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By Adam Jackson Chronicle Sta� If any team in District 8 was going to give the St. Benedict Saints a run for their money in senior boys' basketball, it would have been the Resurrection Phoenix. Now, with injuries to two key players, the remainder of the season is looking a little more bleak. Both Iluya brothers -- widely publicized as the backbone of the Resurrection team -- are out for the season. For Jamu, it was an ACL tear a couple weeks ago. Muyang broke his leg on a drive to the hoop on Sunday. "It's going to be tough without those guys," said head coach Chris Aldworth. On top of that, at the beginning of the season, the team's 6-foot-8 power forward, decided he was going to attend the 3 Kings prep school in Windsor. W i t h K e n n i n g , t h a t ' s t h r e e s t a r t e r s g o n e f o r the rest of the season. Despite the injuries, the Phoenix have continued to roll along. � ey currently sit at 8-1 in the District 8 loop. � eir last win was a 53-25 win over the Monsignor Doyle Mustangs on Monday. Michael Perak, a fifth-year student and District 8 all-star in football, wouldn't normally see time on the � oor. But with his teammates' injuries, he's playing more. Resurrection's only loss of the season came to the unde- feated Saints. On Dec. 7, the St. Benedict beat the Phoe- nix 67-54 in Cambridge. The next meeting between the two teams is scheduled for Feb. 6 at Res- urrection. "Every practice we have, we always have a little bit prepared for Benny's," said Perak, who is headed some- where in the OUA as a line- man in football. "We know who we are, we know who they are and they're the best in the league." "It's tough going out there, too. They have such a great home crowd that is very supportive. I t 's always a great game playing against them. It weighs on our minds a little bit." It's hard to argue that the St. Benedict Saints are the favourites to go all the way to OFSAA and potentially earn a medal while there. The Saints have a gleaming 7-0 record in District 8 competition and they've won various tournaments around Ontario, includ- ing the prestigious Heinbuch Invitational in Waterloo. Typically stacked with the best teams from the GTA, the Heinbuch hasn't been won by a local team until this season. In District 8 competition, no teams have gotten close. � eir largest margin of victory came in the form of a 77-16 blowout against Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Nov. 28. Blow- out wins like that have propelled the Saints to a 524-192 points for and against total. "St. Benedict's is arguably the best team in Ontario right now," said Aldworth. "It's going to hard for us to challenge them, but we will." � e Phoenix continue their season on Fri- day as they visit the St. Mary's Eagles. Conestoga is now accepting applications for: TUITION-FREE Pre-Apprenticeship Programs These Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs are funded by the Government of Ontario Interested candidates must attend an information session; all sessions will include details on both programs. Registration is not required! All information sessions will begin promptly at 4:00pm. Waterloo - 4:00 pm, room 1D02, January 10 or January 25 or February 7 Guelph - 4:00 pm, room A17, January 12 or January 18 or February 2 For more information please contact: 519.885.0300 ext. 5484 (Waterloo) or 519.824.9390 ext. 5484 (Guelph) or email preapp@conestogac.on.ca Truck and Coach/Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Guelph Campus, March 2017 In-school training for 23 weeks with an 8 week paid work placement Welder/Metal Fabricator WaterlooCampus,May2017 In-school training for 25 weeks with an 8 week paid work placementLearn more about tuition-free Food Manufacturing/Millwright for Women, contact preapp@conestogac.on.ca. THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 21 SPORTS WATERLOO CHRONICLE Phoenix hanging onto hope With injuries to key players, it's going to be an uphill battle for the Phoenix to take down powerful St. Benedict Saints Adam Zabka of Resurrection (52) reaches for an offensive rebound with Abbas Khan (left) and Stefan Rocha (right) battling on Monday night at Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School. The Resurrection Phoenix are owners of a 8-1 record this season, but with injuries to two key players, it will be an uphill battle. ADAM JACKSON PHOTO The Iluya brothers, Jamu and Muyang, are both out for the season with leg injuries. FILE PHOTO