61st Standard tourney starts Monday
The defending champion Saint Francis Phoenix are the top seeds in the Standard tournament which starts Monday.
Bragging rights are on the line when the 61st Annual Standard High School Basketball Tournament opens at four area high schools Monday.
Games will be played at Denis Morris, Eden, Thorold and West Niagara on Monday before switching to Saint Francis, Denis Morris, Governor Simcoe and West Niagara on Tuesday. All consolation and championship semifinals will be contested Thursday with the consolation final and championship final set for Friday at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. at St. Catharines Collegiate. Schedule is posted at bottom of story.
“John (Pilling) and I are looking forward to another exciting tourney this year. We have the same 16 schools back, which can sometimes be a challenge in the current educational environment, so we’re excited about that,” tournament co-chair Randy Conlon said.
Accenture is back as the event’s main sponsor.
“We are thrilled to have Accenture back on board as our title sponsor again this year. They have been incredibly generous over the past two years and I think that speaks volumes about the importance and the history of this tournament to our community,” he said. “It’s also great to have BPSN supporting us and the young athletes in Niagara each and every year. The tremendous amount of positive feedback we get from people reading the stories is truly a testament to the tremendous work Bernie and Bill do.”
Below are previews of the teams taking part in the tournament.
BLESSED TRINITY THUNDER
Seeding: Sixth.
Tournament history: Lost 74-52 to Saint Francis in championship quarter-finals last year. No tournament wins. Won consolation crown in 2006.
Number of returning players: Nine.
Key returning players: Luka Rafanelli, Antonio Plesa, Danijel Skrban.
Key newcomer: Mico Penich.
Strengths: Athleticism, strength and size.
Weakness: Experience.
CENTENNIAL COUGARS
Seeding: 11th.
Tournament history: Lost 58-52 to Smithville Christian in consolation quarter-finals last year. No tournament wins. Won consolation crown in 2019.
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
Seeding: Fourth.
Tournament history: Lost 67-42 to Saint Francis in championship semifinals last year. Eleven tournament titles, including last one in 2014.
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
Seeding: Fifth.
Tournament history: Lost 60-50 to Saint Francis in championship game last year. No tournament wins. Won consolation crown in 2018.
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
Seeding: 12th.
Tournament history: Lost 67-40 to Ridley College in last year’s consolation semifinals. One tournament title in 1973.
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
Seeding: Second.
Tournament history: Lost 57-34 to Churchill in last year’s championship quarter-finals. Eleven tournament titles, including last one in 2010.
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
Seeding: 10th.
Tournament history: Lost 82-39 to Eden in last year’s championship quarter-finals. No tournament titles. Won consolation title in 2017.
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
Seeding: 15th.
Tournament history: Lost 59-46 to Smithville Christian in last year’s consolation semifinals. One tournament title in 1993.
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.
LAURA SECORD PATRIOTS
Seeding: 13th.
Tournament history: Lost 59-50 to Holy Cross in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. One tournament title in 1971.
Number of returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Travis Joyce and Abdi Farah.
Key newcomer: Max Fretz.
Strengths: Athleticism and experience.
Weaknesses: Depth and rebounding.
RIDLEY COLLEGE TIGERS
Seeding: Ninth.
Tournament history: Defeated Smithville Christian 59-50 in last year’s consolation final. Three tournament titles, including the last one in 2015.
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Rafael Cokcan, David Ekenta, Nick Nyimbili and Seun Martins.
Key newcomers: Twins Patrick and Phillip Joo.
Strengths: Organized, strong on defence and quick in transition.
Weaknesses: Playing against pressure and inexperience.
SAINT FRANCIS PHOENIX
Seeding: First.
Tournament history: Defeated Eden 60-50 in last year’s championship final. Ten tournament titles.
Number of returning players: Eight.
Key returning players: Nawaf Kigab, Austin Hinds, Jack Ciocca, Andrew Ens, Awab Ali, Trent Dobson, Farouk Akasha and Elijah Quissua.
Key newcomers: Sam Riddell, Sadieke Hayden and Jalen French.
Strengths: Experience, athleticism and shooting.
Weaknesses: Size and maturity.
SMITHVILLE CHRISTIAN STORM
Seeding: 14th.
Tournament history: Lost 59-55 to Ridley College in last year’s consolation final. No tournament titles.
Number of returning players: Two.
Key returning players: Chris Nyakabasa and Lincoln van der Wier.
Key newcomers: Daniel Attia, Logan Higginson, Bo Langendoen and Derrick Posthumus.
Strengths: Deep roster and fast with lots of quick guards.
Weakness: Only two returning players.
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
Seeding: Eighth.
Tournament history: Lost 63-42 to Eden in last year’s championship semifinals. Two tournament titles, including the last one in 2022.
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.
ST. CATHARINES COLLEGIATE SAINTS
Seeding: 16th.
Tournament history: Lost 77-36 to Ridley College in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. Ten tournament titles, including the last one in 1997.
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Sean Hill, Kadmiel Patrong, Kevin Gumiran, Gian Villanueva, Soran Subhani
Strengths: Strong work ethic, good chemistry and team defence focusing on communication and good team basketball.
Weakness: Relatively young team.
THOROLD GOLDEN EAGLES
Seeding: Seventh.
Tournament history: Lost 73-52 to E.L. Crossley in last year’s consolation quarter-finals. No tournament titles. Last won consolation title in 2022.
Number of returning players: Seven.
Key returning players: Israel Anuku, Venstone Denave, Spencer Fluellon, Tayte Fraser, Tyrese Gibson, Armann Sandhu and Will Sargeant.
Key newcomers: Mujeeb Aruna, Abdurrhman Khalid, Tyler Lampman, Austin Miller, Miller Miotto, Teni Olajumoke and Tyrel Walters.
Strengths: Depth, defensive intensity and shooting.
Weaknesses: Size and big game experience.
WEST NIAGARA WOLFPACK
Seeding: Third.
Tournament history: Lost 69-53 to Denis Morris in last year’s championship quarter-finals. No tournament titles.
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returning players: Julian Sobota, Ben Unrau and Owen Bowman.
Key newcomers: Parker Weston-Thwaites, Chrystian Kyslytsya and Scott D’Cunha.
Strengths: Speed, quickness and shooting.
Weaknesses: Rebounding and shot blocking.
