Hoopsters fizzle before finals
The third annual Axemen Senior Boys Invitational Basketball Tournament wrapped up on Saturday, and even though four Mississauga teams participated, neither one of them reached the final.
Mississauga’s strongest hope; the Lorne Park Spartans went 3-0 in the preliminary round, but lost their first game at the wrong time.
“We got a little bit tired,” said Spartans head coach Jenee Zammit. “Then we got a bit discouraged when we fell behind and we just couldn’t come back.”
Playing against powerhouse Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Royals in the semi-finals, the Spartans had their work cut out for them.
Trailing 34-24 at the half, Lorne Park couldn’t keep up with Bishop’s fast attack.
“They’re (Bishop) a very good team, very athletic and quick,” said Zammit. “Our guys just couldn’t keep up and they took advantage.”
The Spartans were more energetic to begin the second half, snapping off accurate passes and playing tough defense.
Unfortunately, that only lasted for about four minutes.
That’s when the Royals took over and cruised to their 67-47 victory.
“This was a good warm up,” said Zammit. “But we need to focus on our conditioning; it’s all a matter of the legs.”
Bishop’s Jide Olasamniju scored 20 points while Lorne Park’s Tyler Anderson netted 20 in the losing cause.
In the other semi-final, the Glenforest Gryphons lost to David and Mary Thomson 92-59.
Thomson’s Jahmaal Hibbert dropped in 21 points, while Glenforest’s Nathaniel Tullock led all scorers with 22.
David and Mary Thomson went on to win the tourney with a convincing 86-59 win over Bishop.
Glenforest’s Nathaniel Tullock, Applewood’s Adam Lam, Port Credit’s Yusuf Saadi and Lorne Park’s Tyler Anderson were named to the Tournament all-star team.
Applewood went 0-3 and Port Credit went 1-2 in the round robin action.