July 11 area sports: Niagara Tigers basketball; Beechwood golf
NIAGARA TIGERS
The Niagara Tigers Grade 5 through 8 teams performed well at the Canadian National Invitational Tournament in Burlington against some of the top club teams from across the country.
The Grade 5 team was placed in a group featuring Triple Balance of Toronto, Halifax Elite, and The Performance Group of Toronto. All of these clubs are provincial contenders and feature some of the top players in their respective provinces at this age group. Despite not winning a game, the team was highly competitive throughout, including holding a late lead over TPG in the semifinal.
“To witness the growth and development of this group and the individual players was special,” Tigers coach Pat Sullivan said.
Niagara lost by 60 points to Triple Balance early in the season but it was a different story at the CNIT.
“The fact that the boys were down a few points at half time and competitive to the end shows that the exposure to this level has allowed our boys to become more comfortable with the style and speed and proof that we are heading in the right direction,” Sullivan said.
In an incredibly competitive Grade 6 division, the Tigers lost to Halton, Halifax Elite and The Performance Group (Ontario champions) by one, two, and three points.
“It was a bittersweet tournament as the boys played very well but to come up short each game was frustrating,” Sullivan said. “We are extremely excited about this group as they proved they can compete with the very best teams in the province.
“Our kids are Division 2 kids mostly with their respective clubs so they have taken some solid leaps in terms of their development.”
In the Grade 7 division, the Tigers faced Winnipeg Hot Shots, London Compass, and the Mississauga Monarchs. Niagara lost a lopsided game versus Winnipeg and had competitive games with London and Mississauga.
“We are very proud of how this group has continued to develop. From the beginning of the season to now it is night and day in terms of execution which is a credit to how hard the kids have worked and a never say die spirit,” Sullivan said.
The Grade 8 Tigers shared a similar fate as the Grade 6 group, losing two-point contests to Winnipeg Hot Shots, and CKATT, and another loss to the eventual champion, The Collective of Toronto.
“We really felt with a couple of bounces or made foul shots we could just have easily been fighting for the championship in this group,” Sullivan said. “These kids battled through some injury issues and some tough 50/50 calls down the stretch of games and really deserved a better fate but that is sport.
“The division offered up some of the best talent in the province and our kids showed we don’t have to take a back seat to anyone with the right mindset.”
The CNIT tourney marked the end of the competitive season for Niagara’s grade school teams.
“It was an incredibly successful season with some great results in our Under Armour circuit sessions, some championship wins in Cleveland and culminating in the CNIT,” Sullivan said. “Most importantly, our kids seemed to love the experience and their passion for the game has grown.”
The Tigers are planning to fine tune its program. Parents are encouraged to check them out at niagaratigers.com.
BEECHWOOD GOLF REPORT
Tuesday Ladies
League Draw Winners: Cindy Dickson, Alana McGregor, Janice Taylor, Ruth Hernder.
Competition Winners: Hidden Score: Kim Cowan, Sara Fragnito, Laura Lafergola.
Tuesday Ladies Points Leaders
Debby Dyck 26, Sue Buchan 25, Kim Cowan 25, Jen Norquay, 25, Kim Kanwisher 24, Jenny Wensink 24, Cindy Dickson 23.
Wednesday Ladies
League Draw Winners: Liz Seeley, Brandi Currie, Carol Catterall, Karen Reschke.
Competition Winners: Hidden Score: Carol Benoit, Maureen Good,Terry Huisman, Barb Little.
Wednesday Ladies Points Leaders
Kelly Riley 22, Bonnie Copeland 21, Shirley Bartolini 20, Terry Huisman 19, Debbie Hamilton 18, Jackie Fitzgerald 17
Rachel Delaney 17, Debbie Shugan-Krahn 17.
Thursday Stag-League Draw Winners
Closest to Hole: #2 Joe Pagnotta; #11 Cameron Coppin.
Men’s Night Team Points
McNamara, Kotyk, Delduca, Isherwood, Stangret, Cienik, Breton, Wedderspoon.
Team Running Total Points: Mac 43, Stang 32, Kotyk 31, Delduca 25, Breton 24, Ish 23, Cienik 22, Wedder 18.
Friday-Ben’s Bright Spot Boys
Individual Quota Point Game Winners: Pat Loney +11, Bernie Mac Adam +10, John Kenny +6, Larry Lavelle +6, John Fulton +5.
Team Quota Points Game Winners: Jim McCann, Pat Loney, Gerry Maney and Frank Sentance +12.
Closest to Hole: #2 Tim Howe; #10 (in 2 shots) Mark Turner; #13 Gerry Maney.
Longest Putt #5 Ron Reece.
Sunday Gals
Red, White and Blue Team Game-Quota Points
1. Peggy Cowling, Suzanne Meginnis and Helen Wylde 212; 2. Juliette Soulsby, Janie Griffiths and Debbie Parks 209.
Sunday Ben’s Groups (2 Net Best Ball)
Ange Persia, Pat Loney, George Allan and Bob Fuller 26 under.
Karl Palmquist, Sam Lucenti, Bill Urquhart and Rick Dupuis 22 under.
Dieter Klassen, John Kenny, Wilf Soulsby and Rick Linwood 21 under.
Ed Stangret, Butch Ciancio, Larry Lavelle and Tim Howe 19 under.
Kevin Cowling, Steve Romanin and Duncan Allan 15 under.
Wayne Meginnis, Tony Crocco, Tony DeRose and Ron Reece 14 under.
Low Net: Wilf Soulsby 81-14=67, Gerry Maney 84-17=67.
Closest to Hole: #2 Bill Urquhart; #13 Pat Loney.
St.Catharines Bantam Falcons Tournament
Scramble Winner: The Costantini Team 64.
Long Drive Men: #8 Braeden Rawsthorne.
Long Drive Ladies: #12 Michelene Hauber.
Closest to Hole Men: #17 Ryan Dingman.
Closest to Hole Ladies: #17 Andrea S.
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