Dec. 13 Area sport: Niagara College Showcase on deck; Falcons top Hawks; Golden Eagles defeat Flyers
The Niagara Knights men’s and women’s basketball programs are set to host the Niagara Region Basketball showcase at the Welland Campus Athletic Centre Tuesday, Dec. 18. Opening tip for the girls game is slated for 6 p.m. followed by the boys game at 8 p.m.
The event is part of a series of showcases that were launched in June 2013 by the Knights’ soccer programs. Spearheaded by head coach Frank DeChellis and assistant coach Rino Berardi, the annual showcase events features high school student-athletes from across the Niagara Region. Played for the first time in 2016, the basketball games joined a line-up that includes the aforementioned soccer showcases annually in June and volleyball showcases in March.
“Adding the showcase to our lineup a couple of years ago was a huge boost for our program, Knights women’s head coach Mike Beccaria said. “This is another opportunity for high school athletes to compete with their peers and celebrate the state of basketball in Niagara.”
Coaches from participating high schools throughout the region have nominated their student-athletes to compete in the game. The teams will be split up by zone, with Zone 3 taking on Zone 4 for the Niagara Region bragging rights.
Both games will be broadcast live by the Niagara College Broadcast, Radio, Television, and Film (BRTF) programs at www.goknights.ca/watchlive.
Previous participants in the showcase that now suit up for the Knights include women’s basketball’s Sophia Al-Kayed (St. Catharines/St. Francis High School) and Kirstyn Atkins (Welland/Centennial High School) and men’s basketball’s Braidon Moore (Welland/Notre Dame College School) and Johnnie Richardson (Niagara Falls/St. Francis High School).
GOLDEN EAGLES TOP FLYERS
Colton Spencer scored 16 points to lead the Thorold Golden Eagles senior boys basketball team to a 50-30 victory over the Eden Flyers in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association league play.
Elijah Patcheson added 10 and Brayden Herrietha netted eight for Thorold.
Leading scorers for Eden were Luke Reinaerts (11), Ashton Nieuwets (6) and Carter McMaster (6).
In junior action, Thorold defeated Beamsville 79-42 led by Chris Cameron (19), Blayden Burrows (15) and Kresh Walia (12).
FALCONS REMAIN HOT
The St. Catharines Falcons raced out to a 5-0 lead and coasted to a 5-2 win over the Thorold Blackhawks in a Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, Golden Horseshoe Conference game Thursday at Thorold.
The Falcons, who have picked up at least one point in 21 straight games, improved to 20-3-0-2. They trail the Niagara Falls Canucks by five points for first place with two games in hand.
The Hawks fell back to .500 at 13-13-1-1.
Xavier Drummond and Jaleel Adams paced St. Catharines with two goals each while Dakota Miskolczi added one. Christian Girhiny added three assists.
Trevor Neumann and Sam VanderZalm replied for the Hawks.
Dillon Lamarche made 25 saves in goal for the win.
The Falcons host Lockport Friday.
In one other game, the Hamilton Kilty B’s took care of the Welland Junior Canadians on home ice Thursday with a 10-0 victory.
Anthony Pinelli had three for the winners while Holden Rogers added two. Cullen Ferguson, Mark Duarte, Luke Croucher, Derek Raposo and Nick Cordeiro added singles.
Marco Costantini made 22 saves for the shutout.
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