Phoenix survive scare
With the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association senior boys AA basketball championship in doubt, the championship pedigree of the Saint Francis Phoenix came to the forefront Tuesday evening in front of a large home crowd.
Trailing 55-44 late in the third quarter to the talented Saint Paul Patriots, Jack Ciocca cut the lead to 55-47 with a buzzer-beating three. Then Andrews Ens opened the final quarter with an and one to cut the lead to 55-50 and the comeback was on. Led by 13 fourth-quarter points from Ens, the Phoenix rallied for a 75-67 victory that was in doubt until the final buzzer. Saint Francis led 68-66 with 2:09 left in the game and closed it out with a 7-1 run.
Down by double digits, there was no panic in the Phoenix.
“That is what our team is. We have all been together for so long and we all love each other,” Ens said. “It’s a good group and being down 11 in the third quarter was not too much for us. We knew we had a quarter and a half to go so we just pushed through and got it done.”
That confidence is ever present.
“It is just from experience. We have all been here before and we played as a group,” Ens said.
Ens was more than happy to have the game in his hands when it mattered the most.
“That’s how it fell and I was on but the other guys were making plays, We had big-time shots from Awab (Ali) and Austin (Hinds) in the corner and we couldn’t have done it without them. It was a team effort.”
Ens likes his team’s chances moving on to the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association championships and beyond.
“We just have to take it one game at a time. We have to keep playing as a team and it starts on defence.”
Saint Francis head coach Rich Alderson knows Ens is his ace up his sleeve.
“We are tough to beat when Andrew takes control of the game like that. We have been waiting all year for him to do it and when he has to in big games, he steps up and he gets the job done.”
Alderson agreed Ciocca’s three played a big role in the comeback.
“It was just massive. He is another one of our main players and leaders on the team that we count on for big shots and defensive stops,” he said. “These guys have the experience. They have been here for four years at the senior level. That’s the expectation out of them and they produce.”
Like his players, Alderson appeared calm and cool with his team trailing.
“We have been in that position before, especially this year. We have played from behind a lot. We have a ton of experience on our team and they know what they have to do on the defensive end to get us back in the game. All our senior guys stepped up and made defensive stops and then we hit some big shots to get us back in the game.”
Alderson was impressed with the play of Saint Paul.
“What a great team they are and there are a lot of great kids on that team. They worked their butts off and I expect great things from them next year.”
Saint Paul head coach Michael Doodeman was clearly upset with the loss.
“Things got a little out of hand for us in the end. We lost a bit of focus,” he said. “I think we were the better team today. I am very disappointed and I think we deserved to win that game. It’s tough coming here. We have to be a bit more composed but I don’t think it is fair how some of our players are treated.”
He was particularly upset with leading scorer Eric Kaufmann being assessed four offensive fouls. He fouled out with 3:33 left in the game and St. Francis ahead 61-59.
“How often does one player get four offensive fouls? I have never seen that in a game of basketball in my life.”
The Patriots have gotten better and better as the season has worn on.
“We had to jell as a team. From last year, the only returning player in the starting five was Mark Cruz. That four guys we had to jell for a long time.”
The Patriots will be strong again next season.
“We will have more or less the same team,” Doodeman said.
STATS PACK
Phoenix 75 Patriots 67
Cat’s Caboose Player of the Game: Saint Francis’ Andrew Ens with 29 points.
For the Saint Francis Phoenix: Ens 29; Elijah Quissua 12; Austin Hinds 8; Nawaf Kigab 8; Jack Ciocca 8; Awab Ali 8; Jalen French 3.
For the Saint Paul Patriots: Eric Kaufmann 27; Liam Williams 11; Josh Firth 10; Lucas Berezowski 9; Mark Cruz 8; Raymond Rivera 4.
Up next: Saint Francis advances to the SOSSA playdowns Thursday at Sir Allan MacNab in Hamilton.
