Sixteen teams vying for Tribune title
A hardcourt tradition will continue next week in Niagara with the staging of the 67th Annual Welland Tribune Basketball Tournament.
The tournament was first held in 1955 and has been played every year since then with the exception of 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Action begins Wednesday and the schedule includes: Notre Dame vs. Port Colborne at 2:30 p.m. and Greater Fort Erie vs Holy Cross at 4 p.m. at Notre Dame; E.L. Crossley vs. Denis Morris at 12:40 p.m. and Lakeshore Catholic vs. A.N. Myer at 2:10 p.m. at E.L. Crossley; Centennial vs. Eden at 1 p.m, and Sir Winston Churchill vs. Saint Paul at 2:30 p.m at Centennial; and, Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf vs. Saint Michael at 3 p.m. and Governor Simcoe vs. Westlane at 4:30 p.m. at Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf.
Championship quarter-finals will be played Thursday at Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Notre Dame while consolation quarter-finals will be held at noon and 3:30 p.m. at Saint-Jean-de-Brebeuf and 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Centennial.
Semifinal action will be contested Friday at Notre Dame with consolation games going at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. and championship games going at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Championship night will be staged Saturday at Notre Dame with the consolation final scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and the championship game set for 7:30 p.m.
Below are brief profiles of the 16 teams competing in the event:
A.N. MYER MARAUDERS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returnees: Tavish McMahon, Louis Pullano, Jayke Arnold, Gabe Arcuri and Milos Krklijus.
Key newcomers: Isaiah Corsaro-Oteng, Noah Walters andTanner Pare-Smith.
Strength: Team chemistry.
Weaknesses: Perimeter defence.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Eden in the championship semifinals.
2023-24 league record: 3-0 in Niagara Region High School Athletic Association play.
Coaching staff: Tyler Thomson, Terry Thomson and Joanne Thomson.
CENTENNIAL COUGARS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Alex Bray and Timi Ijaodola.
Key newcomer: Nate Perna.
Strengths: Speed and length.
Weakness: Lack of big game experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Holy Cross in the consolation quarter-finals.
2023-24 league record: 2-0 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Smithville Christian in the Standard consolation quarter-finals.
Coaching staff: Craig Maltais, Bob Frazer and Claude LaLiberte.
DENIS MORRIS REDS
Number of returning players: Four.
Key returning players: Joshua Kaufman, Nathan Sansaet and Owen Millar.
Key newcomers: Travis Palmer and DeMarco Perry. Strengths: Guard play and in-game experience.
Weaknesses: Transition game and depth.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Eden in the championship quarterfinals
2023-24 league record: 2-2 in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association play.
Paper chase: Lost to Saint Francis in the Standard championship semifinals.
Coaching staff: Wade Pychel and Paul Ferracuti.
EDEN FLYERS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Luke Midgley, Luke Johnson, Kai Schatz, Dylan Durlov and Chad Thorpe.
Key newcomers: Xavier Moccio; Josh Sanecki.
Strengths: Highly skilled and excellent basketball IQ.
Weakness: Not as much depth as in recent years.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Churchill in the championship game.
2023-24 league record: 2-0 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Saint Francis in the Standard championship game.
Coaching staff: Jonathon Thorpe, Miranda Ross and Josh Newcombe.
E.L. CROSSLEY CYCLONE
Number of returning players: Four.
Key returning players: Matthew Kleinsmith and Luca Burattini.
Key newcomer: Ryan Zucco.
Strengths: backcourt has speed and quickness; streaky shooters at all positions; consistent defensive effort.
Weaknesses: Inexperience; consistent play in the low post; depth at multiple positions, especially at forward.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Churchill in the championship semifinals.
2023-24 league record: 0-3 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Ridley College in the Standard consolation semifinals.
Coaching staff: Ryan Petro and Brian Bleich.
GOVERNOR SIMCOE REDCOATS
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returning players: Lochlan Belliveau, Reid Oates and Sutter Pilon.
Key newcomers: Noah Budgell, Austin Haggarty and Noah Mills.
Strengths: Athletic; balanced attack; desire to compete.
Weaknesses: Young and lacking big game experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Saint Paul in the consolation semifinals.
2023-24 league record: 4-1 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Churchill in the Standard championship quarter-finals.
Coaching staff: Shaun Feor, John Ingrabelli and Mike Eller.
GREATER FORT ERIE GRYPHONS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Noah Gmoser, Nate Jones, Jason Currie and Nick Alix.
Key newcomers: Aiden and Jack Storring, Bo Train and Xander Boake.
Strengths: Speed and guard play.
Weakness: Experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to A.N. Myer in the championship quarter-finals.
2023-24 league record: 0-2 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Eden in the Standard championship quarter-finals.
Coaching staff: David Adamek, Brandon Terdik and Ellie Szkwyra.
HOLY CROSS RAIDERS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returning players: Owen Bradford-Andrew, Owen Corcoran and Terrell Wallace.
Key newcomers: Nathan Beveridge, Hunter Herring-Dent and Matteo D’Aria.
Strengths: Rebounding; defence; transition offence.
Weaknesses: Three-point shooting; individual shot creation.
Last year’s Tribune results: Defeated Saint Paul in the consolation final.
2023-24 league record: 1-3 in NCAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Smithville Christian in the Standard consolation semifinals.
Coaching staff: Austin Anderson.
LAKESHORE CATHOLIC GATORS
Number of returning players: Seven.
Key returnees: Simon Reid, Olivier Michel, Darren Williams, Ethan Cooper, Ethan Rasch and Ivan Antonucci.
Key newcomer: Kaleb Garner.
Strengths: Rim protection, hustle and toughness.
Weaknesses: Young and lacking in-game experience and depth.
Last year’s Tribune results: Didn’t play in tournament.
2023-24 league record: 0-4 in NCAA play.
Coaching staff: Shy McFarlane, Max Salter and John Casasanta.
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH
Number of returning players: Five.
Key returnees: Andrew Benko, Trent Groulx, Nick Capretta and Michael Ventresca.
Key newcomers: Will Benko, Tyler Ray, Devon Devost and David Babalola.
Strengths: Speed, ball handling and shooting
Weakness: Size.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to E.L. Crossley in the championship quarter-finals.
2023-24 league record: 2-2 in NCAA play.
Coaching staff: Andy Lucchetta, Parfait Lokole, Matt Helmkay and Delroy Grandison.
PORT COLBORNE BLUE BEARS
Number of returning players: Three.
Key returnees: Kolby Kulak and Cole Istok.
Key newcomers: Myles Draper, Jake Graham and Ethan Yalowica.
Strength: Guard play.
Weaknesses: Inexperience and size
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Brebeuf in the consolation quarterfinals.
2023-24 league record: 2-1 in NRHSAA play.
Coaching staff: Scott Grover
SAINT-JEAN-DE-BREBEUF LYNX
Number of returning players: Four.
Key returnee: Daniel Charest.
Key newcomers: Enzo Aka.
Strengths: Very athletic, speed and relentless drive.
Weakness: No player over 6-foot-2, could be costly on the boards.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Holy Cross in the consolation semifinals.
2023-24 league record: 3-0 in NRHSAA play.
Coaching staff: Eric Labonté, Justine Mete and Sophie Vaillancourt.
SAINT MICHAEL MUSTANGS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returnees: Arwin Chima, Luka Dermott, Hagen Generao, Nicholas Karagiannis and Brandon Bell.
Key newcomers: Matt Lim and Andrew Karagiannis.
Strength: Speed.
Weakness: Rebounding.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Churchill in the championship quarterfinals.
2023-24 league record: 2-2 in NCAA play.
Coaching staff: Keith Bomberry and Jim Karagiannis.
SAINT PAUL PATRIOTS
Number of returning players: Six.
Key returnees: Isaac Jordan and Dante DeBenedetti.
Key newcomers: Mark Cruz and Mark Al Makhoul.
Strength: Teamwork.
Weakness: Basketball experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Holy Cross in the consolation final.
2023-24 league record: 3-1 in NCAA play.
Coaching staff: Michael Doodeman and Rick Oreskovich.
SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL BULLDOGS
Number of returning players: Eight.
Key returning players: Will McAlpine, Owen Cuthbert and Matteo Scaglione.
Key newcomer: Owen Scott.
Strengths: Defence; size; depth.
Weakness: Big tournament and game experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Beat Eden in the championship game.
2023-24 league record: 1-2 in NRHSAA play.
Paper chase: Lost to Eden in the Standard championship semifinals.
Coaching staff: Martin Cook, Wanda Cook, Alexien Evseyev, Bennet Pisek and Mujeeb Omar.
WESTLANE SPARTANS
Number of returning players: Eight.
Key returnees: Dylan Klassen, Marko Niezurawski, Aldin Prsic, Strahinja Suzic and Arnav Sharma.
Key newcomers: Ashton Gidney, Mitchell White and Pruthvi Patel.
Strengths: Size and range of skills.
Weakness: Lack of experience.
Last year’s Tribune results: Lost to Governor Simcoe in the consolation quarter-finals.
2023-24 league record: 0-5 in NRHSAA play.
Coaching staff: Jeff Klassen and Mark Shantz.
