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OkillSports34SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2011Hawks settle for second straight OFSAA silverBy Herb GarbuttOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFLONDON It sat on the floor in the hallway outside the Loyola Hawks dressing room, at the end of a crumpled blue ribbon. A young girl, probably six years old, walked by, spotted it, and picked it up. She studied it closely and showed it to her dad, and then placed the OFSAA silver medal back on the floor and carried on.The Loyola Hawks had been here before, just a year earlier playing for the right to be called the best boys high school basketball team in the province. Last year, the Hawks were denied by a last-second basket in the AAA provincial final. Wednesday night at the AAAA tournament in London, Loyolas second bid for a OFSAA title was dealt a fatal blow in the third quarter during a 16-4 run They've had aby Vaughan Secondary that paved great four years, the way to a 76-63 victory.five for some of The margin of defeat didnt make the loss any less heartbreak-them. We'reing. If anything, this one hurt talking about two more.gold-medalAfter we lost last year, since the games. What anday we drove home, all I wanted unbelievable featwas a gold medal, said a dejected Adam Presutti. I didnt want silver. that is.HERB GARBUTT / OAKVILLE BEAVERI had no interest in a silver TOUGH LOSS: Pictured from left, Loyola Hawks players Adam Presutti, Mike L'Africain, Peter Rusic and Alex Cenedese reflect on medal. Loyola coachtheir loss in Wednesday's OFSAA boys' basketball AAAA gold-medal game in London.It may have been tough for the Gary Laurinplayers to accept another runner-Loyola had trailed twice before at the half in the tourna-Trailing by 13 heading into the fourth, Peter Rusic hit aup finish, especially since the core of the team had played ment, including its 76-73 win over J.C. Richardson in thethreehis third of the game, contributing to a team-high 17together for their entire high school careers. However, coach semifinals earlier Wednesday. But in the evenings final,points to open the quarter but the Hawks would get noGary Laurin put their accomplishments in perspective.Vaughans duo of 6-foot-7 Andrew Wiggins and 6-foot-5 Cycloser. Loyola attempted to cut into the lead with its usuallyTheyve had a great four years, five for some of them, the Richards Samuels dominated the boards in the second half,deadly perimeter shooting, but just didnt hit enough to keepHawks coach said. Were talking about two gold-medal corralling rebounds and tipping in misses. Wiggins scored 12pace though the Hawks finished the game with ninegames. What an unbelievable feat that is.of his 25 points in the third quarter.threes.It looked as though Loyola was in for another battle to the They were all over the offensive glass, Laurin said. WeDespite having four players in double figures Rusic,final buzzer. The teams were rarely separated by more than knew we had to take care of the glass on the defensive end butPresutti (14), Mike LAfricain (13) and Rohan Boney (13) three points throughout the first half, Loyola leading 18-16 they got those easy put backs.Loyola couldnt overcome Vaughans work under the basket.after the opening quarter and Vaughan taking a 33-31 lead They just outrebounded us, Presutti said. We just didntWe had a great tournament, Laurin said. Its a battle of See Hawks, page 36into the half. have it tonight.