Kasamba powers Phoenix to Classic victory
Sacade Kasamba came up big when his team needed him the most Friday in St. Francis Phoenix’s opening game of the 45th All-Ontario Catholic Classic Basketball Tournament at Notre Dame.
The Grade 11 player hit a three-point buzzer beater at the end of the third quarter and then scored his team’s first five points of the fourth quarter to finish with 17 and lead his team to a 59-58 victory over the Michael Power St. Joseph Trojan.
The 6-foot-1 guard added several rebounds and steals in the second half of the game and took a key charge with his team clinging to a two-point lead in the final minute of the game.
“He gives us a lot of what we need to be competitive,” St. Francis head coach Jon Marcheterre said. “He is a guy who is willing to put defence first, battle for loose balls, rebound and we need that kind of grit because we are an undersized team.
“He gives us some physical play and he can certainly score.”
Kasamba is one of a number of St. Francis players who can score in crunch time.
“We know that Sacade is going to make a play for us.”
Marcheterre has seen Kasamba make strides in his game this season.
“For him, it is accepting the roles that he kind of gets forced into a little bit because of our undersized play,” he said. “It is trying to find some balance between having him screening to free guys up or being the featured guy out on the perimeter. It is also him seeing the floor in transition and we’ve seen a lot of development in that area.
“We are seeing him being able to put the ball in the net and play a more complete game.”
The 17-year-old thinks he has taken a step forward in a number of areas this season.
“I am more of an offensive threat — I can shoot, I can dribble, I can pass — and I have good court vision.”
Grit has always been an important component of his game.
“It just comes from hard work in the past,” he said. “I wasn’t always the most athletic or the strongest one, but I was just hungry. I worked every day in the gym, mornings and after school and whenever I could get in the gym, I would be there.”
This is likely Kasamba’s last season at St. Francis as he is planning to go play prep school ball.
“My brothers made it there and I think I can get there too.”
Kasamba likes where the Phoenix is at heading towards the playoffs and provincial playdowns.
“We are going good and the team is going good.”
Beating Michael Power St. Joseph was another step in that direction
“That is what we do man,” he said. “We are underdogs.”
Marcheterre was thrilled with Friday’s victory.
“That was a big win,” he said. “We need that kind of win against a very difficult opponent.
“That is the beauty of this tournament. We have all the best Catholic schools in the province and it gives you a chance to see where you fit in.”
St. Francis pulled off the win when Cole Carpenter got an offensive rebound with two seconds left in the game and was able to score to give his team the final 59-58 margin.
“This game has started to show us where we are at,” Marcheterre said. “We still have questions we want answered but we are starting to see some of the stuff we have been working on all year long come to fruition.”
STATS PACK
Phoenix 59 Trojan 58
Johnny Rocco’s/Mick and Angelo’s/Cracker Jacks Player of the Game: St. Francis Phoenix’s Sacade Kasamba with 17 points.
For the St. Francis Phoenix: Sacade Kasamba 17; Igor M’Baya 12; Max Riddell 10; Quinton Duemo 7.
For the Michael Power St. Joseph Trojan: Efe Iyamu 28; Owen Osabjohen 10.
Up next: The championship semifinals will be played at 12:30 and 2 p.m. at Denis Morris Saturday with the final set for 7 p.m. at Denis Morris following the consolation final at 5:15 p.m.
