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24 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010 Hawks repeat as champs of Halton boys' hoops Loyola edges Nelson 48-43 in overtime to win championship of competitive Division 1 senior league By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR F amiliarity may not have bred contempt in Halton senior boys' basketball this season, but it definitely bred parity. The powerful Loyola Hawks were given all they could handle by the Nelson Lords in Tuesday's spirited and entertaining Halton Division 1 final at Sheridan College, needing overtime to pull out a 48-43 victory and earn their second consecutive regional championship. The Halton final had no ramifications for either team when it came to qualifying for Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) tournaments. Both squads will compete in OFSAA playdown games today (Thursday) against Hamilton schools as Loyola visits Bishop Ryan in a AAA contest and Nelson travels to St. Thomas More for a AAAA showdown. But don't underestimate the signifi- know our games and we know theirs." cance of a Halton championship to these Loyola looked to be in control of players, particularly in a league that was Tuesday's game in the fourth quarter, as competitive as this season's was. The holding a six-point lead midway through Hawks -- provincial Catholic champi- the frame. But the Lords went on a 9-0 ons this year -- lost two of their 11 reg- run, highlighted by a three-pointer by ular-season games, includMichel Clark and a go-ahead ing one to Nelson, and "I'm more scared breakaway layup by Dougie squeaked by the Holy coming into a Corby, to take a 40-37 lead Trinity Titans 53-51 in into the final minute of regHalton game like Friday's playoff semifinal. ulation. "I'm more scared com- this than a After Presutti tied the ing into a Halton game like Toronto game." game, Nelson had an opporthis than a Toronto game," tunity to win the game at said Hawks guard Adam n Loyola guard the buzzer but Clark's fadePresutti, who forced over- Adam Presutti away three-point attempt time by drilling a gamehit the rim. tying three-pointer with 40 seconds to The Hawks then carried the play in go in regulation time. "The Halton the overtime. Loyola guard Mike league was so strong this year. I think L'Africain gave his team a 43-40 lead (teams) know how to play against us. with an acrobatic layup while being "Every summer we play with all the fouled, and the Hawks hit four of five Holy Trinity guys, and we play with all free throws in the extra session to pull (the Nelson) players at Cedar Springs in away. Loyola big man Mike Andrews put Burlington," Presutti added. "They See Hawks page 28 Halton senior boys basketball finals since 1990 Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2008 2008 2009 2009 2010 2010 Champion Loyola Robinson Pearson Pearson Nelson White Oaks Aquinas Nelson Aquinas Nelson Nelson Nelson Nelson Nelson Nelson AAAA Notre Dame AAA Nelson AA L.B. Pearson AAAA Notre Dame AAA Aquinas AA L.B. Pearson AAAA Holy Trinity AAA Nelson AA L.B. Pearson Div. 1 Holy Trinity Div. 2 King's Christian AAA/AAAA Loyola A/AA Aquinas Div. 1 Loyola Div. 2 King's Christian Level Opponent Nelson Pearson O-T Robinson Bishop Reding Nelson Nelson Aquinas Nelson Pearson Notre Dame Notre Dame Aquinas Notre Dame Lord Elgin Holy Trinity Aquinas Bishop Reding Georgetown Abbey Park Bishop Reding Assumption Bishop Reding Aquinas Nelson Acton Nelson Aldershot Nelson Corpus Christi Score 56-46 58-56 68-62 45-35 62-50 48-47 (ot) 63-57 54-52 78-63 64-49 47-42 60-43 60-26 65-45 56-41 59-45 53-38 57-49 53-31 68-55 55-50 69-53 53-40 42-23 53-37 28-21 69-59 81-65 (ot) 48-43 56-49 March Break Soccer Camp