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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 16, 2008 - 33 Senior Titans rebound back into basketball contention By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Anyone who had written off the Holy Trinity Titans after a 12 start might want to pencil them back on the list of Halton senior boys' basketball contenders. The Titans won their sixth straight game Monday, in impressive fashion, knocking off the previously undefeated Loyola Hawks 70-46. The Titans, now 7-2, held one of the league's best offensive teams to just 11 points in the opening half as they built an insurmountable 21-point lead. "It's probably the best defensive game we've played all season," said coach Andrew Saulez. "In some games, we haven't been as good defensively as we would like. That's what we were trying to tell them at the half. It wasn't the fact that we had 32 points -- we're usually in that range -- it was that they had 11." Loyola came into the game averaging 66 points a game, but could muster only four points in the opening quarter. Making the victory even more impressive was that Trinity was missing starters Pat Moskal and David Ozimec due to illness, not to mention head coach Vic Juzenas. The two starters were replaced by Jordan Catteral, the Titans' junior captain last season, and Tim Doyley, who earned MVP honours in the championship game of the Titans' recent victory at a tournament in Walkerton. Saulez said having the depth to bring in quality players off the bench is one of the Titans' biggest strengths. One wouldn't think depth would be needed for a team with four returning starters, including Jamal McQueen (who led Trinity with 28 points against Loyola) and point guard Danny Foster-Roman (who was a key defensive player, taking half a dozen charging fouls). Another Grade 12 player, Paul Dawkins, rotates the final starter's spot, giving Trinity the option of going with an all-returning starting lineup. Yet, after McQueen, it was Doyley, Catterall and Kent Bray each contributing eight points. Saulez said it's the play of the Grade 11s that has been the biggest change since the team's rough start. "The Grade 11s are really comfortable at the senior level now," he said. "Half of our team are Grade 11s and I think it's just been the guys meshing with each other. They found their chemistry." Of course, the schedule didn't do Trinity any favours in terms of giving the newcomers any chance to meld with the returning players. Trinity lost to Nelson (7-1) in the season opener and then played St. Thomas Aquinas, the lone remaining undefeated team at 9-0, in its third game. Now with the Titans on track, it doesn't look as though there's room for all the title contenders in the semifinals, much less the final. Aquinas, Loyola (8-1) and Trinity lead the Volpe Division while Nelson, Notre Dame (6-1) and Assumption (6-2) sit atop the Richardson Division. "Aquinas has beaten everyone but with us, Loyola, Assumption and Nelson, anyone can beat anyone," Saulez said. Speed skating meet More than 200 speed skaters from across Ontario and the northern United States were at River Oaks Recreation Centre Sunday for the Oakville Speed Skating Club's firstever ability meet. Oakville had a club-record 82 skaters participate in the meet, 10 of whom posted top-three finishes. Patrick Duffy and Taylor Amos each won their divisions, while Paige Buchanan, Blake Sullivan and Hal Malcolm had second-place efforts. Sodhi Bianca, Zoe O'Neill, Hazel Garde, Jaroslaw Dubicki and Ian Welsby each finished third. Natalie Bilokrely, Erin Stewart and Antoine Parent narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth. Evan MacHattie, Brett Sullivan, Mitchell Kos, Scott MacHattie and Christopher Sturino had fifth-place showings. Achieving provincial time standards at the meet were Aidan Hamboyan, Zubin Khan, Quinn MacHattie, Sturino, O'Neill and Buchanan. Among those competing in their first meet were Alex Giannotti, Rachel Hutter, Mitchell Kothleitner, Nicholas Kothleitner, Annalise Layfield, Brigitte Layfield, Sophie McNamee, Edouard Parent, Natalie Skov, Angelique Sturino Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament this weekend The seventh annual Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament will be held this weekend at River Oaks Recreation Centre, Joshua's Creek Arenas and Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. This year's event will feature 36 house league red level squads - 20 in the atom age division and 16 in the peewee grouping. Round-robin competition is scheduled to begin Friday night and conclude Saturday. Semifinals and finals will be contested Sunday at Joshua's Creek. In addition, the skills competition -- a tournament highlight -- will be held Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at Joshua's Creek. Teams from as far away as Windsor, London and Ottawa will compete in this year's tournament, as will the usual Brampton and Mississauga squads, along with the local clubs. The Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament honours the memory of the former Minor Oaks Hockey Association atom red house league convener. Sabatino, who enjoyed watching and participating in many sports, lost his battle with leukemia on Nov. 15, 2001. Each year, money raised through fundraising activities during tournament weekend is donated to charity. This year's recipient will be Oakville Trafalgar Hospital's Palliative Care service for cancer patients and their families, the third straight year the tournament will make a donation to the Oakville Hospital Foundation. The Frank Sabatino Memorial Tournament is proud to be recognized as a community sponsor on the Hospital Foundation donor wall. See Winter page 34 OFFICIAL NOMINATION ENTRY CARRIER OF THE YEAR! Your Name 2008 Information/Registrations Meeting Varsity, JV Stampeders, JV Braves and Summer Peewee Stampeder teams Ages 13 to 19 Address Phone Yes, I would like to nominate my carrier: Brant Hills Community Centre Date: January 16 & January 23, 2008 Time: 7:00 pm You only need to attend one session Now that 2006 has ended, The Oakville Beaver is looking for their Carrier of the Year, and would like your input! If you think your present carrier is providing excellent delivery service, and is friendly and courteous, then please fill in the attached ballot. The winning carrier will receive 2000 BONUS POINTS from the paper, plus a $100 Gift Certificate from Philthy McNasty's, and his or her family will be treated to dinner by The Oakville Beaver! One lucky reader who sends in a nomination will also receive a $100 Philthy McNasty's Gift Certificate! Name for Oakville Beaver Carrier of the Year! Comments: Bring Original and Copy of Proof of Age Cash, Cheque or Credit Cards accepted BMFA The BEST Football in Halton! www.burlingtonminorfootball.ca Please mail nominations to: The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON L6K 2S4 or Fax to: (905) 337-5557