The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

This past year was payback time for the Titans after they "kicked butt" in defeating the Penn State all stars. I started to take these teams down to the United States where they could learn the American game," said Zdrahal. "Ageâ€"wise, there was parity, but the Canadian kids lacked the skill. We had to play their game, but by losing we were improving our skills all the time." Peter Cudhea gram where we can give the kids the experience to improve their } Chronicle Staff skills Hopefully they‘ll stay in the community and play university % % ball. Looking further down the road about 10 years from now, this reating a steppingâ€"stone league, preparing high school basâ€" area is going to be a real hotbed when it comes to basketball." ketball players for the university ranks has been a rewardâ€" _ Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawk coach Gary Jefferies ing experience for a local high school basketball coach. _ agrees this area has a lot of talent to offer. The Titan Basketball program is the dream of Waterloo colleâ€" _ "There‘s no question that the Titan program played a role in our giate basketball coach John Zdrahal, who in his free time, orgaâ€" _ program this season," said Jefleries whose Hawks posted a 59 nizes teams where players from Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo, Cambridge, record and just missed making the playolis. Last season the FEimira and surrounding areas can sharpen their hoop skills. Hawks recorded a 1â€"13 record. Zdrahal first began the program six years ago when his son, Jeff, _ "Coach Zdrahal does a great job. On paper we were a young now in his first year of university ball Lmh the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, was in Grade 8. He realized that the only basketball these kids were receiving came in the schools and the odd Youth Basâ€" ketball Association (EYLA) league. But the competitive wasn‘t as high as it could be. As a basketball coach for both boys and girls, he realized that there was more to the game than what was taught at the local levels. With the help of Brian Annable, who was able to organize practice facilities for the Titans, the proâ€" gram has grown to four teams with Gram has grown to players aged 13â€"18 Interested in taking a shot at winning $5,000 ‘What we have created is a proâ€" The LOTTARIO Aim to Win Dart Tour is coming to Conestoga Mall Tuesday, March 18 to Sunday, March 23. Participants must be Ontario residents 18 years of age or older. For official rules, call 1â€"800â€"387â€"0098. Listen to 96.7 CHYM FM or COUNTRY 570 CKGL for more details. pmeeawar en Titan basketball program offers area cagers experience on the court Laurier Golden Hawk Jelf Zdrahal was named the Ontario Universities Athâ€" of the year. The sixâ€"footâ€"one point guard, who played his high school basketball at Kitchener‘s Grand River collegiate, is the son of John Zdrahal, a basketball coach at Waterloo collegiate. Although the Hawks didn‘t qualify for the OUAA playolls this season, their 5â€"9 record was a far cry from their 1â€"13 record from the previous "It was a much improved team over last year," said Hawk coach Gary Jefâ€" feries. "With many firstâ€" and secondâ€" year players, all we need now is to add a bit of height and we‘ll be there next Golden Hawks‘ Zdrahal named top rookie cager in OUAA West Division Peter Cudhea Chronicle Staff Ap e His personal season highlights included a 26â€"point game against Western Mustangs on Jan. 15, includâ€" ing 11 for 15 from the freeâ€"throw line and five assists; 30 points against Brock Badgers on Jan. 18, including fourâ€"forâ€"six threeâ€"pointers; a 24â€"point game on Jan. 22 against Guelph Gryphons, including 11 for 12 from "We asked him to be a leader and he accepted the role." 5 â€"Jefferies credits Zdrahal‘s ability to take charge and become a team leader in just his first year. _ _ + "He‘s an intense kid and learned how to win while in high school. Zdrahal‘s record on the court speaks volumes â€" field goals, 42 per cent; three pointers, 40 per cent; free throws, 76 per cent; averaged 37 minâ€" utes, 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. P T P s "I don‘t know what else there is out there in the country, but 1 don‘t think there are too many rookies doing what the freeâ€"throw line; 21 points, cight rebounds and five assists against McMaster Marauders on Feb. 5; and 25 points against Windsor Lancers on March 1 Jeff Zdrahal firstâ€"year team. But with the added experience from the Titans, | think we‘re a sougher «eam." ic Former Tans on the WLL roster include guards Zdrahal and john Stewan and forwards Trilon Pappas, Tim Harms and David Annablé. The lone Tnan grad playing for UW Warnors is guard Josh Holden, while guard Jeff McNeil plays for the Gueiph jelleries realizes his Hawks have a long way to go belore being consideged top comenders. But 2 couple ol times this year they‘ve been on the verge of upserting some of the 10p clubs in the OUAAMs West Division. They lost by seven points to the No. 1 McMaster Marauders and by only mm . three noints 10 the No. 3 WESIETT 12 Moon â€"6 p .. knchuting Hobid 181 King St. 8., Waterioo *John is a serrific couch. He‘s knowledgeaile and must really love the game to get a program gomng like this in the off season." Jefferies said. "I look forward for the relsâ€" tronship to continue. It‘s a beautiful Titans will be conducting an information night for parents and players April 2 in the Waterioo colâ€" legrate caleteria. Try uts will be held April 6 at noon at Resurrection high school. "There‘s no question about it , any added experience aiter high school and before university is 2 bonus." said Kieswetter. "When Zdrahal takes these kads south 10 the United States (for tournaments). it‘s only going to improve their game " Warrior head couach Tom Kieswetter fully agrees that the Titan program grooms high school players for umiversity ball. But he also believes that basketball in genâ€" éral has taken a big step in the comâ€" munity with the development of the Wild Hawk and Lightning youth