn't necessarily been playing their best basketball down the stretch, while Cameron Heights seems to have turned it on over the last couple weeks.  Add in homecourt advantage, and a rowdy fanbase, and the Gaels might be able to come away with their second straight finals win.  Regardless, should be an entertaining affair.

My Pick:  CHCI by 4.