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24 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, March 11, 2010 Raiders blow big lead in loss to Blades By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Should the Oakville Blades end the season of the Georgetown Raiders for the third consecutive year, Tuesday night's game three will be viewed as a deciding point. The host Blades rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the third period to force overtime and then Ryan Murphy potted the winner on a 3-on-2 5:43 into the first extra frame to take a 2-1 lead in the Ontario Jr. A Hockey League best-of-7 semifinal series. "We played really well the first two periods and then some really bad breakdowns by key guys led to their comeback. They covered the wrong guy and then we pinched when we shouldn't have been pinching," said Raiders' coach and general manager James Richmond. "The good thing is that we play again (Wednesday night at home) so we can get right back in it." After weathering an early blitz by the Blades, who hit three posts in the opening 10 minutes of the contest, the Raiders received solid netminding from rookie Michael Nishi and second-period markers from Scott Wilson, Evan Rodrigues, Aaron Pearce and Jeremy Wick to build their lead. But a couple of Oakville power-play goals to start the third period had the visitors reeling before former Raider Mark McGowan struck for the equalizer midway through the frame. Outshot 54-34 on the evening at the Oakville Arena, Richmond said he would consider inserting veteran backstopper Tony Capobianco on Wednesday after Nishi played the first three games of the series, which were all decided by one goal. "Were they better than us all night? No, but they were better than we were when they needed to be. It would have been nice to steal that one but you can't let in five goals in a playoff game and expect to win," Richmond added. Game five of the series will be played Friday at Oakville's Joshua's Creek Arenas at 7:30 p.m. and if a sixth game is required, Georgetown will host it Saturday at 7:30 p.m. In the other semfinal Kingston leads Trenton 1-0. The teams squared off last night (Wednesday). SPORTS & LEISURE Josh Ranalli of the Oakville Blades tries to get a shot through Georgetown Raider defender Kevin Van Dyk and goalie Michael Nishi Tuesday night during their Ontario Jr. A Hockey League matchup at the Oakville Arena. Despite taking a 4-1 lead into the third period, the Raiders lost 5-4 in overtime and trailed the best-of-7 semifinal entering Wednesday's game four in Georgetown. Photo by Eamonn Maher Georgetown District High School's wrestling team had 12 of its members qualify for the Ontario Federation of Athletic Associations championships in Tillsonburg last week. Team members (forefront) are: Bronze medalist Cam Killendar. Middle row: Kerri Malcolm, Nikkie Fraser, Ashely Penrice, Meghan Wylde, Amy Pond. Back row: Brenden Prevost, Devon Pellart, Bryson Boreland, Jay Richard. Absent: Kendra Blackbourn, Sean Wright. Rebels reach OFSAA final Five straight match wins put the Georgetown District High School Rebels through to the provincial senior girls' AAAA volleyball championship last night (Wednesday) in Barrie. The score from the final wasn't available at press time. Seeded third for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations 16-team tournament with just one loss all season out of 44 matches, the Rebels finished first in their preliminary-round pool Tuesday and then beat Aurora in the quarterfinals and Whitby's Sinclair in the semis. In the final, the Rebels were slated to face top-ranked Forest Heights of Kitchener. Wrestling Cameron Killendar earned a bronze medal in the boys' 38-kg weight class for the Georgetown Rebels at last week's OFSAA championship in Tillsonburg. The Rebels placed 34th in the overall standings, also getting top10 placings from Kerri Malcolm, Amy Pond and Meghan Wylde. Hockey Dylan Hanzelka scored and Marcus Rees posted the shutout as Christ the King's varsity boys beat Brebeuf 1-0 in Hamilton Wednesday for the Golden Horseshoe championship, earning a spot in the OFSAA AAA/AAAA tourney March 23-26 in St. Catharines. Submitted photo SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS SHOPLOCAL SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER ... EXCLUSIVELY SERVING THE READERS & SHOPPERS OF HALTON HILLS YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 905.873.0301