In the wildcard game, the Winnipeg Maples Marauders edged the Fort Richmond Centurions 93-91.
In the opening round, held in Winnipeg: …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Winnipeg Miles Macdonell Buckeyes clipped the 8th-seeded Winnipeg Glenlawn Lions 88-71 after leading 20-18, 39-33 and 59-44 at the quarters. Casey Schouten paced the Buckeyes with 28 points and 14 boards. Kyle Barendregt added 18 points and 10 boards. Tim Ireland scored 17, Jayden McKoy 9, Ryan Romaniuk 8 and Filip Djukic 8, while Harjinder Sihu, Jeff Gregg, Luke Sierhuis, Chris Hondz, Jessie Panchhi, Aaron Strempler, David Dyck and Josh Samaroo were scoreless. Brennan Moore led the Lions, who were coached by Jonathan Wolfe, with 14. Daniel Ramlal added 13, Evan Bruce 10, Austin Arsenault 9, Zach Harder 8, Cole Mazurik 6, Mack Hayes 5, Jack Walker 4 and Dave Pavlick 2, while Kyle Trach, Hayden Sitter, Kamil Tynski and Justin Bradbury were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders dumped the 12th-seeded Brandon Crocus Plains Plainsmen 103-85 after leading 29-20, 59-42 and 74-61 at the quarters. Junior Sesay paced the Raiders with 24. Casey Blanca added 21, Dillion Zado 21, Nathan Warburton 20, Sean Jamieson 9, along with 10 boards, Michael Bell 3, Brendan Alexander 3 and Colson Reimer 2, while Marco Fanti, Aaron Ivey, Shaq Nichols and Isaac Margolis were scoreless. Justin Arthurson paced the Plainsmen, coached by Bart Walker and Randy Cullen, with 26. Daniel Keller added 14, Drew Jones 13, Jake Cullen 9, Jordan Paraschuk 8, Taylor Maloney 5, Travis Roy 4, Cody Robinson 4 and Thomas Janzen 2, while Layton Dornn, Codie Russell and Clint Whittingham were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers dispatched the 10th-seeded Winnipeg Dakota Lancers 74-66 after leading 14-9, 27-25 and 54-43 at the quarters. Ayob Ayob paced the Reivers with 21 points and 11 boards. Tyree Gordon added 14, Sonny Sylvester 13, along with 11 boards, Abu Conteh 10, Ryan Hawley 9 and Ivan Griffiths 7, while Medu Bera, Tyler Roopchand, Mike Bell, Khaliel Dennis, Austin Coombes, Perry Schellenberg and Christian Oneail were scoreless. Hayden Nellis paced the Lancers, coached by Dean Favoni, with 25 points and 12 boards. Taylor Brown added 18, Matt Bonwick 10, Brayden Sutherland 6, Dan Beddome 4, Hughie Glover 2 and Nolan Parrington 1, while Shayn Campbell, Graeme Riley, Josh Unrau, Alex MacLeod, Solomon Schmidt, Brandon Vidal and Oyinko Akinola were scoreless. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Winnipeg Sturgeon Heights Huskies clocked the 11th-seeded Winnipeg Maples Marauders 102-70 after leading 29-12, 49-40 and 76-58 at the quarters. Rodel Aaron paced the Huskies with 24. Vince Munoz added 20, Jordan Herdman 18, Zach Regert 14, Patrick Mart 11, Ryan Rycroft 8, Justin Herdman 4 and Chris Demoleon-Bartaley 3, while Nick Fletcher, Matthew Paquette, Chas Moore, Jordan Meixner and Kristian Teschner were scoreless. Chris Benevides led the Marauders, coached by Scott Kirkpatrick, with 26. Anthony Kanakis added 18, Raj Dandiala 10, Omar Olivier 6, Jomyle Ordonez 5, Paul Dhillon 2 and Prabjhot Saini 2, while Austin Granados, P.J. Coronado, Reymart Cruz, Matt Dunning, Jan Manibo, Francis Mercado and Scott Braganza were scoreless.
In the quarterfinals, the top-seeded Winnipeg Garden City Fighting Gophers dispatched the 8th-seeded Winnipeg Miles Macdonell Buckeyes 71-63 after leading 19-12, 38-23 and 57-36 at the quarters. Josh Magpantay paced the Fighting Gophers with 27. Andre Arruda-Welch added 19, Tynan Reyes 13, Malik Coleman 7, Jonas Tugade 3 and Denis Cicak 2, while Abel Bekele, Jayel Masangkay, Justin Pablo and Alec Soriano were scoreless. Jayden McKoy paced the Buckeyes, coached by Jeff Shaddock, with 25 points and 11 boards. Casey Schouten added 21, Tim Ireland 11, Filip Djukic 4, Ryan Romaniuk 3 and Kyle Barendregt 2, while Harjinder Sidhu, Jeff Gregg, Luke Sierhuis, Chris Hondz, Jessie Pancchi, Aaron Strempler, David Dyck and Josh Samaroo were scoreless.
The 4th-seeded Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers defeated the 5th-seeded Winnipeg Oak Park Raiders 72-65 after leading 16-11, 35-22 and 56-44 at the quarters. Stephen Jones paced the Clippers with 22 points and 18 boards. Marco Valera added 12, Dillon Miranda 10, Kalvin Ramos 10, Kristjan Lamont 10, along with 12 boards, Ruff Alinsob 6 and Ben Wilson 2, while Dakotah Roussin, Christian Lozaga, Ivan Paskvalin, Aidan Padgett-Reimer, Dikan Gjuric, Brandon Puglissi and Jonathan Tribula wee scoreless. Sean Jamieson led the Raiders, coached by Jon Lundgren, with 18 points and 12 boards. Junior Sesay added 15, Nathan Warburton 13, Dillion Zado 10, Casey Blanca 7 and Michael Bell 2, while Aaron Ivey, Shaq Nichols, Isaac Margolis, Brendan Alexander, Colson Reimer and Marco Fanti were scoreless.
The 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers clipped the 6th-seeded Winnipeg Sturgeon Heights Huskies 83-68. The Huskies led 17-15 after one quarter. The Pipers led 35-32 at the half and 53-51 after three quarters. Kuet Kuet paced the Pipers with 28. Brett Jewell added 19, along with 15 boards, Luke Herr 16, Aaron Allarie 8, Jeremy Darvill 4, Boris Zimbakov 4 and Ben Graham 4, while Dallas Murphy, Matt Anderson, Chris Brown, Taylor Gagne, Belal Lahl, Mike Ward, Zack Walker and Derrick McIntyre were scoreless. Ryan Rycroft led the Huskies, coached by Stephen Tackie, with 17. Jordan Herdman added 13, Rodel Aaron 13, Zach Regert 10, Patrick Mart 9, Vince Munoz 4 and Justin Herdman 2, while Chris Demoleon-Bartaley, Nick Fletcher, Matthew Paquette, Chas Moore, Jordan Meixner and Kristian Teschner were scoreless.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg St. Paul’s Crusaders edged the 7th-seeded Winnipeg Kildonan East Reivers 73-64. The Reivers led 20-13 after one quarter. The Crusaders led 38-37 at the half. The score was knotted at 53 after three quarters. Malik Irwin and Justus Allyen-Dornn each scored 14 to pace the Crusaders. Evan Pollard added 13, Theo Deezar 20, Ty Cranstron 9, Matt Kochan 7 and Myles Dancho 6, while Rhys Hansen, Jamie Dzikowicz, Jordan Pennycook and Dustin Spiring were scoreless. Ivan Griffiths paced the Reivers, coached by Jeremy Martin, with 19. Abu Conteh added 16, along with 11 boards, Ayob Ayob 16, Tyree Gordon 10 and Ryan Hawley 3, while Perry Schellenberg, Sonny Sylvester, Christian Oneail, Medu Bera, Tyler Roopchand, Mike Bell, Khaliel Dennis, Austin Coombes and Dominque Scarlet were scoreless.
In the semis, the top-seeded Winnipeg Garden City Fighting Gophers axed the 4th-seeded Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers 73-59. The score was knotted at 14 after one quarter. The Clippers led 30-29 at the half. The Fighting Gophers led 54-42 after three quarters. “I feel great for the guys, they’ve worked so hard this year,” said Garden City coach Phil Penner, who has 10 players on his team with seven of them in Grade 11. “It’s pretty sweet to get back there.” Gophers Guard Jayel Masangkay was bleeding from the mouth after a collision and Magpantay had to be helped off the floor with an apparent leg cramp with 48 seconds left in the game. “Josh is an amazing player and he never gives up,” said Masangkay, who came off the bench and led his team with five assists. “He (Josh) cramped up his leg. I think he just needs to eat more bananas and drink more water! It (going to the final) means everything. I’ve been dreaming of this ever since I started playing basketball.” The game changed in the second half. Magpantay dropped a three-point bucket just before the halftime buzzer to bring his team within one, trailing 30-29. But they were flying Gophers in the second half, coming out on an 11-0 run, paced by a Magpantay three-pointer and six points from Andre Arruda-Welch, to open up a 40-30 lead. “We did a great job defensively in the first half and second half, it was just a case of us — we didn’t make our shots,” said Kelvin coach Don Lamont. “The kids battled as hard as they could. We had a great year and I’m very proud of the boys.” Jayel Masangkay stepped up with five critical assists, despite having his nose bloodied down the stretch. “I just don’t want to give up,” said Masangkay. The Grade 11 student readily admitted that his side was inspired by fellow guard Josh Magpantay, who scored a game-high 31 points before being forced out of the game with an injury late in the fourth. “Josh is a really good player and he never gives up,” said Masangkay. “He’s that kind of guy. He just pushes and pushes to become a better player and shooting that (31) is just amazing. We see he’s doing well so, we all do well.” Magpantay, who was getting his lower leg iced and taped after the match, was a one-man show. “He was just a stud today,” said Garden City coach Phil Penner. “He carried us through the first half. He carried us through the whole game. For a Grade 11 kid to come out and play like that, it was just unbelievable.” The Clippers had played Garden City tough in the first half. The Gophers led by a mere 30-29, but opened the third with an 11-0 run. “I think that was the turning point in the game, even though it was that early,” Penner said. “We really struggled in the first half. Their defence was very good. They were very physical with us and we weren’t able to get the looks we would normally get. In the second half, we were able to start to get on a run, and get some momentum and get some positive energy going as a team.” Clippers coach Don Lamont credited Penner for making the proper adjustments at the break. “We did a great job defensively in the first half. In the second half, I think it was just a case of us not making good shots … You can play defence as tough as you can, but you still need to put the basketball in the net and I think that was the deciding factor.” Masangkay said “ever since I started playing basketball, I’ve wanted to win that ring. It’s just been driving me.” Josh Magpantay led the Fighting Gophers with 31 on 10-22 from the floor, 5-10 from the arc, 6-7 from the line and 5 boards. Andre Arruda-Welch added 18 on 7-17 from the floor, 1-4 from the arc, 3-4 from the line and 15 boards. Tynan Reyes notched 17 on 7-15 from the floor, 3-4 from the line and 9 boards. Malik Coleman scored 4, Denis Cicak 2, along with 6 boards, and Jonas Tugade 1, while Jayel Masangkay, Justin Pablo, Alec Soriano and Abel Bekele were scoreless. Masangkay dished 5 assists. The Fighting Gophers hit 27-71 (.380) from the floor, 6-21 (.286) from the arc and 13-16 (.813) from the line, while garnering 48 boards, including 15 on the offensive glass, 10 fouls, 10 assists, 17 turnovers, 2 blocks and 6 steals. Kalvin Ramos paced the Clippers with 13 on 5-15 from the floor, 2-8 from the arc, 1-2 from the line, 2 assists and 3 steals. Kristjan Lamont added 11 on 5-12 from the floor, 1-6 from the line, 10 boards and 3 assists. Dillon Miranda notched 10 on 5-10 from the floor, 13 boards and 2 assists. Ivan Paskvalin added 10 on 5-10 from the floor. Stephen Jones scored 8 on 4-12 from the floor and 8 boards. Marco Valera notched 7 on 3-13 from the floor, while Dakotah Roussin, Christian Lozaga, Aidan Padgett-Reimer, Dikan Gjuric, Ruff Alinsob, Brandon Puglissi, Ben Wilson and Jonathan Tribula were scoreless. The Clippers hit 27-74 (.365) from the floor, 2-15 (.133) from the arc and 3-11 (.273) from the line, while garnering 40 boards, including 14 on the offensive glass, 16 fouls, 13 assists, 16 turnovers, 3 blocks and 8 steals.
In the other semi, the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers edged the 2nd-seeded Winnipeg St. Paul’s Crusaders 70-65. The Crusaders led 15-13, 31-30 and 50-41 at the quarters. The Pipers went on a 16-0 run to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but St. Paul’s roared back to make it 65-63 on Justus Allyen-Dornn’s three-pointer. John Taylor’s Boris Zimbakov tied it up inside and Brett Jewell’s drive to the hoop stood as the game winning bucket. “Honestly, we knew we could do it,” said Piper point guard Luke Herr. “We played an awesome fourth quarter … We haven’t done it for a while so it feels awesome to be going to the final. “We lost to them in a conference final by 30 so, to win is huge.” Herr was the difference, said Pipers coach Spiros Kavadas. “He runs our team and we go through him. I was pretty fortunate to have him as our point guard because he’s as tough as nails. For a coach, it’s a dream come true.” Luke Herr paced the Pipers with 26 on 9-20 from the floor, 5-10 from the arc, 3-3 from the line and 9 boards. Brett Jewell added 15 on 7-16 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc and 4 boards. Boris Zimbakov notched 15 on 6-13 from the floor, 3-8 from the line, 9 boards and 2 steals. Kuet Kuet scored 9 on 2-3 from the floor, 2-3 from the arc, 3-4 from the line, 4 boards and 4 assists. Aaron Allarie added 2, Ben Graham 2 and Derrick McIntyre 1, while Belal Lahl, Mike Ward, Zack Walker, Jeremy Darvill, Dallas Murphy, Matt Anderson, Chris Brown, Taylor Gagne and Mike Seidu were scoreless. Malik Irwin paced the Crusaders with 13 on 5-14 from the floor, 3-3 from the line, 10 boards, 2 assists and 4 steals. Theo Deezar added 12 on 5-12 from the floor, 2-2 from the line, 12 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals. Evan Pollard notched 11 on 5-14 from the floor, 1-2 from the line and 8 boards. Justus Allyen-Dornn scored 11 on 4-19 from the floor, 1-4 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 7 boards, 3 assists and 5 steals. Matt Kochan added 10 on 3-6 from the floor, 4-4 from the line and 9 boards. Ty Cranston scored 8 on 3-8 from the floor, 2-6 from the arc and 3 boards, while Myles Dancho, Rhys Hansen, Jamie Dzikowicz, Jordan Pennycook, Josh Sleva and Dustin Spiring were scoreless. The Crusaders hit 25-76 (.329) from the floor, 3-16 (.188) from the arc and 12-14 (.857) from the line, while garnering 52 boards, including 14 on the offensive glass, 17 fouls, 10 assists, 27 turnovers, 1 block and 14 steals.
In the final, the top-seeded Winnipeg Garden City Fighting Gophers defeated the 3rd-seeded Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers 71-61. The Pipers led 20-13 after one quarter. The Fighting Gophers led 36-28 at the half and 50-44 after three quarters. “It’s all because of the hard practices and the hard work we do,” said varsity captain Denis Cicak, a Grade 12 forward/post who has played at the school since Grade 9. “We practice harder than anyone else in the province. We’re not the most talented team, but we’re the hardest working team. That’s why we win.” The Gophers went on a 10-0 run late in the second quarter to take the lead for the first time and held it down the stretch. “It’s so great, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time and the same with all those (Gophers) guys over there. It feels amazing. It was crazy, we just kept working hard, with heart and passion and we knew it would all figure itself out.” The Pipers had dug the Gophers into 25-19 hole when the Gophers comeback began. Andre Arruda-Welch took over the game, scoring four straight buckets to put the Gophers ahead. The Pipers lost starting post Boris Zimbakov in the first half with a leg injury. Point guard Josh Magpantay played all but four seconds despite being injured in the semis and needing treatment for sever cramps. “This was the last game so, you give it all for your team, right?” said Magpantay, who was named tournament MVP. “I felt great … I’m so excited right now, I can hardly talk. … Andre (Arruda-Welch) played big for us. He struggled a couple of games before this. But we got him the ball and he did it today.” Coach Phil Penne said “Andre came up big tonight. That’s why I thought he was the No. 1 player in the province. He took things on his shoulders tonight. He did a great job and that’s what tough players do.” The Gophers overcame the first quarter deficit by “working hard,” said Arruda-Welch. “We just kept working hard. We all worked hard, with passion, kept going all the way with passion and went for it. This feels awesome.” Penner said he felt “bad for Boris (Zimbakov), their big kid who went down with an injury, after hurting us inside. … It feels great. I feel so good for the guys. They worked so hard this year and gave it everything they had and they got rewarded for it.” It was Garden City’s third title in the last five years. Andre Arruda-Welch paced the Fighting Gophers with 30 on 10-25 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 9-11 from the line and 12 boards. Josh Magpantay added 19 on 8-18 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 8 boards and 2 assists. Tynan Reyes added 18 on 8-17 from the floor, 2-3 from the line, 8 boards and 4 blocks. Malik Coleman added 2, along with 4 boards, and Jonas Tugade 2, while Jayel Masangkay, Justin Pablo, Alec Soriano, Abel Bekele and Denis Cicak were scoreless. Cicak nabbed 5 boards. The Fighting Gophers hit 28-70 (.400) from the floor, 2-9 (.222) from the arc and 13-16 (.813) from the line, while garnering 39 boards, including 13 on the offensive glass, 14 fouls, 7 assists, 10 turnovers, 5 blocks and 4 steals. Aaron Allarie paced the Pipers with 17 on 8-14 from the floor, 1-4 from the arc and 10 boards. Brett Jewell added 16 on 8-15 from the floor and 6 boards. Kuet Kuet notched 11 on 3-12 from the floor, 3-8 from the arc, 2-4 from the line and 5 boards. Dallas Murphy added 6 and Luke Herr 5 on 1-9 from the floor, 1-6 from the arc, 2-4 from the line and 11 boards. Boris Zimbakov added 4 and Ben Graham 2, while Belal Lahl, Mike Ward, Zack Walker, Jeremy Darvill, Derrick McIntyre, Matt Anderson, Taylor Gagne, Chris Brown and Mike Seidu were scoreless.
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg Kelvin Clippers: Kalvin Ramos; Kristjan Lamont; Dillon Miranda; Ivan Paskvalin; Stephen Jones; Marco Valera; Dakotah Roussin; Christian Lozaga; Aidan Padgett-Reimer; Dikan Gjuric; Ruff Alinsob; Brandon Puglissi; Ben Wilson; Jonathan Tribula; coach Don Lamont
The co-bronze medalist Winnipeg St. Paul’s Crusaders: Malik Irwin; Theo Deezar; Evan Pollard; Justus Allyen-Dornn; Matt Kochan; Ty Cranston; Myles Dancho; Rhys Hansen; Jamie Dzikowicz, Jordan Pennycook; Josh Sleva; Dustin Spiring; coach Jeff Laping
The silver medalist Winnipeg John Taylor Pipers: Luke Herr; Brett Jewell; Boris Zimbakov; Kuet Kuet; Aaron Allarie; Ben Graham; Derrick McIntyre; Belal Lahl; Mike Ward; Zack Walker; Jeremy Darvill; Dallas Murphy; Matt Anderson; Chris Brown; Taylor Gagne; Mike Seidu; coach Spiros Kavadas
The champion Winnipeg Garden City Fighting Gophers: Josh Magpantay; Andre Arruda-Welch; Tynan Reyes; Malik Coleman; Denis Cicak; Jonas Tugade; Jayel Masangkay; Justin Pablo; Alec Soriano; Abel Bekele; coach Phil Penner