In the opening round, held in Windsor: …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas crushed the 12th-seeded Fergus Centre Wellington District Falcons 87-50 as Miles Hall and Drazens McLaughlin each scored 13. Zach Cudmore paced the Falcons with 13. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Hamilton Cathedral Gaels whipped the 16th-seeded Ottawa St. Peter Knights 78-57 as Nathan Bilamu scored 32. Michel Gouombas-Lussamaki led the Knights with 18. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers dusted the 11th-seeded Kingston Holy Cross Catholic Secondary Crusaders 82-54 as Nathaniel Brown scored 36. Tanner Hawley and Tommy Pendergast each notched 18 for the Crusaders. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons clocked the 17th-seeded Belleville Quinte Secondary Saints 93-35 as Deandre Francis scored 20. Jack Whitley led the Saints with 13. …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Toronto St. Michael’s Blue Raiders clubbed the 15th-seeded Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish 93-47 as Kyle Duke-Simpson scored 19. Braidon Moore led the Fighting Irish with 11. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Windsor W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Clippers spanked the 18th-seeded Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s College Knights 73-43 as Evrette Burks scored 15. Colton Evans led the Knights with 9. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Toronto John Paul II Catholic Secondary Pope Panthers edged the 14th-seeded Orillia District Blues 63-59 as Levi Ogbonna scored 19. Matt Mercer led the Blues with 14. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Thornhill Vaughan Voyageurs dispatched the 13th-seeded Toronto Upper Canada College Blues 66-53 as Freddy Martello scored 25. James Yeretsian led the Blues with 14. …………………………………………………… The 10th-seeded Sarnia Northern CI &VS Vikings defeated the 9th-seeded London H.B. Beal Raiders 47-40 as Jaden Ogorek scored 16. Freedom Maloney led the Raiders with 20.
In the second round: …………………………………………………… The 16th-seeded Ottawa St. Peter Knights nipped the 18th-seeded Sault Ste. Marie St. Mary’s College Knights 51-50 as Mccainly Thomas scored 7. Colton Evans led the Knights with 11. The St. Mary’s Knights (coached by Jim Pedatella, Lou Mazzuca, Anastasia Zagordo and Alex Walke) also included Dexter Holden, Alexzander Mazzuca, Max DeLorenzi, Liam Kent, Joseph Ruscio, Aaron Bossio, Giancarlo Viotto, Max Fasulo, Nolan Punch, David Pedatella, Nate Medaglia, Ethan Pedinelli and Michael Girardi. …………………………………………………… The 15th-seeded Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish stomped the 17th-seeded Belleville Quinte Secondary Saints 71-46. The Saints (coached by Liane Woodley, J. Wayne Myers and David Taylor) included Grant Cole, Aron Gilroy, Jack Whitley, Jason Berry, Terran Bennett, Sean McRae, Adam Taylor, Jaime Benzal Bardaji, Mathew Berry, Isaiah Greenwood, Baden Tebworth, Tyler Lee, Tyson Rux, Colin Gilroy and Donald Taylor.
In the third round: …………………………………………………… The 4th-seeded Toronto St. Michael’s Blue Raiders blasted the 13th-seeded Toronto Upper Canada College Blues 93-32 as Raeshaun Ambris scored 20. Bahador Pourvakil led the Blues with 8. The Blues (coached by Christian Heffernan, Larry Lajeunesse and George Mohtadi) also included Calvin Jeffrey, Joe Hill, Kyle Manji, Jesse Zhao, Aryan Pasricha, James Yeretsian, Alessandro Rocca, Alex Dreger, Zayn Moosa, Troy Boydell, Mueez Chaudhry, Jackson Boydell and Danny Foote. …………………………………………………… The 5th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons whipped the 11th-seeded Kingston Holy Cross Catholic Secondary Crusaders 72-48 as Jacob Masters scored 30. Tanner Hawley led the Crusaders with 16. The Crusaders (coached by Robin Dzieriejko, Rick Caverley, Alfie De Meo and Calum Steele) also included Conor Gaudet, Jesse Soroka, Mitchell Beaubien, Tristan O’Brien, Griffin Chenier, Nicolas Badalato, Parker Alderson, Samuel Pierson, Domenico Montalbano, Jacob Cooper, Nathan Young and Tommy Pendergast. …………………………………………………… The 6th-seeded Hamilton Cathedral Gaels clubbed the 12th-seeded Fergus Centre Wellington District Falcons 79-54 as N Bilamu scored 23. Cole Newton led the Falcons with 19. The Falcons (coached by Jeff Brubacher, Paul Bruce and Kevin Cameron) also included Keenen Lochert, Phillip Waind, Tyler Young, Jonathan Barclay, Dylan Croll, Mitchell Rose-Janes, Zach Cudmore, Isaac Miller, Sean MacPherson, Sam Voisin and Braden Jonker. …………………………………………………… The 3rd-seeded Windsor W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Clippers edged the 14th-seeded Orillia District Blues 53-48 as Marquis Lara-Caston scored 15. Hunter Murphy led the Blues with 16. The Blues (coached by Mike Tutty and Dan Fournier) also included Jacob Johnson, Graham Buchan, Jeremy Head, Raymond Ingersoll-McNeely, Ryan Heim, Matt Mercer, Garrett van Amelsvoort, Owen McRoberts, Patrick Fleguel and Nolan Felstead. …………………………………………………… The top-seeded Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas mauled the 16th-seeded Ottawa St. Peter Knights 103-48 as Shakael Pryce scored 23. Liam Massey paced the Knights with 15. The Knights (coached by Daniel Lufty, Nabil Ahmed, Stephen Kent and Johnathan Sicard) also included Adrian Poirier, Javon Brooks-Samuel, Matthew Heard, Layne Itwaru, Francois Therrien, Azike Mosindi, Mccainly Thomas, Kaine Osiagwu, Alex Mbuluyo, Hughie Brooks, Michel Gouombas-Lussamaki, Fathi Mohamoud and Keith Laryea. …………………………………………………… The 8th-seeded Toronto John Paul II Catholic Secondary Pope Panthers edged the 10th-seeded Sarnia Northern CI &VS Vikings 61-58 in overtime as Levi Ogbonna scored 16. Tristan Haagsma led the Vikings with 19. The Vikings (coached by Christopher Jones, Matthew Cook, Ryan Hanly and Andrew Westlake) also included Daniel Luciani, Jackson Earle, Jon King, Jaden Ogorek, Ethan Jones, Eric Zhou, Nate Smith, Blake Butler, Greg Ross and Caleb Schiestel. …………………………………………………… The 7th-seeded Thornhill Vaughan Voyageurs nipped the 9th-seeded London H.B. Beal Raiders 58-55 as Keoe Davis scored 14. Freedom Maloney led the Raiders with 15. The Raiders (coached by Ian McConnell, Danny Carducci, Kevin Farrow, Jeff Flesher, George Grabowski and Anthony Zinn) also included Tyrease Phouttharath, Jahleel Hilts, Tariq Armstrong, Yoal Tsehaye, J.C. Cruz, Oscar Pensa, Owen King, Karim Samara, Jordan Spring and Junior Kadima. …………………………………………………… The 2nd-seeded Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers clawed the 15th-seeded Welland Notre Dame Fighting Irish 80-59. The Fighting Irish (coached by Mark Gallagher, Chris Biggar and Jordan Hadju) included Shammar Campbell, Jason Champagne-Rouchard, Anthony Cimino, Nelson Collee, Austin Cooper, Brandon Graziani, Jonah Gruarin, Rovenston Jean Baptiste, David Jones, Braidon Moore, Owen Patitucci, Jaeden Petti, Jesse Raso, Ryan Wilson and Andrew Zezela.
In the quarterfinals, the 4th-seeded Toronto St. Michael’s Blue Raiders whipped the 5th-seeded Toronto Oakwood Barons 70-47. The Barons (coached by Anthony Miller, Oniel Kamaka, Norm Clarke, Dave MacDonald and Andy Nguyen) included Taj Thomas-Morgan, Khane Simone-Caesar, Jayden Jack, Jacob Masters, Julius Laurinavicius, Kymani Bent, Kyle Simmons, Felix Janusauskas, Tyler Jean, Jayar Harewood and Deandre Francis.
The 6th-seeded Hamilton Cathedral Gaels dispatched the 3rd-seeded Windsor W.C. Kennedy Collegiate Clippers 55-43. The Clippers (coached by Patrick Osborne, Mike Harrington, Jeff Nekkers and Noah Vandendriessche) included Dennard Simonato, Hercules Sainternie, Damien De Los Santos, Ardell Scott-Jackson, Everette Burks, Mazin Tiea, Manroop Mader, Marquis Lara Caston, Akot Aken, Dante St. Pierre, Magdi Tiea, Terrell Nikolic Jones, Ler Lar Hay and Raef Saleh.
The top-seeded Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas smacked the 8th-seeded Toronto John Paul II Catholic Secondary Pope Panthers 84-60. The Pope Panthers (coached by Fortunato Comito, Andy Cummings and Duane Spencer) included Levi Ogbonna, Omar Alfonso, Sheldon Goulbourne, Tristan De Vera, Andrade Cummings, Justin Yarde, Tevin Earle, Shamar Lawrence, Vadime St-Cyr, Eior Maverick Montenegro, Taijon Eccleston-Graham, Desson Spencer, Tirone Jesquith and Malcolm King.
In the last quarterfinal, the 2nd-seeded Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers spanked the 7th-seeded Thornhill Vaughan Voyageurs 93-60. The Voyageurs (coached by Tony Brnadic and Joshua Lipsey) included Jonah Nakhla, Jaidon Martin, Nick Kwawukumey, Matteo Mongroo, Jason Diaz, Kymani Mignott, Storm Bucknor, Freddy Martello, Micheal Franceschi, Nikola Pucnin, Keoe Davis, Keishaun Robertson and Jean Raseen.
In the semis, the top-seeded Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas edged the 4th-seeded Toronto St. Michael’s Blue Raiders 77-71 in overtime. The Pumas trailed by 12 in the third quarter and by 3 with 9 seconds to play. But Jesiah Deerr forced overtime with a trey with 2 seconds on the clock and the Pumas were finally able to dispatch their long-time rivals, who’d delivered wins over Pine Ridge in the quarter-finals in 2012 and 2016 and the semis in 2015 and 2017. “That monkey was ripped off our back,” Pumas coach Cam Nekkers told the Pickering News Advertiser. “We just did not shoot the ball well. I think it’s because the guys wanted to win that game so badly for the Pine Ridge program that everybody was tight.”
In the other semi, the 2nd-seeded Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers dispatched the 6th-seeded Hamilton Cathedral Gaels 74-66.
In the bronze medal match, the 6th-seeded Hamilton Cathedral Gaels defeated the 4th-seeded Toronto St. Michael’s Blue Raiders 74-66. The Blue Raiders (coached by Jeff Zownir, assisted by Nunzio Corente and Branko Samsa) included Inaki Alvarez Fernandez, Ethan Paguirigan, Raeshaun Ambris, Evan Marinov, Kyle Duke-Simpson, Noah Julien, Jack Foran, Ben Stonkus, Aleer Aleer-Leek, Rory Stewart and Nana Boateng.
In the final, the top-seeded Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas defeated the 2nd-seeded Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers 76-72. “It’s a special group of kids,” Pumas coach Cam Nekkers, who won a title as a player with Oshawa O’Neill in 1992, told the Pickering News Advertiser. “This is the first group of guys who get absolute joy out of other people’s success. With this group of kids, it doesn’t need to be the individual to do something to be happy. If the group is doing something good, everyone is happy, and that’s a rare thing with teenage boys.” Nekkers credited Shakael Pryce for leading the team — “He’s our engine, he’s our team leader, he’s what makes things go,” while also praising the play of J,” he said — but also praised the play of Jesiah Deerr, Derrell McLaughlin-Perreira, Nathaniel Joseph-Parker and Jerry Mercury, among others. “I could rave about so many different guys to be honest. It was a team effort, no doubt.” Tigers assistant Kenneth Dvorsky told the Mississauga News that despite suffering their first loss of the season after 44 wins, the season and the silver medal were a testimony to the squad’s work ethic. “We began practice the very first week of school outside on the track in very warm weather and we kept at it until the very end. … Going into games, not only were our players extremely prepared for what they may face on the court, but [coach Mike MacKenzie] is also really good at adapting to changes made by opposition coaches. I doubt there was a single game this season where we were outcoached. … They knew going in that Mike and I were serious about this. They knew they were going to practice a lot, develop a lot as players and there wasn’t really a need to seek something else, which a lot of players have done with prep programs.”
The bronze medalist Hamilton Cathedral Gaels: Trevor Morris; Malcolm Maganda; Esaie (Isaiah) Mayambu; Kionte Collins; Zanyah Jones; Nathan Bilamu; Christopher Ciprian; Javon Joseph; Zachary Powell; Mark Cadet; Hezekiah Dhuman; Taylor Thomas; Joshua Coward; Shawn Mattan; Bishop Harris; coach Luca Fortino; assistant Nathan Morris; assistant Paul Taylor
The silver medalist Mississauga St. Francis Xavier Tigers: Ares Guerra; Jamal Mohammed; Ida-Ehosa Olaye; Francesco Decena Barbieri; Nathaniel Brown; Tyrell Vickers; Yuel Yemane; Raheem Dennis; Marc Vicioso; Justus Salmon; Nathan Charles; Justin Trinh; Olaitan Lyanda; Micah Rose-Mighty; Shamar Francis; coach Michael MacKenzie; assistant Kenneth Dvorsky
The gold medalist Pickering Pine Ridge Pumas: Matteus Case; Jesiah Deerr; Jalen Deerr; Jayden Grange; Miles Hall; Drazen Jerkovic; Tareek Kerr; Derrell McLaughlin-Perreira; Jerry Mercury; Nathaniel Joseph-Parker; Darnelle Peddie; Shakael Pryce; Kole Scott; Seth White; J.B. Wong; coach Cameron Nekkers; assistant Patricia Biffin; assistant Cina Sotiriou; assistant Cederic Carter