Young guns spark Phoenix
In the long history of the powerhouse Saint Francis senior boys basketball program, the list of Grade 9 starters is a short one.
On that exclusive list are such Saint Francis notables as Pat Pilato, Tshing Kasamba and Abu Kigab. This year’s version has not one but three Grade 9 starters and all played a prominent role Tuesday in a 84-36 road victory over the Lakeshore Catholic Gators in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association (Zone 2) play.
Fantastic freshman Andrews Ens led the way with 21 points whole fellow rooks Quinton Ethier and Jack Ciocca chipped in with 13 and 12 points respectively.
Phoenix head coach Jon Marcheterre agree it’s rare to start three Grade 9s and said it is a product of having three players move on to play prep basketball creating openings and being blessed with a deep and talented group of Grade 9s and 10s at the junior level.
“In order to make sure we continue to be successful at senior and get as many opportunities for kids to play at the junior level, it was really an easy decision to make,” he said. “Starting all three, it is a matter of us trying to win basketball games and right now those three are hopefully giving us the best five on the floor to start games.”
Marcheterre describes Ens as a special player.
“He is an extremely talented, young guard. His ball-handing skills are terrific, he can score and finish at the rim but what is really impressive is his maturity and keeping things simple offensively. He fits our overall team philosophy of defend first and take what is there offensively.”
The 14-year-old started the year by trying out for the junior and senior teams at Saint Francis.
“They picked me for senior and I chose to go with them because they give me the best opportunity for good experiences and stuff.”
The 5-foot-9 guard, who plays his travel ball with Niagara United, has enjoyed playing at the senior level.
“It is good and I am learning from a lot of guys like Allen (Kalonji), a senior who has been here before.”
Ens knows he has a lot to work on to continue to excel at the senior level.
“I have to get better at everything, especially defence. It is the most important part of the game.”
Marcheterre will take a 3-0 start to begin the 11-game NCAA regular season.
“We are pretty young and inexperienced and we have a long way to go like many teams in the league and region,” he said. “We are trying to get our feet set and we have a lot of little things that we need to get a lot better at.”
Normally at this point in the season, the Phoenix would have already competed in three tournaments.
“We have a lot of learning to do with our guys about what senior basketball is about,” he said. “We only have one returning senior and it was getting them prepared for a little more physical play and that mental focus and toughness that they need.”
After Tuesday’s game, the NCAA schedule maker has fallen far down Lakeshore head coach Kyle Mokren’s Christmas gift list. The Gators have opened the season against the two best teams in the league, Saint Francis and Notre Dame.
“I think they are going to get a $5 Tim’s card from me,” he said, with a smile. “Those are the two toughest teams and both could probably go to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of school Athletic Associations championship). It was a tough one today.”
Playing Saint Francis and Notre Dame to open its season gives the Gators a firm grasp of what they need to work on.
“It’s not even the defence on our team, it’s the offence,” Mokren said. “We don’t have any travel players, we just have raw talent and they are probably going to peak near the end of the year. I happy with the boys.”
Lakeshore has shown a willingness to play hard no matter the score.
“They are always tenacious and always ready to go,” he said. “It’s cardio. They run probably 100 laps every practice and they better be able to go the whole game.”
STATS PACK
Phoenix 84 Gators 36
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: Saint Francis’ Andrews Ens with 21 points and Lakeshore Catholic’s Chris Tanguay with 16.
For the Saint Francis Phoenix: Ens 21; Quinton Ethier 13; Jack Ciocca 12; Allen Kalonji 11; Luca Valvano 8; Nixon Provenzano 6; Matt Futino 5; D.J. Conway 3; Vlad Brundula 3.
For the Lakeshore Catholic Gators: Tanguay 16; Max Annunziata 6; Luc Jean Baptiste 6; Dylan Lubberts 3; Allan Buri 2; Blake Silenzi 2; Alec Iconomopoulos 1.
Up next: The Phoenix (3-0) host Blessed Trinity at 4:30 p.m. and the Gators (0-2) host Denis Morris Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
