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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 201030 By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Last year, the Loyola Hawks senior boys bas- ketball team won 52 of 57 games and reached the finals of the provincial AAA championships. Adam Presutti thinks this seasons Hawks squad might be even stronger. It would be tough to argue with Presuttis contention after watching the Hawks blitz the Holy Trinity Titans 73-46 yester- day (Thursday) at Trinity, improving to 3-0 on the Halton season. The game was close for a while. 20-17 Loyola after one quarter, in fact, and 36-25 Hawks at halftime. Then, as quick as a Presutti release on a three-point shot, Loyola had blown the game open. The Hawks scored the first 14 points of the third quarter and outscored the Titans 23-7 in the frame. They shoot so well and they make it tough to defend. Theyve got fifth-year guys who are experienced and run their offence really well, said Trinity coach Andrew Saulez. We started to force some things and it unravels quick when they can shoot that well. That Hawks third-quarter surge was keyed by Presutti, who scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the period. Presutti was lethal from the perimeter, hardly needing any time to unload accurate shot after shot from outside the arc. My teammates gave me open looks and I hit them, the sharp-shooter said afterwards. Its just practice every summer. Mike (LAfricain) and Rohan (Boney) and I practice shot after shot. As you get stronger, it gets quicker and quicker, and its just a confidence thing from then on. LAfricain and Boney are two other Grade 13 returnees from last years Loyola squad that lost the OFSAA championship in overtime to the Martingrove Bears. The deciding points in that contest came at the buzzer. Presutti said that motivated the talented trio to return this season. To lose OFSAA on a buzzer- beater, I didnt want to go off on that note, Presutti said. I want to win OFSAA and then my high school career is done, Im happy and moving on to university. LAfricain added 15 points and Boney scored a dozen yesterday for the Hawks, who departed after the game for a tournament at Toronto basketball power Eastern Commerce. Nolan Mackenzie countered with 12 points and Christian Douglas notched 11 for the Titans, who beat Loyola in its own gym last year before losing a one-point game to the Hawks in the playoffs. I thought we could beat them and I thought we could be more competitive, Saulez said, but I thought wed have to play a very good game to beat them. I thought we played about 10 good min- utes, and against those guys you have to play 32. Even if you give them three or four minutes, theyll make you pay for that. In the blink of an eye Senior Hawks blow open basketball showdown against Titans with third-quarter shooting barrage (Teammates) and I practice shot after shot. As you get stronger, it gets quicker and quicker, and its just a confidence thing from then on. Loyola Hawks Adam Presutti RAINING THREES: Mike LAfricain of the Loyola Hawks (left) goes up for a three-point shot over the block attempt of Holy Trinitys Nolan Mackenzie. Loyola drilled plenty of treys in a 73-46 vic- tory over the Titans. MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER