Gryphons, Cyclone emerge victorious
Dave Adamek admits he had more than a few mixed emotions Wednesday.
The head coach of the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons is a strong competitor who loves to win and wants his club to succeed. On the other hard, Adamek also coaches Port Colborne Blue Bears forward Caleb Grover in track and field and is close to Grover’s father, Blue Bears head coach Scott Grover.
“I’m cheering for him too,” Adamek said of Caleb Grover following Fort Erie’s 62-39 triumph at Centennial in opening round action at the 66th Annual Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament. “I wanted him to do well. I’m cheering for my guys too. We work hard every day and I want to win.”
Adamek and Scott Grover go back a long way when Adamek worked in Port Colborne and the two also played in band together for a time.
“I taught at Port for my first five years teaching,” Adamek said. “Grove is one of my best buddies and I want them to do well the same as us.
“It’s always a fun game.”
Caleb Grover more than held up his end Wednesday, pouring in 14 points while being named Mountainview Building Group Player of the Game for his team.
“I didn’t come out trying to show him up or anything,” Caleb Grover said when asked about playing against his track coach. “I wanted to do my best.”
Adamek knew it would be tough to stop the 6-foot-3 forward.
“I told my guys before the game anytime he touches the ball you have to double team him,” Adamek said. “He’s big and he’s strong. He competes and he can play.”
Adamek is also well aware how talented Caleb Grove is at throwing the discus and shot put.
“He comes to Fort Erie once a week. Mostly I focus on the technique side with him,” Adamek said. “It’s hard to commit. If I could, I would work with him every day. He’s such a great kid and he’s talented. He’s smart, he studies, he learns and that’s why he’s really, really good and is favoured to win OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) in two events this year.”
Caleb Grover, who also trains with Thorold Elite Track Club, played hockey and basketball growing up. He played in the Tribune Tournament as a Grade 9 student and also won a player of the game award as a 14-year-old.
“Track is my main thing,” he said. “Basketball keeps me athletic, keeps me in shape and basketball translates to track well as far as explosiveness.”
Caleb Grover won a bronze in the shot put at nationals after taking home double gold for at discus and shot put at provincials last summer.
“Gold for nationals and for OFSAA as well,” he said when asked for his track goals this year.
He also indicated he is talking to a few schools regarding a scholarship.
Scott Grover said his squad was short bodies so the plan was to try and slow down the Gryphons.
“I didn’t want to put on any pressure,” he said. “I basically wanted to save my guys and we wanted them to shoot outside. We tried to slow the game down but we turned the ball over way too much.
“We’re inexperienced but they did well. They did better than I thought and they had fun.”
GRYPHONS 62 BLUE BEARS 39
Mountainview Building Group Players of the Game: Fort Erie’s Kyle Barrett and Port Colborne’s Caleb Grover.
For the Greater Fort Erie Gryphons: Kyle Barrett 20; Isaiah Vernon 11; Aaron Akharoh 9; Nate Jones 6; Alex Brewster 4; Omar Khan 3; Noah Gmoser 1.
For the Port Colborne Blue Bears: Kolby Kulak 16; Caleb Grover 14; Cole Istok 3; Jack Lascelles 2; Jonathan Smith 2; Alex McNay 2.
CYCLONE 58 SPARTANS 45
Sam Jeffrey scored 15 points as the E.L. Crossley Cyclone held off the Westland Spartans before a packed gym at Crossley in opening round action.
Mountainview Building Group Players of the Game: Crossley’s Sam Jeffrey and Westlane’s Dylan Klassen.
For the E.L. Crossley Cyclone: Sam Jeffery 15; Matthew Kleinsmith 11; Jackson Kalybaba 9; Aakash Senthil 8; Connor Bleich 5;
Max Johnson 3; Luca Burattini 3; Lucas Motola 2; Riley Rose 2.
For the Westlane Spartans: Aldin Prsic 10; Dylan Klassen 9; Alex Darbyson 8; Strahinja Suzic 6; Teo del Mundo 5; Arnav Sharma 5.
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