2025 Tribune tournament preview
The Eden Flyers will be looking to retain their title when the 68th edition of the Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament opens Wednesday at four locations.
Eden defeated A.N. Myer 70-55 in last year’s championship game to win the first Tribune title in school history but it will be hard-pressed to retain its title. The Flyers lost some key players to graduation, including 2024 tournament MVP Chad Thorpe, and will face stiff challenges from A.N. Myer, Governor Simcoe, Notre Dame and others.
The tournament opens with games at Notre Dame, EL, Crossley, Centennial and Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf and concludes with championship night Saturday at Notre Dame. The consolation final will be played at 5:30 p.m. and the final at 7 p.m.
Below are profiles of the 16 teams chasing the title at the storied tournament:
A.N. MYER MARAUDERS
League record: 3-0 in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association play.
Tournament history: Lost 70-55 to Eden in the 2024 championship game. One championship title in 2016.
Number of returning players: Thirteen, including six Grade 12s.
Key returning players: Isaiah Cosaro-Oteng, Tanner Smith, Noah Walters, Niko Zapata and Shahzada Haider.
Key newcomers: Ryker Cain and Jonas Kponabom.
Strengths: Team defence and transition.
Weaknesses: Rebounding and making that extra pass.
CENTENNIAL COUGARS
League record: 1-1 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 52-40 in last year’s consolation semifinals to Saint Paul. Three championship titles, including the last one in 2018.
Number of returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Marco Reyes, Nate Perna and Callum Brown.
Key newcomers: Dustin Lariviere, Braden Kroeker and Noah Wellard.
Strengths: Defence and conditioning.
Weaknesses: Shooting, playmaking and basketball IQ.
DENIS MORRIS REDS
League record: 0-4 in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play.
Tournament history: Lost 62-42 to A.N. Myer in last year’s championship quarter-finals. One championship title in 1987.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Travis Palmer, Cole Kelly, Sebastin Pena and Christian Olateru.
Key newcomers: Geremy McRae, Jack Millar, Waldyn Peralta and Alex Blaney.
Strengths: Coachable, size and toughness.
Weaknesses: Depth and transition game.
EDEN FLYERS
League record: 2-1 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Defeated A.N. Myer 70-55 in last year’s championship game for school’s only Trib title.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Kai Schatz, Josh Sanecki, Noah Whyte, Domenic Olesin and Brandon Falle.
Key newcomers: Josh Johnson, Francesco Forte, Chase McLean and Steven Necukov-Waller.
Strengths: Great size and athleticism.
Weakness: Need to blend newcomers and returnees and get everyone on same page in terms of systems.
E.L. CROSSLEY CYCLONE
League record: 1-3 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 76-59 to Saint Paul in last year’s consolation final. Three championship titles, including the last one in 2020.
Number of returning players: Four.
Key returning players: Ryan Zucco, Jayden Thompson, Coleson Birrell and Fazal Bhetasi.
Key newcomers: Graeme MacDonald, Cameron Dunn, Elijah Kpioyo, Caiden Golubic and Nico Christopher.
Strengths: Three-point shooting, multiple strong ball handers, speed/quickness and depth at guard
Weaknesses: Depth at forward and low post, rebounding and lack of experience.
GOVERNOR SIMCOE REDCOATS
League record: 3-0 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 65-43 in last year’s championship quarter-finals. Six Tribune championships, including the last one in 2004.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Anderson Blanchard, Noah Budgell, Ari Steenhuis, Marshall Sumbler, Reid Oates and Emerson Wood.
Key newcomers: Makai Chambers, Lucas Landry, Nathan Sweeney, Nathan Vander Meer and Thomas Vukovics.
Strengths: Strong guard and forward play, team shooting, team defence and big game experience.
Weaknesses: Post presence and interior size.
GREATER FORT ERIE GRYPHONS
League record: 1-1 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 69-55 to E.L. Crossley in last year’s consolation semifinals. No championship titles, won consolation crown in 2019.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Nate Jones, Harland Kelly, Jack Storring, Aiden Storring, Cade Tyrell and Carter Reichel.
Key newcomers: Michael Bielich and Carter Lewis.
Strengths: Well-rounded team with size.
Weaknesses: Outside shooting and most players need to gain experience in bigger roles this season.
HOLY CROSS RAIDERS
League record: 2-2 in Niagara Catholic play.
Tournament history: Lost 72-42 in last year’s championship quarter-finals. No championship titles, won consolation crown in 2023.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Terrell Wallace, Joey Young, Matteo D’Aria, Hunter Herring-Dent and Joseph Martinelli.
Key newcomers: Michael Osagie-Bright, Vinny Gallicchio and Prestan Peters.
Strengths: Defence and three-point shooting.
Weaknesses: Ball movement and rebounding.
LAKESHORE CATHOLIC GATORS
League record: 1-2 in Niagara Catholic play.
Tournament history: Lost 60-50 to E.L. Crossley in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. One championship title in 1996.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Simon Reid and Olivier Michel.
Key newcomers: Willy Kibowa, Matthew Williams, Evan Winger and Haden Hudak.
Strengths: Shooting, size, hustle and toughness.
Weakness: Relatively new as a team and still learning to play together.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
League record: 2-1 in Niagara Catholic play.
Tournament history: Lost 66-50 to A.N. Myer in last year’s championship semifinals. 41 championship titles, including the last one in 2019.
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returning players: Trent Groulx, Will Benko and David Babalola.
Key newcomers: Aidan Lucchetta and Kurt Augustin.
Strengths: Defence, transition scoring, shooting and ball pressure.
Weakness: Size.
PORT COLBORNE BLUE BEARS
League record: 1-2 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 79-56 to GFESS in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. No championship titles, last won consolation crown in 1983.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Myles Draper, Ethan Yalowica, Jake Graham, Ahmed Shahzad, Carlos Yang and Sawyer Kerrigan-Noone.
Key newcomers: Robbie Morvan, Kamron Moss, Porter Burella, Connor Smagata-Cross, Taylor Ker, Markiss Bollers and Aaron Mitchell.
Strengths: Can run open floor well to create transition points; and, several guards are threat from the outside while others can break through the defence and attack the rim.
Weaknesses: Can loose focus both offensively and defensively which leads to weak possessions and can affect their confidence; rebounding; and, poor ball movement and turnovers are areas that need improvements.
SAINT JEAN DE BREBEUF LYNX
League record: 2-1 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 53-35 to Centennial in in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. No Tribune titles.
Number of returning players: Eight.
Key returning players: Mitchell Morden, Ronan Stark, Taiten Stifter, Stéphane Tambekou and Enzo Aka.
Key newcomer: Princeley Toge.
Strengths: Quick team; lots of energy; no significant drop in skill level when subsitutions are made.
Weaknesses: Although the average height of the team is around 6-foot-1, there is no true big man for post presence; still developing team chemistry as the team was created very late in November.
SAINT MICHAEL MUSTANGS
League record: 0-4 in Niagara Catholic play.
Tournament history: Lost 88-54 to Eden in last year’s championship quarter-finals. No Tribune championships, won consolation crown in 2018.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Arwin Chima, Nicholas Karagiannis, Hagen Generao, Matthew Lim and Andrew Karagiannis.
Key newcomer: Jessiah Bowyer.
Strengths: Scrappy; 12B leadership.
Weaknesses: Rebounding; finishing games.
SAINT PAUL PATRIOTS
League record: 4-0 in Niagara Catholic play.
Tournament history: Defeated E.L. Crossley 76-59 in last year’s consolation final. No championship titles.
Number of returning players: Two.
Key returning players: Mark Cruz and Isaac Jordan.
Key newcomers: Eric Kaufmann and Liam Williams.
Strength: Athleticism.
Weakness: Size.
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
League record: 1-2 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 60-44 to Eden in last year’s championship semifinals. Won lone championship title in 2023.
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returning player: Owen Scott.
Key newcomers: Drase Charles and DeAndre Lindsay.
Strengths: Athletic and good overall team speed.
Weaknesses: New, young team that lacks height.
WESTLANE SPARTANS
League record: 1-3 in NRHSAA play.
Tournament history: Lost 69-46 to Saint Paul in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. No Tribune titles.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Dylan Klassen, Ashton Gidney, Pruthvi Patel, Mitchell White and Angelo Sumaway.
Key newcomers: O’Shane Hall, Noah Del Mundo, CJ Conley, Jacob Jacks and Kian Gregory.
Strengths: Defensive effort and teamwork.
Weaknesses: Lack of big game experience and size.
