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Loyola guard leads Halton to win at Spectator All-Star ClassicBy Larry MokoMETROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUPHAMILTON A player who drew oohs and ahs from the crowd at the 22nd annual Hamilton Spectator All-Star Classic has committed to play his university basketball for the Gee-Gees.Ill be playing in Ottawa (for the Gee-Gees), Loyola point guard Mike LAfricain said after receiv-ing tournament Most Valuable Player honours for leading Halton to the Spec championship on Wednesday night. In the final of the four-team DOMINANT SHOWING:Appleby College's boys' team won its OFSAA A/AA tournament last weekend in Timmins, outscoring its oppo-regional high school competition, LAfricain scored nents 36-6 in its seven victories.a game-high 18 points and distributed the ball beau-tifully as Halton defeated the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholics 85-75 at the St. Thomas More gym.The consolation final was won by Hamilton-Winning not important to girls coachWentworth Public 66-65 over Brant County.It was the second consecutive year LAfricain and Continued from page 36time win over St. Theresa in the champi-play), Poliziani said. Not a lot of goodhis Halton teammates have walked away with top onship game even more emotional for in terms of preparation comes fromWe put her there as a senior because shehonours.Poliziani and his charges.those games when you walk throughis calm and poised and is a very goodHes a joy to watch even on the opposing There was certainly expecation as the them. Even though you try to work onteacher, and obviously she was able tobench, said H-W Catholic coach Stefano number one seed. The pressure was a things, the games are so within yourallow Lindsay to flourish in that posi-Giovannangeli of St. Thomas More. He sees the real difficult thing to deal with, and we grasp early that you spend most of yourtion, Page said.whole floor and everything is under control. He has were fortunate to have the experience time trying to disuade players from beingAnd a person no one talks aboutthe complete package. Hell be a nice CIS player.from last year, knowing what to expect. selfish or getting off the game plan orbecause shes very rarely on theLAfricain, who was born in Montreal but moved To be able to fight throughplaying with intensity con-scoresheet, Delaney Cox. Her leadershipto Oakville in Grade 9, says he received recruiting it and stay the course andTo be able to fightsistently that will produce really shone throughout the tourna-interest from 14 of 16 OUA schools along with get there, for me it was veryresults later in the tourna-ment. Shes one of our best penalty kill-through (theabout a dozen schools in the rest of Canada and the much a relief and an emo-ment when you really needers and when she was on the kill, she waspressure) and stay U.S.tional experience, Polizianithem.just out there working hard, blockingthe course and getI feel like I have a really strong relationship with said.Poliziani said the tour-shots, forechecking. It was awesome tothere, for me it was the coaches and some of the players on the Ottawa Liam Board deliverednament game that worriedsee. Everyone bought into it.team, LAfricain said. Some of their players came the golden goal, firing averyhim the most was the quar- much a relief Page hopes all her players cherish thefrom my old elementary school. And one lived on shot into the top-right cor-ter-final contest againstjourney to gold more than the medaland an emotional my street for a couple of years. Plus Ottawa is a nice ner of the net with less thanNorth Hastings Bancroft.that went around their necks.experience.city and I feel the program is on the way up.two minutes to go in over-We had lost to St. MarysMedals to me arent important. TheThey need a point guard to come in right off the time. Board also deliveredlast year at that point (thewinning is not important, said Page, Appleby boys'bat. They were like 32nd in the country in assists perhaps the biggest goal of quarter-final), he said.who concluded her second season behindcoach Dan Polizianiout of 41 teams. Thats what I can do best.Applebys season last year,The kids realized at thatthe Appleby bench. Whats so greatThe Spec Classic title helps ease the pain for scoring in overtime in thepoint that everything wasabout going through that tournamentLAfricain, whose Loyola Hawks lost to Vaughan championship game of the prestigious on the line. They knew our history. Iand doing so well was the journey, theVoyageurs in the Ontario Federation of School McPherson Tournament.think that was the most stressful gameway the kids reacted to the end of theAthletic Associations AAAA gold-medal game. Said Matt Rubinoff had Applebys goals we played.season, how they developed a team cul-LAfricain: It was a tough way to go out. They were during regulation time of Saturdays Appleby rolled to a 4-1 win over Northture and how driven they were througha lot bigger and stronger than us.final. He, Board and Mitch McMullin Hastings, setting up a meeting with theit.In addition to LAfricains offensive contribution formed Applebys top line at the tourna-host Timmins team in the semifinals.Other members of the team, whichwhich included a trio of three-point baskets, Halton ment. McMullin was the tournaments The Blue Dogs allowed the first goal tofinished with an overall record of 22-9-2got 14 points from Holy Trinitys Anthony Pate.top point-getter (15) and was second in Timmins before rallying for a 2-1 winthis year, are Alysia DaSilva, CatherineThe host Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic squad, goals (seven). Nicholas Proletti (10 and earning their trip to the final.Berghuis, Sarah Steele, Dominiquewhich trailed by 24 points in the fourth quarter, got points) and defenceman Daniel Poliziani The OFSAA gold is Applebys thirdHanson and Morgen Kidney. Kim12 points by Paul Petruccelli of St. Thomas More, 11 (nine points) were also key offensive con-provincial medal in the past seven years.Devereaux also coaches the squad.by slam-dunk contest winner Lucas Mancini of tributors.The Blue Dogs collected silver at theBoys win an emotional oneCardinal Newman and 10 apiece by Mark Ferracuti In goal, Aleks Pike was in top form, 2004 and 2008 tournaments.of St. Jean de Bruf and Lamar Barr of More.posting a 0.67 goals-against average in Also contributing to this years goldWhile Applebys girls were making theGiovannangeli said two consecutive titles for Applebys seven wins. The first five of were Brandon Leard, Steve Murray,schools first-ever trip to OFSAA, theHalton both over Hamilton Catholic doesnt those victories came by a combined Connor Ingleson, Travis Blinkhorn, SteveBlue Dogs boys team was intent on eras-necessarily mean the Hamilton Catholic league is score of 31-3, which actually gave MacInnis, Evan Morrison and Aidaning the memories of last years disap-losing its dominance.Poliziani reason for concern.Board.pointment at provincials.Halton is strong, he said. They have a lot of One thing I dont like about being Wayne Murray, Mike Moores and MattAppleby was the top seed at the 2010schools to draw from. But day in and day out, our the number one seed is you draw the Thompson are the teams assistantOFSAA tournament before being elimi-league is one of the toughest to play in. Every game weaker teams. We only played one team coaches, and Mike Recine is the athleticnated in the quarter-finals.is a fight.ranked in the top 10 (in round-robin therapist.That made last Saturdays 3-2 over-37 Friday, April 1, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com