Trib Tourney is back
The Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament is back after a two-year absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 66th edition of the oldest high school basketball tournament in Ontario begins at four sites next Wednesday. At Notre Dame, Notre Dame and Governor Simcoe will meet at 2:30 p.m. followed by Saint Paul and Saint Michael at 4 p.m. At E.L. Crossley, the host Cyclone will battle Westlane at 12:30 p.m. while Blessed Trinity and Sir Winston Churchill meet in the second game at 2 p.m. At Centennial, the host Cougars square off against A.N. Myer at 1 p.m. followed by Port High and Greater Fort Erie at 2:30 p.m. At Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf, the host Lynx battle Eden at 3 p.m. and at 4:30 p.m., Denis Morris and Holy Cross meet.
Championship quarter-finals will be played Thursday at Notre Dame at 3:30, 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. Consolation quarter-finals will be contested Thursday at 12:45 and 2:15 p.m. at Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf and 3 and 4:30 p.m. at Centennial.
All the action shifts to Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday. Friday will see consolation semifinals played at 3:30 and 5 p.m. and championship semifinals staged at 6:30 and 8 p.m. The consolation final will be played 5:30 p.m. Saturday followed by the championship final at 7 p.m.
Below are brief looks at all 16 teams competing in the event.
A.N. MYER MARAUDERS
Number of returning players: Six.
Number of returning starters: Two.
Key returning players: Manuel Maynard and Adam Abboud.
Key newcomers: Sahil Rizwan, Jayke Arnold, Tavish McMahon and Louis Pullano.
Strengths: Ball movement and outside shooting.
Weaknesses: Stopping dribble penetration and rebounding.
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 5-0 in NRHSAA play. Beat Standard champion Churchill 59-57 in league play.
BLESSED TRINITY THUNDER
Returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Mawana Chidovi, Caleb Olemide, Michael Akinpetide and Luc DiFlavio,
Key newcomers: Vinnie Pucci, Sam Gatto, Tre’von Higgins, Luka Rafanelli, Matteo Villella, Benjamin Soltes, Nick Kolenko, Andrew Furtney and Lucious Dungey.
Strengths: Athletic and quick; several good shooters; some inside presence this year.
Weakness: Team still learning about each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Paper chase: The Thunder lost 63-48 to E.L. Crossley in the Standard championship quarter-finals.
League record: 0-1 in NCAA play.
CENTENNIAL COUGARS
Returning players: Three.
Key returning players: Cam Larmand, Max McNeil and Kevin Zhang.
Key newcomers: Joel McDede, Timi Ijaodola, Matt Millar and Elliot Slack.
Strengths: Depth; hustle.
Weakness: Youth.
Paper chase: The Cougars went 0-2 in Standard tourney.
League record: 0-4 in NRHSAA play.
DENIS MORRIS REDS
Returning players: 10.
Key returning players: Will Hastings, Campbell Hastings and Joshua Kauffman.
Key newcomers: Nathan Sansaet and Owen Millar.
Strengths: Depth; size.
Weakness: Transition game.
Paper chase: The Reds lost 73-48 to Saint Francis in Standard championship quarter-finals.
League record: 2-1 in NCAA play.
EDEN FLYERS
Returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Chad Thorpe, Riley Stewart, Caleb Stewart and Edson Sanecki.
Key newcomers: Luke Midgley and Luke Johnson.
Strengths: Great size; strong perimeter shooting; high basketball IQ.
Weakness: Lack of familiarity with playing together.
Paper chase: The Flyers lost 51-43 to Churchill in Standard championship final.
League record: 4-0 in NRHSAA play.
E.L. CROSSLEY CYCLONE
Returning players: Four.
Key returning players: Samuel Jeffery, Connor Bleich, Aakash Senthil and Jackson Kalybaba.
Key newcomers: Matthew Kleinsmith and Luca Burattini.
Strengths: backcourt has speed and quickness; lack of height up front but forwards have the strength to compete with other teams’ big men; looking to run the ball this year.
Weaknesses: A dominant big man in the paint and the ability to stop teams that take the ball inside.
Paper chase: The Cyclone lost 63-47 to Churchill in Standard championship semifinals.
League record: 2-2 in NRHSAA play.
GOVERNOR SIMCOE REDCOATS
Returning players: Four.
Key returning player: Malcolm Perrin.
Key newcomers: Ari Steenhuis and Lochlan Belliveau.
Strengths: Deep bench; quickness.
Weakness: Young and inexperienced squad with nine Grade 11s and only one returning starter.
Paper chase: Went 0-2 in Standard tourney.
League record: 0-5 in NRHSAA play.
GREATER FORT ERIE GRYPHONS
Returning players: Two.
Key returning players: Isaiah Vernon and Noah Dado.
Key newcomers: Kyle Barrett, Noah Gmoser and Nate Jones.
Strengths: Athleticism; defence.
Weaknesses: Team concepts; shot selection.
Paper chase: The Gryphons lost 72-32 to Eden in Standard championship quarter-finals.
League record: 2-3 in NRHSAA play.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Number of returning players: Five.
Number of returning starters: Three.
Key returning players: Owen Phillips, Chris Ortiz and Rylan Lauder.
Key newcomers: Adam Ponting, Andrew Banko, Trent Groulx, Michael Ventresca and Nicholas Capretta.
Strength: Good guard play.
Weakness: Rebounding
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 2-1 in NCAA play.
HOLY CROSS RAIDERS
Returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Dwayne Osborne, Lucas Muon, Arin Sayegh and Greg Wenglowski.
Key newcomers: Terrell Wallace and Owen Bradford-Andrews.
Strength: Experience; compete level.
Weakness: Adapting to new system.
Paper chase: The Raiders lost 42-24 to Thorold in Standard consolation final.
League record: 1-1 in NCAA play.
PORT COLBORNE BLUE BEARS
Number of returning players: Three
Number of returning starters: One.
Key newcomer: Kolby Kulak.
Strengths: Effort.
Weaknesses: Inexperience with organized basketball; skills.
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 2-3 in NRHSAA play.
SAINT-JEAN-DE-BREBEUF LYNX
Number of returning players: Seven.
Number of returning starters: Two.
Key returning player: Adian Astudillo (PG).
Key newcomers: Daniel Charest and Nicolas Roberge.
Strengths: Very athletic team; lots of energy; players take pride in their defence.
Weaknesses: Lack of experience in basketball, many are athletes where basketball isn’t their primary sport; relatively short team, average height is roughly 5-foot-9 with no one over 6-foot-2.
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 4-1 in NRHSAA play.
SAINT MICHAEL MUSTANGS
Number of returning players: Seven.
Number of returning starters: Five.
Key returning players: Audley Gardener (SG) and Devon Devost (SG).
Key newcomers: Arwin Chima (PF), Luka Dermott (PF) and Hagen Generao (PG/SG).
Strengths: Deep bench; hustle; speed; pressure.
Weaknesses: Rebounding and ball control.
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 1-3 in NCAA play.
SAINT PAUL PATRIOTS
Number of returning players: Six.
Number of returning starters: Three.
Key returning players: Joey Primerano-Williams, Mateo Canakis and Dante De Benedetti.
Key newcomers: Isaac Jordan and Shomari Hill.
Strengths: Intensity; Inside and outside scoring.
Weakness: Experience.
Paper chase: Did not play in Standard tourney.
League record: 2-1 in NCAA play.
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
Returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Mazen Yagubi and Brady Pupek.
Key newcomers: Matteo Scaglione and Will McAlpine.
Strengths: scoring; rebounding; size; depth; experience.
Paper chase: The Bulldogs defeated Eden 51-43 in Standard championship final.
League record: 3-1 in NRHSAA play.
WESTLANE SPARTANS
Returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Dylan Klassen and Marko Niezurawski.
Key newcomers: Tegbir Gill, Arnav Sharma and Strahinja Suzic.
Strengths: Attitude; energy; eagerness to learn.
Weakness: Inexperience at senior level.
Paper chase: The Spartans went 0-2 in Standard tourney.
League record: 3-2 in NRHSAA play.
