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Injury derails HT at basketball provincials Role players key The Holy Trinity Titans won pretty much everything there was to win this season, except the one thing they really wanted. The Cardinal Newman Cardinals topped Trinity 55-32 in Wednesday's bronze-medal game at the OFSAA quad-A boys' basketball tournament in Windsor. "It was a great season," said coach Andrew Saulez. "The team's disappointed and immediately after a loss, it's very tough. The team really wanted to be in that championship game. Give them a little time, though, and they'll be proud of what they accomplished." Holy Trinity won some of the province's highest-profile tournaments, taking the title at the Pinky Lewis, the Silver Fox, the University of Windsor, the Purple and White (Western) and the Fred Scione All-Catholic Qualifier. They went on to reach the final at the All-Catholic tournament, falling at the buzzer to St. Michael's in the championship game. The OFSAA tournament has been a different story, though. Trinity went winless in its first trip to the provincial high school tournament in 2011, then got upset in the opening round last year. This time an injury to Trevon McNeil early in the semifinal derailed a promising start for the Titans. McNeil hurt his ankle early in the opening quarter of the semifinal against Father Henry Carr. Leading the Titans 15-13 at the end of the opening quarter, Henry Carr extended its lead to 33-26 at the half. It was not insurmountable, but things were increasingly difficult for the Titans without one of their top players at both ends of the floor. McNeil saw a little more than a minute on the court in the second half before having to shut it down. But McNeil's absence wasn't the only reason Henry Carr, which went on to claim the gold medal, won. "We turned the ball over a little too much," Saulez said. "A good team like that, you can't give them extra possessions." That set up the bronze-medal match against Cardinal Newman, a team Trinity had beaten in all three meetings this season, including a 54-47 win in the Golden Horseshoe final just eight days earlier. Still reeling from the previous day's loss, Trinity's execution was not as strong as it had been previously. "Any time you lose a semi, you're focused on the fact that you didn't get to the final," Saulez said. "Then you run into a very good team you've beaten three times, and they're very hungry." After a low-scoring first quarter (Trinity trailed 7-6), Newman built momentum, scoring 15, 16 and 17 in the subsequent quarters. Trinity failed to get in sync, reaching double figures in only one quarter, though Nolan Mackenzie delivered a strong 15-point effort. "They did their best, but physically and emotionally, they were a little beaten up," Saulez said. The Titans did benefit from their previous experience. Having failed to win their opening game in their previous two trips to OFSAA, the thirdseeded Titans ensured there would be no first-round upset this time. Holy Trinity allowed just two points in the first quarter of its opener 19 | Friday, March 8, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com to Cavaliers' best-ever OFSAA showing continued from p.18 think our guys just stepped up at the right time and we played some of the best basketball we did all year." Moll never came close to leading the Cavaliers in scoring during the tournament. Most of that work was done by Michael Panza, who scored 15 points or more in four of the Cavaliers' five games. Bryan Wodz, Kulbir Gill, DeShaun Kelley, Andrew Butera and Carter Smith also were among their team's top three scorers in at least one game. But Bulthuis said it was the presence of players like Moll -- people who play tough defence and fight hard for rebounds and loose balls -- that enabled King's to enjoy its best-ever OFSAA showing. Previous Cavaliers squads that finished fourth at provincials may have had more talent, but this year's edition had the intangibles, the coach said. "We had (Canadian and American university) calibre players on teams before and finished fourth two years in a row," said Bulthuis. "It does take a guy who is the epitomy of a role player, like Zack Moll, to bring everyone together. No one was looking at scoresheets after the game -- not that they did a few years ago -- but we all needed to work together." King's Christian's wins at OFSAA came over Elmvale (77-19), North Dundas (46-44), O'Gorman (50-46) and Mgr-de-Charbonnel (62-57). Other members of the Cavaliers squad are Lotanna Obi, Arjun Sivaloganathan, Ben Mallah, Reaves Christie and Adam Lamme. Richard Stewart also coaches the Cavs. -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports An injury to Trevon McNeil (right) hurt Holy Trinity at OFSAA basketball. | Oakville Beaver file photo against Holy Names. The Titans built a 17-point lead by half and, with a dozen points each from Regis Ivaniukas and McNeil, the Titans cruised to a 50-29 win. Later that day, Trinity scored 60 points in the first three quarters and easily beat St. Joan of Arc 67-53. Everything was going according to plan. "We got out ahead early so our guys that log a lot of minutes, we were able to rest," Saulez said. "We were in a great position going into the second day." Facing their toughest test yet, the sixth-seeded St. Edmund Campion in the quarter-finals, the Titans reaped the benefits of not subjecting their starters to heavy minutes. Trinity built a 28-13 halftime lead in what Saulez called, "probably their best game of the season." McNeil finished with 13 points in the 57-40 victory while Mackenzie and Ivaniukas each had 12. While the core of the Trinity team that helped the Titans win three straight Halton titles moves on, all is not lost. Trinity won both the Halton junior and midget titles this season, so there are more talented players on the way. In addition, Grade 11s Lucas Orlita, who twice scored in double figures off the bench, and Evan O'Dell will return, and forwards Nick Ernest and Chris Smith may also be back. "We'll be meshing an older group and a younger group, but we should contend for Halton again," Saulez said. "And if things go our way we could get back (to OFSAA)." For the departing players, they leave without an OFSAA medal, but not without setting the bar for future Trinity teams. -- Herb Garbutt Crusaders to offer men two different styles of rugby this season by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor A new style of rugby is coming to town. In addition to competing in the Ontario Rugby Union this season, the Oakville Crusaders will field a men's team in the Ontario Rugby League championship division of the Canada Rugby League. The concept of rugby league is similar to rugby union, but there are several major differences between the two styles of rugby. Rugby league is a simpler and faster game that emphasizes speed and momentum, without the rucks, mauls and line-outs of rugby union. Chris Clark, who grew up playing rugby league in his native Australia, was integral in bringing rugby league to Oakville. The Crusaders will be one of four teams competing in ORL play this season, along with three teams from Toronto. "This will be more understood by people who don't know rugby. They'll understand there's one side on the left and one side on the right," said Clark. "Rugby union, where they have rucks and to be played at Toronto's Lamport Stadium, are already scheduled mauls, can get a bit confusing." The ORL season will kick off April 7 and conclude with the against the U.S., Jamaica and Norway. The Crusaders are currently recruiting players for their rugby championship game May 26. In between, teams will play weekly league squad. All players are welcome, regarddoubleheaders against the same opponent. less of experience. Robbie Paul will be the team's Oakville is scheduled to host games May 11. head coach. Highlights of all ORL contests will be aired Clark points out that with the early end of the weekly on Sportsnet World's The Rugby League rugby league season, players would still be able Show, along with highlights from the Austrato play rugby union this year as well. lian National Rugby League, the English Super "I'm hoping kids will play rugby league and League and Team Canada Wolverines internathen finish off the season in rugby union," said tional rugby league play. Clark. "There's no big transition. I would think "They have a TV contract until 2017," said going from league to union would be harder Clark. "It's another way we can get the Oakville than going from union to league, because they'll Crusaders name out in the public." have to be taught to ruck and maul." Participation in the ORL will also mean eliChris Clark Anyone interested in more information is ingibility for selection to the Team Canada WolRugby league advocate vited to contact team manager Paul Buchanan verines, the national team of the CRL. National by phone at 905-869-6364 or email at comteam players will have the opportunity to represent 18th-ranked Canada both at home and abroad, including a pufit@cogeco.ca, or Chris Clark by phone at 905-330-6604 or possible ten-day tour of England in August. Home internationals, email at stewartandclark@hotmail.com. This will be more understood by people who don't know rugby.