Feb. 19 Niagara College report

A pair of volleyball players were named Niagara College’s athletes of the week.

Port Dover native Ben Fillmore was named top male after contributing 33 assists, two kills and six digs in the men’s volleyball team’s 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-11 and 25-12) victory over the Canadore Panthers in an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association crossover game.

Also contributing to the victory for Niagara were: Elijah Bugiardini, 17 kills; Jaydon Milne, 14 kills; and, Eden grad Micah Nieuwets and Tristan Swinden, nine kills each.

The Knights advance to the OCAA Championship at Humber College from Feb. 21 to 23. The Knights will open versus the Georgian Grizzlies (16-2). The top two teams at the provincials advance to the national championships.

KOSLOWSKI HONOURED

Earning female athlete of the week honours for the umpteenth time was Hamilton native Jordan Koslowski.

Niagara’s captain had a strong showing as the Knights defeated the Algonquin Thunder 3-2 (25-20, 21-25, 14-25, 25-15 and 15-12) in an OCAA crossover match.

Koslowski finished with 15 kills and two service aces for 17 points and also contributed 15 digs on defence.

Also playing well in the victory were: Welland’s Natasha Desjardins, 13 kills, two service aces and 18 digs; Olivia Burnie, 13 kills and 15 digs; St. Catharines’  Madelyn Berg, 18 digs; and, setter Melissa McFadden, 36 assists.

The Knights advanced to the OCAA championship Feb. 22 to 24 at Cambrian College in Sudbury. Niagara, which won a silver last year, opens against the St. Clair Saints. Niagara is 0-2 against St Clair this season but both games went to a fifth and deciding set.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Niagara men’s basketball team finished the regular season in third place in the OCAA West with a 15-5 record.

The Knights closed out the regular season by defeating Conestoga 124-84 at home and Fanshawe 92-91 on the road.

Leading the way for Niagara against Conestoga were: Van Hutchison Jr., 43 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for a triple double; Lequan Hylton,  5-6 shooting from beyond the arc for 20 points; Saint Paul grad Johnnie Richardson, 13 points; Welland Notre Dame product Daniel Lokole, nine points; Governor Simcoe alumnus Rahim Bardi, eight points and six boards; and, Centennial grad Alex Elliott, six points.

“We were hoping to close out at home with a strong effort and prepare for the playoffs,” Niagara coach Phil Mosley said, after the Conestoga game. “Van and Lequan were very effective scoring in different ways and provided a great one-two punch which makes us very difficult to defend.”

First-time academic graduates Hutchinson Jr, Jordon McDonald, Richardson and Keveshan Padachey were honoured before the game.

Top performers versus Fanshawe were: Hutchison Jr., 21 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists; Hylton, 17 points; Jordon McDonald, 16 points and nine rebounds; Kevin Cooper, seven points and eight rebounds; Elliott, eight points; and, Bardi, seven points.

“This (Fanshawe game) was a gutsy performance and will hopefully give us confidence heading into the playoffs,” Mosley said. “We relied on all 10 players available to contribute to this victory. Very proud of our guys’ composure down the stretch.”

Niagara will host a crossover game Saturday at 2 p.m. against a yet-to-be determined opponent. A win Saturday advances the Knights to the OCAA championship.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Niagara College’s finished the regular season in sixth place in the OCAA West Division with an 11-9 record following a 80-58 victory over Conestoga and a 74-57 loss to Fanshawe.

Top performers for Niagara versus Conestoga were: Centennial grad Bridget Atkinson, 37 points and 11 rebounds; Thorold Secondary School product Hannah Baker, eight points and eight boards; Alannah Yates, 11 points; and, Saint Michael alumnus Rysa Delmundo, 10 points.

Kim Shepard was praised by head coach Mike Beccaria for her solid defensive game against the Condors’ top player, Jamila Beckford, who was limited to eight points.

Before the game against Conestoga, first-time academic graduates Atkinson, Baker and Delmundo were honoured for their academic accomplishments.

Leading the way for Niagara versus Fanshawe were: Atkinson, 20 points and five assists; Baker, 14 points and eight boards; Yates, eight points; and, Holy Cross grad Tia Stys, six points.

Atkinson finished the regular season averaging 19.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.7 steals in 19 games.

Niagara will play a crossover game on the road Saturday.