Keltos seeing more floor time, Kigab update, Brock and Niagara College athletics
Ingersoll native Robert Zalewski was named Niagara College’s male athlete of the week. Photo Special to BPSN by RYAN MCCULLOUGH
St. Catharines native Sam Keltos had a busy week for the St. Francis Brooklyn NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball team.
In last week’s games, the Sir Winston Churchill grad had: four points and two rebounds and 24 minutes of playing time in a 59-36 loss to Robert Morris; eight points and four rebounds and 18 minutes of playing time in a 82-73 victory over St. Mary’s; and, nine points and 20 minutes of playing time in a 80-76 triumph over Wagner College.
For the season, Keltos is now averaging four points, 2.3 rebounds and 13.1 minutes of playing time per game.
Niagara’s other NCAA player, St. Francis grad Abu Kigab, had two rebounds and was 3-4 from the free-throw line in 14 minutes of playing time as Oregon fell 90-83 to 17th-ranked Arizona.
In a 76-72 triumph versus Arizona State, Kigab had three rebounds in six minutes of floor time.
For the season, Kigab is averaging 2.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.5 minutes of playing time per game.
BROCK BASKETBALL
The second-ranked Brock men’s basketball team improved to 12-2 on the season by defeating Algoma 78-62 and 79-46.
Performing well in the 78-62 victory were Dani Elgadi: 22 points and 10 rebounds; Tyler, Brown, 10 points and six rebounds; and, Johneil Simpson, 10 points.
Topping the stat sheet in the 79-46 romp were: Elgadi, 25 points and 11 boards; and, Brown and Simpson, 14 points.
“I was happy to get away with two wins. Algoma is a tough place to play,” Brock head coach Charles Kissi said. “We continue to defend well.”
Brock is at Guelph Friday before hosting Windsor Saturday at 8 p.m.
BROCK WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Down to seven players because of injuries, the Brock women’s basketball team split a pair of road games against Algoma, losing 59-56 and recording a 66-55 win.
“It is so tough with a young developing team too go out on the road with seven, half rookies who normally don’t see the court, and grind out two wins,” head coach Ashley MacSporran said. “We know Friday’s game was our loss. We did some things that are not Brock basketball.”
Second in the OUA in rebounding, the Badgers were outrebounded by Algoma.
“We should never lose that battle regardless of numbers,” she said. “For an undersized team, we have to gang rebound, guards and posts together.
“We didn’t do that Friday and that cost us the game.”
Leading the way in the loss were: Baelie Campbell, 16 points and six boards; Courtney McPherson, 14 points and eight rebounds; and, Stephanie Findlay, 12 points and five rebounds.
Performing well in the victory were: Campbell, 24 points; McPherson, 10 points and 11 rebounds; and, rookie and Notre Dame alumnus Miranda Smith, 14 points on 4-5 shooting from the line.
“I am proud of the fight in the seven,” MacSporran said, “It’s hard to be in a position where you know you have 40 minutes a game. Courtney and Baelie both played 80 minutes this weekend and were outstanding.”
She was delighted with Smith’s breakout game.
“Again a rookie coming off of a first-semester injury with limited minutes and she was thrown into the fire this weekend,” MacSporran said. “She had a huge game Saturday when we needed her.”
Brooke Murdoch also had a strong weekend at point with her defence and rebounding.
With so many players out with injuries, MacSporran jumped into action during practice last Tuesday and suffered a concussion. Feeling awful, MacSporran flew to the Soo and coached her team.
“I cannot thank the support from the men’s team enough this weekend for helping our girls,” she said. “The Brock basketball programs are a family and the guys cheered on our girls and had our backs. That is very special.”
Brock’s women are at Guelph (6-8) Friday before hosting Windsor (11-3) Saturday at 6 p.m.
The Windsor game marks the first homecoming for Denis Morris product Erin Kenny and Eden alumnus Jenneke Pilling.
BROCK HOCKEY
Jensen Murphy made 41 saves to lead the 10th-ranked Brock women’s hockey team to a 3-1 victory over UOIT.
Murphy leads the OUA in games played and started, minutes played, saves, save percentage (.951) and wins (11).
Becca Hogan, Christina Ieradi and Kailey Peirson scored for Brock.
The Badgers, who lost 3-0 to Queen’s last week, host Waterloo Saturday at 2:15 p.m., at the Seymour-Hannah complex.
Brock men’s hockey team’s record sits at 10-6-4 on the season, including 7-3 in its past 10 games, following a 2-1 win over Ryerson and a 3-2 overtime loss to the University of Toronto.
Brandon O’Quinn and Dexter Weber scored in the win and Jeff Corbett set up a pair of goals. Clint Windsor made 29 saves to record the victory. Ayden MacDonald and Cosimo Fontana scored in the loss.
Brock hosts Guelph Friday at 7:15 p.m. at the Seymour-Hannah Centre.
BROCK VOLLEYBALL
Brock’s women lost 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 30-28, 25-19) to the Western Mustangs (22-25, 25-18, 30-28, 25-19).
Top performers for Brock were: Laura Condotta, 10 kills and 10 digs; Renee Helmer, 10 kills; Darby Taylor, nine kills; Torri Carroll eight kills; Emily Armstrong, 38 assists and 10 digs; and, Julia Balatbat, 17 digs.
Brock’s men fell 3-0 (25-16, 25-11 and 25-17) to Western.
Performing well for Brock were: Logan House, 13 kills, Marcelo Correa, 18 assists; and, Felipe Costa, nine kills.
BROCK TRACK AND FIELD
Jeremy Mol qualified for the 1,000 metres at the OUA championships with a personal-best time of 2:35.36 at the Can Am Classic in Windsor.
NIAGARA BASKETBALL
Fonthill native Courtney Kilyk was named Niagara College’s female athlete of the week.
The Welland Notre Dame alumnus had 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds to lead Niagara’s women’s basketball team to a 84-57 victory over the University of Toronto Mississauga Eagles.
Through 11 games with Niagara (7-4), Kilyk has been averaging 11.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
“Courtney has been a major part of the success we’ve had this season,” Knights head coach Mike Beccaria said. “She is a skilled veteran who will be relied on heavily down the stretch.”
Also contributing to the win for the fourth-place Knights were: Governor Simcoe product Mary Ingribelli, 11 points and seven rebounds; and, Tianna Stys, 10 points and eight boards.
Niagara’s men’s basketball team improved to 8-3 on the season with a 81-69 triumph over the University of Toronto Mississauga Eagles.
Leading the way for the fourth-place Knights were: Jordan McDonald, 17 points and 18 rebounds; Van Hutchison Jr., 16 points, eight boards and eight assists; Levi Mukuna, 16 points and eight rebounds; and, Kevin Cooper, 10 points and seven boards.
Riding a three-game winning streak, Niagara is at Mohawk (7-6) Thursday.
NIAGARA VOLLEYBALL
Ingersoll native Robert Zalewski was named Niagara College’s male athlete of the week.
The rookie libero had strong defensive performances in his team’s wins over Conestoga and Sheridan.
“Robbie has been a crucial part of our success so far this season,” Knights head coach Nathan Groenveld said. “To step into our starting rotation as a rookie and play the way he does, proves how impressive this kid really is.”
Zalewski leads Niagara with 79 digs.
Niagara defeated the Conestoga Condors 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 28-30, 25-190 and Sheridan 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19) to move into fourth place in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association West Division.
Against the Condors, Niagara was led offensively by 6-foot-4 outside hitter Mitch Sawatsky. The sophomore from St. Catharines had a season-best 20 kills. The Eden grad battled injuries in the first half of the season but is get healthy now.
Niagara hosts Humber (8-2) Thursday.
Niagara’s women’s volleyball team (7-3) swept Conestoga (25-20, 25-19, 25-23) and lost 3-2 (25-21, 25-21, 18-25, 14-25, 15-17) to Sheridan
In the win, Niagara was led by Jordan Koslowski with a match high 15 kills.
Niagara hosts Humber (12-0) Thursday.
