2018-19 EOSSA Champions
The St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School Ravens Junior boys’ basketball team hosted the EOSSAA Championship on Tues., Feb. 26. The Ravens went undefeated in their regular season and won their first two games of the championship before tipping off against the Citadel Patriotes in the final. The Ravens’ dream of keeping their undefeated season became a reality as they downed the Patriotes 49-34 taking the EOSSAA Championship. The team members are: front from left, Tanner Smith, Dylan Clune, Callum Birch and Dream manager, Dakota Aubin. Back from left, assistant coach, Danik Lafleur, Brock Ballantyne, Callum Tait, Kai Daniel, Matt Pietrkiewicz, Aidan Nyentap, N. P., and head coach, Greg Light. Moore photo
RUSSELL—The St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School Ravens Junior boys’ basketball team hosted the EOSSAA Championship on Tues., Feb. 26. The Ravens finished the season with a perfect record and won the PRSSAA Championship the previous week.
The Ravens welcomed the Almonte T-Bolts, RCI Raiders, Rideau Lions, St. Lawrence Saints and Citadelle Patriotes. The tournament was divided into two divisions with the Ravens, St. Lawerence and Almonte T-Bolts in one division and in the other the Citadelle Patriotes, RCI Raiders and the Rideau Lions.
The Ravens finished first in their division with two wins 61-34 over the T-Bolts and 67-25 over the Saints. On the other side, the Patriotes lost to the Raiders 42-38 but beat the Rideau Lions 39-25 and with a total point difference moved on to face the Ravens in the championship.
Ravens 49 Patriotes 34
The Ravens went into the final undefeated and faced off against the Patriotes who were one and one but made it to the final on points. The Ravens got off to a good start scoring 18 first-quarter points and held the Patriotes offence to just seven.
The Ravens narrowly outscored the Patriotes 11-9 in the second quarter and took a 29-18 lead into halftime. The Ravens outscored the Patriotes 12-10 in the third quarter and took a 41-28 lead into the final stanza. The Ravens sat back and played a more defensive style in the fourth quarter scoring just eight points but only allowed eight against. The Ravens took the game 49-34 to claim the EOSSAA Championship going undefeated all season.
Scoring for the Ravens were Dylan Clune with 12 points, Callum Birch and Matt Pietrkiewicz with eight each, Callum Tait with seven, Kai Daniel with six and Brock Ballantyne and Aidan Nyentap each with four.
Ravens 65 Saints 26
In their second game of the tournament, the Ravens took on the Saints. The Ravens jumped out to an early lead scoring 19 first-quarter points and held the Saints to 10. The Ravens poured another 17 points and their defence totally shut down the Saints’ offence allowing only two points.
The Ravens took a 36-12 lead into the
dressing room at the half. The Ravens kept the pressure on scoring 15 points in the third quarter and allowing just eight against. The Ravens took a commanding 51-20 lead into the final stanza.
The Ravens showed no signs of slowing, scoring 14 points and defensively allowing just six points against. The Ravens took the game 65-26 becoming the only undefeated team in the championship.
Scoring for the Ravens were Callum Birch with 19 points, Aidan Nyentap with 12, Kai Daniel with 10, Matt Pietrkiewicz with eight, Callum Tait with seven, Brock Ballantyne with four, N. P. with three and Dylan Clune with a deuce.
Ravens 61 T-Bolts 34
In their first game of the championship, the Ravens took on the T-Bolts. The Ravens put it to the T-Bolts racking up 14 first quarter points and defensively holding them to just eight points. It was much the same in the second quarter as the Ravens outscored the T-Bolts 15-7 taking a 29-15 lead into the break at halftime.
The T-Bolts and the Ravens each scored 12 points in the third quarter but the Ravens took a 41-27 advantage into the final quarter. The Ravens dominated the fourth quarter dropping another 20 points on the T-Bolts and holding them to just seven. The Ravens took their first game 61-34.
Scoring for the Ravens were Matt Pietrkiewicz with 17 points, Callum Birch with 15, Dylan Clune and Callum Tait each with eight, Brock Ballantyne and N. P. scored five and Kai Daniel scored three.
