OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 43Local teen to pursue basketball south of borderBy Jon Kuiperijcadet championships in Mexico,BEAVER SPORTS EDITORwhere Canada won three of its fivegames. One loss came by fourAnthony Pate has some loftypoints to Puerto Rico. The otherbasketball dreams, and hes pre-was a 43-point spanking at thepared to do whatever it takes tohands of the Americans.reach them.The Halton league (that localThe 16-year-old guard, rankedhigh school teams play in) is tough,in the top 10 in Canada in his agebut it could be tougher, Pate said,group by Canadian scouting and inreferring to the disparity of talentthe top 100 in North America byin the loop.ESPN, plans on taking his gameI really enjoyed playing in thesouth this fall to play againstHalton league, though. My coachestougher competition.taught me a lot of I have to get Pate, who helped things I wasnt awareHoly Trinitys senior of before, and beingagainst someteam qualify for the able to play againsttougher competitionOntario Federation of senior guys in Gradein American highSchool Athletic 10 was really help-school. That willAssociations AAAA ful.help out my gametournament last sea-Though Canadason as a Grade 10 stu-didnt fare well in itsa lot.dent, is currently meeting with the considering scho Anthony Patelar-U.S. at the FIBA ship offers from four Americas tourna-different American prep schools.ment, Pate held his own, scoring aHe hopes developing his game inteam-high 10 points. He wasthe U.S. will lead to a universitypleased with how he accounted forcareer with an NCAA Division 1himself in the entire tournament,squad.which was his first taste of interna-I have to get against sometional competition.tougher competition in AmericanNow that Ive had this oppor-high school. That will help out mytunity, Im focused on the nextgame a lot, said Pate, who istime I get the chance to be the bestalready receiving letters fromplayer for Canada, said Pate. Innotable universities like Marquetteterms of this tournament, ImSUBMITTED PHOTOand Notre Dame.happy with how I played. I feel IHOOP DREAMS:Anthony Pate, who recently helped Canada earn bronze at the FIBA Americas cadet basketball I want to get a high majorwas productive and a good asset tochampionships in Mexico, is ranked by ESPN as one of the top 100 16-year-old basketball players in North America.Division 1 scholarship and Idthe team in many ways.like to be an impact player fromPate will likely get that chancethe second I come in. Id like toto represent Canada once againOT grad, Canada in world football finalbecome an English teacher whennext year. By finishing in the topall this is finished, but if things gothree at the FIBA Americas tour-Oakville Trafalgar graduate Tom Labenski and the traded scores throughout the game.well in college Id like to enter thenament, Canada qualified for theCanadian men's football team will play for gold at the The victory prevented Japan from making its fourth (NBA) draft and see what hap-world under-17 championshipsWorld Championship of American Football in Austria.straight appearance in the gold-medal game.pens.next summer in Lithuania, whereCanada will meet the United States in tomorrow's Labenski, an Atlantic University Sport all-star line-The difference in caliber of playmost of this years cadet team is(Saturday's) final after edging Japan 31-27 in a back-backer at Acadia University, was held off the defensive between Canadian and Americanexpected to be back.and-forth semifinal contest Wednesday.scoresheet in the victory over Japan. He did, however, high school basketball is undeni-Canada, making its first-ever appearance at the contribute a combined three solo tackles in wins over able. Pate recently helped Canada Jon Kuiperij can be followed world championships, scored a go-ahead touchdown France (45-10) and Austria (36-14) earlier in the tour-earn bronze at the FIBA Americason Twitter at @Beaversportswith 3:31 remaining in regulation after the teams had nament.Your local Tim Hortons is happy to bring you Tim Hortons Free Swim complimentary swimming time at your local pool. For a schedule of timesand locations, drop by your local Oakville Tim Hortons restauraunt. Tim Hortons, 2010