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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 13, 2017 | 22 Raideis' excellence in close games a plus as basketball playoffs near By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff, The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders are no strangers to close games. In one stretch this season, the senior boys high school basketball team won three straight games by a combined eight points. The ability to win those close games has helped it compile a 10-1 record, best in Halton Tier 1 play. But playing in tight games is a doubleedged sword, as the Raiders found prior to the Christmas break. Aquinas led Notre Dame by six points heading into the final quarter but the Irish went on a 12-2 run in the last five minutes to take a 5 4 -4 6 lead. The Raiders got back within two with 12 seconds left, but their comeback bid ran out of time as Notre Dame capitalized when Aquinas was forced to foul. That 5 9 -5 3 loss against sixth-place Notre Dame remains the Raiders' lone loss "A lot of it is up to them ," said Aquinas coach Joe Polizzi. "W hen they kick it up a notch, they're able to beat anyone in the league. They just have to bring the same mentality into every game." The Raiders backed up their coach's words with a recent 5 8 -5 6 victory over the defend ing champion Bishop Reding Royals. Reding has beaten Holy Trinity leaving three teams in the Halton league with one loss each. Assuming the Royals and Titans, both 8 -1, win their next two games, Aquinas will hold its fate in its own hands entering the final regular-season game against Holy Trinity on Feb. 7. A win would clinch first place for the Raiders, a loss would drop them to third. "I think that will be a good test," said Grade 11 guard Tyler Sagl, who led the Raiders with 19 points in Wednesday' s 66 4 9 win over the Corpus Christi Longhorns. "I'm looking forward to a good battle at Holy Trinity. W e just have to play our game." The Raiders will face many tough tests be fore then. They'll play in the Halton all-Cath olic qualifier Jan. 18-19 at Jean Vanier in Mil ton, where the Raiders are likely to meet at least one of their Halton rivals, and then in the Silver F o x tournament in Hamilton. Against top competition, Aquinas' s ability to adapt will be important, but Polizzi feels his team is equipped to do so. "W e've got a really good group of guards and a pretty dynamic front court, guys that can play inside or out," said the Aquinas coach, who added that his players have a strong understanding of the game. "Rather than running Xs and Os, we let them make reads as opposed to set plays." Although Aquinas started slowly against the 1-8 Longhorns -- they were up by just four in the final minute of the opening half -- the Raiders showed their capabilities in the second half. During a 2 4 -7 fourth-quar ter run that put the game away, they made smart passes and spaced the floor. Sagl hit a pair of threes for half of his 12 points in the quarter while Connor Murphy (1 4 points) and Chris Sagl (1 2 points, six assists) were effective driving to the basket. Six-foot-six forward Noah W orth can't be ignored either. He gives Aquinas a pres ence in the paint, shoots well and can drive or kick the ball back outside to a variety of three-point options. Tyrell Nurdin provides another option inside as well as a strong de fensive presence. The Raiders returned seven players from last year' s 8 -4 team that was upset in the quarter-finals, and had three more eligible to come back that opted for prep schools. i^ m m m Chris Sagl (1) of the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders keeps his eye on his shot as Corpus Christi Longhorns defenders wait for a prospective rebound during Halton Tier 1 senior boys basket ball action at Corpus Christi Secondary School on Wednes day. The Raiders won their 10th game in 11 Tier 1 regularseason outings with a 66-49 decision. Three teams, including the Bishop Reding Royals and the Holy Trinity Titans, have lost only one game in Halton play this season. | Nikki Wesley/ Metroland "W e felt we had a strong group so we worked hard in the off-season," said Tyler Sagl, who plays rep with UPlay Canada. "I think we've improved defensively. W e're good man-to-man and coming to help if we're needed." Aquinas has cut its points allowed from 54.8 to 4 9 .5 this season, but the off-season workouts also had the benefit of bringing the team closer together. "We have a good group of guys that get along on and off the court," Polizzi said. "I think that' s played a large role in their suc cess." * First-step quickness * Reaction skills * Puck control k k O A K V ILLE W 25 Y E A R S IN O A K V ILLE Power & acceleration Explosiveness ^ with the optimum in vehicle rust control and much more! 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