Redcoats run over Marauders

Rahim Bardi just can’t get enough basketball.

The 6-foot-3 forward is a gym rat, forever on the hardwood honing his craft in an endless attempt to improve his game.

Bardi was in fine form Thursday, scoring a game-high 21 points to pace the Governor Simcoe Redcoats past the A.N. Myer Marauders 63-39 in a championship round quarter-final game at the 63rd annual Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament.

“I’m one of the oldest guys on the team. I have a lot of experience, so I know where the defence is most of the time and how to get to the hoop,” he said of his role on the team.

Simcoe coach Shaun Feor loves Bardi’s commitment to the game.

“I’ve watched Rahim develop over the last five years and he’s a kid who goes to the gym on his own to work on his game. He lifts weights. He wants to be better,” Feor said.

Bardi poured in four three-pointers among his 21 points.

“Tonight was a coming-out game for Rahim,” Feor said.

“Any university that gets him is going to be lucky.”

Feor indicated Bardi has had interest from Queen’s University and Mars Hill College, which is located near Asheville, North Carolina.

“We preach team culture, we’re only as strong as our 10th man, but Rahim is one of those guys who is head and shoulders above a lot of guys in this region talent-wise,” said Feor, who coaches Bardi at the club level for Niagara North.

“He’s the first guy up off the bench cheering, he’s unselfish and dishes the ball off, and he’s like a second coach on the floor. I can say something to him and he can distribute messages all over the floor for me.”

The Redcoats led from start to finish, building a 12-5 lead after one quarter and a 28-20 lead at the half. They put the game away in the third, running out to a 46-26 lead.

“We knew they were a pretty good shooting team so we wanted to contest their shots. We wanted to do that on the defensive end and then finish on offence,” Bardi said. “We came out really weak against Holy Cross (Wednesday), so we wanted to come out really strong today.”

Feor liked his club’s effort.

“I really wanted to emphasize coming out and having the pedal on the gas all the way to the floor,” he said.

Scoring for the Governor Simcoe Redcoats: Bardi 21; Darren Johnston 13; Dainon Bango 10; Mason MacEachern 6; Alex Cochrane 6; Cal Anderson 5; No. 42 unnamed 4.

Scoring for the A.N. Myer Marauders: Nick Murdaca 13; Tom Rigas-DiDomenico 12; Ryan Shannon 6; Adam Lamb 5; Kory Constantino 2.

Up next: Governor Simcoe vs. Notre Dame, at 8 p.m. at Notre Dame.

Consolation round

Gryphons 54 Gators 45

The Greater Fort Erie Gryphons advanced with a nine-point victory over the Lakeshore Catholic Gators.

Player of the game Ethan VanNatter had 11 for the Gryphons. Austin Ladouceur (19); Donovan Morgan (7); Darcy Allen (5); Joel Coopman (4); Bailee Wangler (4).

Lakeshore Gators: Nick Qua (12); Allan Pambianco (11); Caleb McLean (10); Aiden Plante (5); Nick Cryer (3); Trey Morneau (2). Game sheet illegible for other scorer with 2 points.

Up next: Fort Erie takes on Jean Vanier Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Notre Dame.