To say that the Junior O'Connor Blues have come a long way would be an understatement. A 22-3 season record which included two Tournament Gold medals and a major win in the eastern semi-finals at Mother Teresa is objectively an amazing run and one to be extremely proud of. However, the nature of competition is such that a loss in your final game is never easy to stomach. Upon sober reflection we come to appreciate the facts. When your last game is against none other than the #1 ranked Henry Carr Crusaders the odds of prevailing is low. Carr is the number one ranked team in the GTA and likely one of the top teams in the country for a reason. The Crusaders bring the complete package. The club is a highly experienced and highly skilled group. They are long, they are physical and to a man they play the game at a break neck tempo. At the Junior level one can see why they have seldom faced a real challenge this season.
The Blues enjoyed a short-lived 5-4 lead early in the first quarter when guard Oshea Gairey hit an open three, but that would be the last time the game was close. The Crusader stifling pressure led to quick transition points and quicker than you can say "time-out" the game was ripped away from the upstart Blues. To their credit the Blues effort and will to win was unbroken as the group did not quit at any point in the game, but it was clear who the dominant team was. Composure and control was difficult as Carr dictated the tempo of the game. In the end the 68-43 result was a good reflection of what transpired on the day. Henry Carr predictably moves on to the TDCAA finals and likely a Championship.
The Blues end their season with nothing to be ashamed of and an excellent barometer reading of where their game is at in comparison with a team at the highest level. O'Connor's Senior coach Sherwyn Benn assisted on the bench and addressed the boys in the sombre locker room after the game.
"This afternoon you experienced and saw where the next level is. Anyone in this room that wants to work hard to get there will have our support."
The future of O'Connor Basketball certainly looks bright. The core of this year's Junior Team: Kareem South, Oshea Gairey, Justis Hamil, Nigel Rainford, R.J. Corpuz, Nick Charles, Alex Mulego, Shadon Gray-Smith, Jose Rivas, Emmanuel Kirenga and Emmanuel Dover will all be moving up to join a solid returning Senior Group. Returning Juniors Malcolm Glanville, Ruben Kasonga and Antonio Messam will provide an exciting foundation for a new crop of upstart ballers.
Special thanks are in order for all those who supported this amazing run. Program coaches: Jason Halili, Rob Di Zio, Sherwyn Benn, Paul Douros, Steve Sarkissian, Steve Omelan and Tanya Callaghan. Blues Athletic Coordinator Lorraine Kelly, All O'Connor Administration, teachers and support staff, the parents of all our players who supported the team all year and finally the student body who never failed to enthusiastically cheer on their Blues.
This play-off run has been an excellent boon the Blues Basketball Program. The fruits of this amazing season will not be lost- O'Connor Basketball has an exciting future.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
BLUES CLASH WITH THE TITANS!
Despite an impressive season record of 20-2 which included victories in both tournaments they entered and only two tight in-season losses to highly ranked Pope John Paul II and these same Titans, the Blues came into this quarter final game without any real outside respect or expectation. After all, this wasn't the first time the Blues played an early round play-off game in these confines. O'Connor had visited MT at least a half dozen times over the past two decades and the result was inevitably a long empty handed TTC ride out of Malvern.
But something unscripted happened this time around. Teresa forgot to deliver the last Act of the time worn script and the Blues improvised their own conclusion: A stunning 70-65 over-time win.
The game was an exciting tilt that saw the lead switch hands numerous times. Short runs were the order of the day and no team led by more than 6 points at any time. The contest was an intense affair that required both teams to substitute frequently.
Kareem South slid into the high post in the first offensive half-court set and a look of unease could be seen on the face of his cover. Technically both players were in unfamiliar waters (two guards standing in as post players), but South's all round game allows him to swim confidently anywhere on the court. His 30 points were mostly hard fought inside baskets. More impressive than his point dominance was that he achieved it while playing most of the game in foul trouble. South picked up his fourth foul mid-way through the third quarter. Instead of panicking he redoubled his own focus and impressively was able to command his team to do the same; a true MVP performance.
Justis Hamil came into this contest having had a huge break through in the previous preliminary play-off game. In a dominant effort against Yeshevit the long, athletic and highly skilled Hamil found his form. The Titans had no answer for his exciting transition points, nor could they keep him off the defensive and offensive glass as he selfishly claimed board after board. Hamil played this game in a newly found defensive gear and with clear offensive purpose.
The Blues smooth point guard Oshea Gairey has created an impressive library collection of jaw dropping highlight reel plays this season. The coaches were especially pleased with his poise and good decision making against an aggressive MT defense. Gairey is always good for a couple of memorable plays. A heat seeking missile of a no look pass found R.J. Corpuz hiding behind a zone in the first half for a memorable basket. In the second half Gairey looked away a potential shot blocker and scooped in a pretty finger roll lay-up. Gairey was clutch in hitting a huge corner 3 pointer late in over-time which put O'Connor ahead for good. Most memorable to the coaches however, was the patience Gairey demonstrated and his ability to involve his team-mates in the game.
Co-captain Nigel Rainford was his usual steady, commanding presence in the lane. Every great team needs a selfless team player who is more than happy to play a tough and often thankless role. Rainford has no quit to his game. He pounded the glass grabbing key rebounds and provided a solid post outlet that helped turn Teresa pressure into easy transition O'Connor points. Rainford took charge emotionally during the late time-outs making sure everyone was going to dig as deep as he was.
R.J Corpuz and Nick Charles are our Ying and our Yang. Corpuz is a quick, offensively explosive guard who is a big part of our full court pressure. Corpuz turned several Teresa turn-overs into quick transition opportunities. Charles brings a speed and intensity that every coach loves. He played his usual unrelenting defensive role making life so very uncomfortable for the Titan's perimeter players. Charles never fails to "bring it".
Alex Mulego played crucial minutes as well and provided huge points off the bench capping it off with a big 3 point play at a key moment in the game. Mulego's minutes are so important. He provides important depth that allows our bigs to play hard knowing that their time on the bench won't hurt us.
It is said, that your bench might not be able to win you a game, but if they are not the right guys they can ensure that you lose it. Shadon Gray-Smith, Jose Rivas, Emmanuel Kirenga and Emmanuel Dover have provided solid depth throughout the season. They work so hard in practice and they have kept such a great attitude. Their minutes reveal a great deal of talent and poise. Our grade 9's: sharp shooting Malcolm Glanville, high flying Ruben Kasonga and spark plug Antonio Messam are important members of our team and they will be the foundation of promising future for O'Connor Basketball.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock the scene was eerily strange but so beautiful. The stands were full of silenced Titan fans who seemed unsure whether or not they could believe what their eyes had just witnessed. The only sound in the gym erupted from the now "completely on the radar" Blues. A jubilant bench sprang onto the floor to crash into, chest bump and embrace their ecstatic team-mates. Ask any coach and they will tell you that witnessing this level of pure joy is the sweet fruit that makes all the time and energy invested so worth it.
A loyal, supportive and very proud O'Connor parent contingent were like bright lights emerging out of a sea of grey and dispair. They came out of the stands and over to our bench and became a much deserving part of the celebration. O'Connor parents have been amazing all season: supportive, appreciative and classy, each and every one.
The locker room after the game was still electric as an emotional, almost teary coach Halili congratulated the team and tried to offer some perspective on what they had just accomplished. "You are the first O'Connor team to taste victory in this gym!" Halili in fact played on the last junior team to enjoy this level of success. The OCS Junior team of 1998 was the last boys team to make it past this point (TDCAA finalists) and Halili's senior team of 2000 made it to the city semi-finals where they would eventually fall to Father Henry Carr. As fate would have it the Senator O'Connor Jr. Blues are once again in the final four of the TDCAA championships. The Blues relish this opportunity and will be made to realize how amazing, how rare and how special a moment like this really is. They will be itching to play their next Goliath...who will be none other than Father Henry Carr!
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