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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 9, 2015 | 26 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports "Connected to your Community" Holy Trinity Titans players Elijah Lostracco (left) and David Idele (second from left) play tight defence on Bishop Reding's Jordan Brathwaite during Wednesday's Halton high school senior boys' basketball Tier 1 game in Milton. Reding handed the Titans their first loss of the league season, downing Trinity 62-49. | Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog Blades likely to stand pat at OJHL trade deadline, GM says by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Titans in three-team race for Tier 1 basketball title In what appears to be a three-horse race for the Halton high school senior boys' basketball Tier 1 title, Andrew Saulez considers his team the darkhorse. "At this point, based on results, we're probably the third team in the race," said the Holy Trinity coach, after his Titans suffered their first loss of the Halton season Wednesday, a 62-49 decision to Milton's Bishop Reding Royals. Reding and Trinity are now both 8-1 on the season, while Burlington's Corpus Christi Longhorns -- who already beat Reding this year -- lead the Tier 1 division with an 8-0 record. Wednesday's 13-point differential between the Titans and Royals, however, is deceiving. Trinity led Reding by four points at halftime, and the game was tied midway through the fourth quarter before the Royals broke it open late. Ignas Bradzekas scored 21 points for Trinity and Chris Hankins added 12. Trinity managed to limit Reding star guard Christian David -- who North Pole Hoops ranks as the top player in the country among the class of 2017 -- to 16 points, but the Royals got 14 points from Jordan Brathwaite, 12 from Xavier Ochu and 20 points from their surrounding cast. "We're right in it with (Reding and Corpus Christi), if we can continue to improve," Saulez said. "Hopefully you learn from a loss like that." The Titans aren't scheduled to face the Longhorns in league play until next month. Trinity, Corpus Christi and Reding will likely get a chance to size each other up next week, however, at the Halton all-Catholic championships that begin Tuesday at Jean Vanier in Milton. Oakville's St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and Loyola Hawks will also compete in the tournament, which determines Halton's representative for the provincial all-Catholic championships. -- Jon Kuiperij Oakville Blades general manager Mike Daley says it's unlikely his team will make any major moves before Saturday's Ontario Junior Hockey League trade deadline. "There are a couple of guys we'd like to add, but it doesn't seem like it's in the cards. Teams are asking way too much for their players," Daley said. "To me, Dec. 1 (when teams have to cut down from 35 player cards to 25) is when you shape your team. By Jan. 10, you're making desperation adds, then have to quickly jell your team and hope guys are the right fit." With 14 regular-season games left to play, the Blades (22-15-2-1) are in a three-way tie for second place in the South Division, two points behind the Toronto Patriots for first. Oakville is currently second-bestw in its conference in both goals for (151) and goals against (104). Daley, who hasn't made any significant roster moves since September, said he feels good about his team as the playoffs approach. The Blades recently enjoyed a 15-game stretch in which they lost just twice in regulation time, though they're 1-4 in their last five contests. "For what the Oakville Blades are, the goal of our team and where we're headed, I feel we're right on course," Daley said. "We have a good nucleus in place of players from the '97 and '98 age groups, and we have a few older guys to supplement that. "Everybody in our league knows anyone can win on any night." Soccer buddies to be reunited at Disney Local team qualifies for 3v3 tourney at ESPN Wide World of Sports by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Noah Barna-Zuzic was looking for a good reason to visit his best friend. It turned into a trip to the Disney 3v3 Soccer Championships. Eight-year-old Noah and his Oakville FC teammates will compete in the international tournament, which will take place Jan. 1719 and is hosted by ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Peter Barna-Zuzic, Noah's father, first thought of organizing the team after Noah's friend Jaime McFarland and his family moved from Oakville to Tampa in the fall of 2013. "Noah and Jaime started in junior kindergarten together (at New Central Public School). They were friends for a year and a half, but at that age it's a long time," Peter said. "Noah was devastated when he found out (Jaime was moving)." Not only will Noah get to see Jaime in Florida, they'll play on the same pitch at Walt Disney World. Oakville FC went through local and regional qualifying with just five players on its roster, keeping a spot open for Jaime in case it earned a berth in see Team on p.27 Oakville FC, a team of local eight-yearolds, has qualified for the Disney 3v3 Soccer Championships in Orlando, Fla. Pictured from left are Paul Biondich, Philip Biondich, Vishnu Rao, Noah Barna-Zuzic, Kailas Cooper, Ethan Jackson and David Cooper. | photo submitted