Budgell quarterbacks Redcoats to Standard win
Governor Simcoe’s Noah Budgell has gone to passing basketballs from throwing touchdown passes in the span of a few short weeks.
The quarterback of the school’s varsity team made several good passes Monday and added a game-high 16 points to lead the 11th-ranked Redcoats to a 44-37 victory over the sixth-ranked Centennial Cougars in opening-round action of the Annual Standard High School Basketball Tournament.
Simcoe head coach Shaun Feor describes the Grade 11 player as the complete package.
“I really feel already that he is showing signs of playing at the next level. There are definitely things that we still need work on but in terms of his character and work ethic, he is a very special kid.”
Feor was willing to wait for Budgell to end his football season before focusing on basketball.
“It has been a steep learning curve so far but it is good to have everyone finally intact.”
He trusts Budgell to call plays on offence and communicates with his point guard as he moves up the floor.
“That is something I have always done in the past. Some guys on the floor see things in a different way than the coach does and I like to give the players an opportunity to call what they want. Coaching is two way.”
The 16-year-old arrived full-time at Simcoe’s basketball practices about three weeks after his teammates. He worked hard to catch up.
“I got in the gym a lot, I always got my practice in and I made sure to go every day. And I always came in after football to make sure everything was good and stuff.”
Playing football helps the 6-foot-3 player on the basketball court.
“It strengthens my arm and helps with passing and stuff. When I am dribbling I can throw the ball cross court.”
Playing quarterback also helps.
“Court vision especially. That is one thing it has really helped a lot.”
The Pelham Panthers travel player rates basketball as his favourite sport.
“My dad and my whole family has played basketball and for the past couple of years I am attached to it. I can’t stop.”
The Redcoats led 37-35 with less than three minutes left in the game but five straight points on a three-pointer and put-back inside by Anderson Blanchard helped the Redcoats finish off the Cougars.
“The first game of the Standard is so early and you are trying to get things organized for the game and we are hopefully looking forward to a long tournament run,” Feor said.
Centennial head coach Craig Maltais described the encounter as a tough game.
“We weren’t bad. It is early in the season and I don’t think that we are well-oiled yet. As we go forward, I think we will start to look a little bit smoother. We had some good fight but our ability to finish and take advantage of the opportunities that we’re generating isn’t quite there,” he said. “It is a little bit frustrating but I think we will be looking better in the next couple of weeks.”
It was the Cougars’ fourth game of the year.
“We are pretty early in and we are working with a new offence so it’s tough right now. Hopefully by the end of this week we will look better.”
Maltais likes the roster he has at his disposal.
“We have a couple of guys who are hurt today but we have a lot of depth. We have a lot of energy and the guys work hard,” he said. “A tough game like this we will take a lot away from and hopefully we will keep being quick learners so we can take it forward for the rest of the week.”
STATS PACK
Redcoats 44 Cougars 37
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Simcoe’s Noah Budgell with 16 points.
Boston Pizza Player of the Game: Centennial’s Marco Reyes with six points.
For the Governor Simcoe Redcoats: Budgell 16; Reid Oates 9; Anderson Blanchard 7; Noah Mills 5; Lochlan Belliveau 4; Austin Haggarty 3.
For the Centennial Cougars: Timi Ijaodola 11; Nate Perna 7; Reyes 6; Alex Bray 5; Callum Brown 4; Colby DesRoches 4.
