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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 11, 2009 - 27 Hawks push Assumption to limit at basketball provincials By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The gap has been narrowed to the slimmest of margins but, for the Loyola Hawks, that has only increased the pain. The Assumption Crusaders rallied late, then held off Loyola for a 60-59 win in the semifinals of the Ontario All-Catholic Classic basketball championships in St. Catharines Saturday. The Hawks led by as many as 12 points in the final quarter before Assumption stormed back to take the lead. Loyola had a clear attempt at three-pointer at the buzzer for the win but it rimmed out. With the loss still a little too fresh in his mind, Loyola coach Gary Laurin hesitated when asked if he'd accept the loss in exchange for a victory in playoff rematch. "It's hard to say, this one still really stings," he said. "But it does come down to the playoffs. That's what we've been working toward. Definitely, it would be great." Assumption beat Loyola by 12 points in December in league play. Last month, the Hawks dropped a five-point decision in the final of the all-Catholic Halton qualifier. Now that margin is down to a single point. The Crusaders are well aware of that trend. "We were concerned. The guys were talking about that three-game jinx," said Assumption coach Anthony Cordeiro, whose team went on to beat Hamilton's Cathedral 55-53 in the final. "But sport is not about superstition, jinxes or the basketball gods being on your side. It's about going out and performing and we're very fortunate that we're winning all these close games." Tough opposition Though the Hawks will have to wait until playoff time for another shot at Assumption, they have plenty of big-game victories to console them until that day comes. Loyola opened the tournament with a 72-65 victory over Orleans' St. Matthews, the champions of the Silver Fox Tournament in Hamilton. Grade 9 guard Peter Rusic led the Hawks and in the last few minutes (More) had nothwith 18 points while Adam Presutti had 16 ing left," Laurin said. Loyola used a similar approach against and Ostap Choliy had 15. Choliy also had the Assumption but the presence of task of guarding St. Matthew's 6-foot-10 forward Chadrack top player, Taylor Hinz, and lim- "It's tough losing Lufile proved to be too much for ited him to 13 points. but, win or lose, the Hawks to overcome. "He did an outstanding job," we try to take Laurin said. "We've always had trouble something out of It did not go unrecognized. guarding big Chaddy in the Choliy was the only player to the game. And post," said Laurin. "They pounded it inside and that was the make the tournament all-star we definitely got team who did not play in the a lot out of these game. We were scoring in transichampionship game. tion, going inside and kicking games." The Hawks then topped out for some good shots, but it another tough opponent in Loyola coach came down to not being able to Hamilton's St. Thomas More, Gary Laurin stop the tournament MVP." which was coming off a league Though the Hawks came up victory over the all-Catholic finalists, just short of the final, Laurin said the tourCathedral. Rusic, Choliy and Mike L'Africain nament showed his team is continuing to each had 15 points in the 72-64 win. progress, especially considering he feels his Without the height to match most of its team had the toughest schedule at the event. opponents, Loyola used its speed. "It's tough losing but, win or lose, we try "We pushed the ball in transition, made to take something out of the game. And we them defend in full court the entire game definitely got a lot out of these games." Tavares autograph session Saturday Oakville hockey star John Tavares will be back in town Saturday to sign photographs at Lockwood Chrysler. Tavares, named the most valuable player when Canada won gold last month at the World Junior Hockey Championships, is widely expected to be the first player picked at this summer's NHL Entry Draft. The former St. Thomas Aquinas student will be at Lockwood Chrysler from 4 to 5 p.m. Only photographs will be signed (no memorabilia) and there is a limit of one autograph per person. Lockwood Chrysler is located at 175 Wyecroft Rd. Providing Quality Baseball in Our Community for over 45 Years Oakville Minor Baseball Association 2009 Player Registration Saturday February 14 and February 21 from 10 AM to 4 PM RIZIERO VERTOLLI / OAKVILLE BEAVER at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, 1051 Glenashton Drive. Divisions & Fees: T-Ball (Ages 5 & 6).........................$155 Coach Pitch (Age 7).........................$155 Rookie Ball to Junior (Ages 8 to 23).....$215 BLADES GIVE BACK: Oakville Blades director of hockey operations Chris Vanstone (right) presents a $3,000 cheque for the Credit Valley Foundation to Bob and Margaret O'Brien before Saturday's Blades game at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The Blades raised the money in the memory of the O'Briens' son, Bob, who was one of the first Tier 2 junior players ever drafted into the National Hockey League and was known as a dedicated minor hockey volunteer. Playoffs are how season is measured Continued from page 26 who played a key role in the Blades reaching the RBC Royal Bank Cup national championship tournament last spring. "The regular season was a tryout period to get everything firing. Now that we're in the playoffs, this is where the whole season is measured from. The regular season is forgotten and everything starts fresh." NOTES: Game 3 of the Blades/Capitals series will be played Saturday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, beginning at 8:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 4 would be contested Sunday in Brampton... The Capitals boast only one player, Alex Guptill, who averaged better than a pointper-game this season (64 points in 49 games). Oakville has seven (Luke Moodie, Ryan Murphy, Lindsay Sparks, Dustin Alcock, Welsh, Leimbrock and Muise)... Brampton forward Chase Nieuwendyk (39 points in 48 games) is the nephew of former National Hockey League star Joe Nieuwendyk... Moodie finished the regular season as the Blades' leader in goals (41), assists (54) and points (95), and was second in the league scoring race behind only Hamilton's Nathan Pageau (98 points). Welsh was 10th in league scoring (83 points) and Murphy was 13th (81)... Kyle Badham scored five of Oakville's 23 goals last weekend, including a hat trick against Milton. Also scoring goals were Murphy (four), Leimbrock (three), Moodie (three), Muise (two), Braden Corbeth, Kellan Lain, Mike Ingoldsby, Braden Birch, Sean Teakle and Alcock. Moodie added seven assists on the weekend, Muise had six and defenceman Jordan Smith had five. Blades netminder Matt Hache earned the victory in both games, stopping 34 of 37 shots. Register on-line at www.baseballoakville.com Or Download our registration form and mail with payment to 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4, Oakville, Ontario L6L 1X4 Registrations received by February 28, 2009 will be entered into a draw for a chance to win one of two pairs of level 100 tickets for the Canada/United States game at the World Baseball Classic being held at the Rogers Centre on March 7, 2009 For more information please call 847 5545 or email us at info@baseballoakville.com Baseball Oakville Associated with