Exposure to the best
As Canada’s largest junior boys high school basketball tourney, Kawartha Classic a unique opportunity for hundreds of players
Steve Earl remembers from his playing days the Kawartha Classic was an opportunity to see some of Ontario’s top high school basketball teams.
Now as coach of the Thomas A. Stewart Griffins he’s giving his players the same exposure as a developmental tool.
The 64-team 2017 Kawartha Classic Madness Junior Tournament kicked off Friday at all area high school and post-secondary gymnasiums. Billed as Canada’s largest junior boys high school tournament the Classic has a 32-team NCAA Division for top tier teams and a 32-team NIT Division for second tier.
The Griffins, who finished third in Kawartha regular season league play with an 8-4 record, split their opening day games on home court. They defeated Ernestown 59-30 led by Braeden Bruce’s 14 points. They dropped their second game 43-38 to Mayfield with Kal Sager topping TASSS with 16 points. It bumped the Griffins into the B division where they’ll face Holy Trinity 9 a.m. Saturday in quarter-final play at TASSS.
The St. Peter’s Saints are 2-0 and in the hunt for the NIT A championship. They opened with a 48-24 win over Eastdale and followed with a 54-52 win over Rick Hansen. They’ll face Fellowes in quarterfinal play 11:40 a.m. Saturday at St. Peter’s Secondary School. The NIT A final is 5:40 p.m. at St. Peter’s.
There is one Peterborough school in the NCAA bracket. The Adam Scott Lions, who were 12-0 in Kawartha regular season play, lost their opener 56-44 to Hamilton’s Saltfleet. The Lions rebounded to beat Sudbury’s Notre Dame 68-66 in overtime. The Lions face Kingston Collegiate in the C quarter-final 1 p.m. at Crestwood Secondary School.
Earl, a Crestwood Mustangs alumnus, is in his third year coaching a TASSS junior squad that has improved each year under his tutelage. He said his biggest goal this weekend was to gain some valuable experience heading into next week’s Kawartha playoffs.
“It’s always a good opportunity to compare yourself against guys from outside of the city and to see some really good basketball and some really great players. If you consider yourself a good player, it’s an opportunity to play against some of the best in the province.”
While Earl went into the tournament hoping his team might make a run at the A title, he said he couldn’t fault his players’ effort.
“We’re a pretty athletic team so we were able to play to our strength with a few more fastbreak opportunities (against Ernestown),” said Earl. “We played good defence in both games but Mayfield was a strong team. It was a tight game, 38-38 with a minute-and-a-half left. We missed a couple of shots and they made a few. Our guys played well.”
He believes a B championship, which would take three straight wins, is possible.
“It would be a good step for our program,” said Earl.
Also on the NIT side, Crestwood lost 37-35 to McKinnon Park and beat Lakefield College School 49-20 to advance to the C division quarter-finals 10:20 a.m. against Bowmanville at Kenner Collegiate.
The Holy Cross Hurricanes fell 58-54 to Fellowes but defeated Fenelon Falls 66-28. They’ll meet Eastdate 11:40 a.m. at Kenner in a C quarter-final.
Kenner Rams dropped their opener 65-27 to Sacred Heart and lost 56-35 to I.E. Weldon. They meet Cobourg Collegiate at 1 p.m. at Lakefield College School in the D quarter-final.
On the NCAA side, eight teams are 2-0 and in the hunt for the A Division title heading into quarter-finals. No. 1 seed Thornlea faces Pickering 9 a.m. at the Trent Athletics Centre followed by Crestwood Prep versus Saltfleet at 10:20 a.m. Bill Crothers will meet Cathedral 9 a.m. at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre followed by Pine Ridge against St. Augustine at 10:20 a.m. The NCAA A semifinals are at 1 p.m. with the final at 3:10 p.m. at the Wellness Centre.
There is no admission fee for spectators.
It’s always a good opportunity to compare yourself against guys from outside of the city.” Steve Earl