Wolfpack and Phoenix move on
A young West Niagara Wolfpack squad entered this week’s 61st Annual Standard High School Basketball Tournament ranked third.
“We have a lot of young guys but we are making it work,” Grade 11 player Chrystian Kyslytsya said Monday, after the host Wolfpack opened the tournament with a 62-46 victory over the 14-seeded Smithville Christian Storm.
The 16-year-old, who was named his squad’s player of the game, is a key cog on the Wolfpack roster.
“Christian has really come on this year and has become one of our more solid players. Don’t let his size fool you. He has big height but he can play like a small,” West Niagara head coach Rob Bowman said.
He sees a different player this year compared to the one that suited up with the junior team last season.
“He is a lot more vocal and demanding the ball back but he’s getting the ball back because he is doing the right things. He is setting screens, he is playing defence and when he does that, good things turn over for him at the other end.”
Kyslytsya is comfortable competing against older players because he plays a year up for Grimsby Grizzlies travel teams.
He fills a lot of roles for the Wolfpack.
“I play the wing position but I have to shoot the ball. I had lots of opportunities inside this game but mainly I have to play defence. I think I am a good ballhandler and I think I can come up to the one (point guard) in later years.”
He wants to make progress in his game this season.
“I have to keep working, get in the gym and get bigger, that’s all.”
The Storm hung tough for the first half leading 28-26 after two quarters before the Wolfpack ramped up the defensive intensity in the second half to record the victory.
“I am proud of the boys. We had one practice before this and coming into their barn with great fans and all that, we played well. Then we kind of fell apart in the second half,” Smithville head coach Sam Scandinavo said. “But it is definitely learning and we will pick up from this tomorrow.”
It was a strong showing for a team with one practice under its belt.
“Unfortunately, the boys went to OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) volleyball so I was missing half of them. We are going to regroup and we will be ready for tomorrow.”
Scandinavo expects big things from his team this season.
“It always is and we always do. Winning is No. 1 but we played good christian basketball and I am proud of both teams today.”
The Wolfpack led 17-9 after one quarter before the Storm opened the second quarter with a 9-0 run to grab an 18-17 lead.
“That first half was back and forth and Smithville doesn’t quit. They run and run and it was a little nerve-wracking for our guys but they got that first game under our belt and that hopefully carries us forward,” Bowman said. “I think putting pressure on them made them think a little bit more about putting balls into play. Most of our team is Grade 11s and they came out and worked that press pretty well.”
Kyslytsya was confident his team would pull out the win.
“I don’t want to sound arrogant but we had it. We just started off slow.”
He is looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
“I think we can win it. It’s going to take a lot of hard work.”
STATS PACK
Wolfpack 62 Storm 46
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: West Niagara’s Chrystian Kyslytsya and Smithville Christian’s Daniel Attia
For the West Niagara Wolfpack: Ben Unrau 16; Chrystian Kyslytsya 14; Julian Sobota 10; Scott D’Cunha 7; Owen Bowman 4; Jordan Patrick 4; Trevor McKee 3; Parker Weston-Thwaites 2; Jordan Love 2.
For the Smithville Christian Storm: Daniel Attia 16; Christopher Nyakabasa 14; Logan Higginson 6; Bo Langendoen 6; Lincoln van der Wier 2.
PHOENIX 89 SAINTS 42
The Saint Francis Phoenix lived up to their top seeding with an 89-42 victory over the St. Catharines Saints in opening day action of the Standard tournament Monday at Denis Morris.
Scoring for the Phoenix were: Jack Ciocca 12; Sam Riddell 12; Andrew Ens 10; Marley Smith 10; Christian Ibriham 9; Antonio Hinds 6; Adriaan Alderson 5; Elijah Quissua 4; Austin Hinds 4; Mike Arewa 4; Trent Dobson 3; Awab Ali 3; Nawaf Kigab 2; Jalen French 2; Sadiekie Hayden 1.
Replying for Collegiate were: Sean Hill 25; Kadmiel Patrong 14; and, Luis Opoka 3.
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game were Riddell for Saint Francis and Hill for Collegiate.
