High school basketball fever was finally back in the Loo. The Hienbuch Classic kicked off on Friday at Rim Park in Waterloo. The tournament has been a staple in the Waterloo basketball community for over 30 years and boasts some of the best basketball talent in Ontario.

Since 1988, 102 different schools from 44 different cities have participated in the tournament.

The Heinbuch also helps raise money for grade nine students to help expand their game through local basketball summer camps. With a great fundraising cause, a rich history, and very competitive basketball, it is no surprisethat the Hienbuch Classic has built a lasting tradition.

 

Featured Game:

Ajax J. Clarke Richardson         57                  

Kitchener Cameron Heights    52        

 

Two heavy weights of the tournament met early on as hometown favorites Cameron Heights battled Ajax’s J. Clarke Richardson. With the stands packed with Gael supporters, there was definitely a home game feel for Cameron Heights.

Early on, point guard Nikola Farkic uncharacteristically struggled in the first half and looked uncomfortable with the pace of the game, however, it did not last long. The senior floor general was able to reverse this trend and play to his biggest strength in the second half  – controlling the pace. At some points he even looked unstoppable, nailing three 3-point jumpers in a row. But of course in typical Farkic fashion distribution of the ball was a main key to his strong end to the game.

Earth to everyone–Marcus Ottley is good, real good.

The 16-year-old Ajax phenom showed his full array of skills on the court Friday. When he wasn’t scoring the ball it wasn’t because he couldn’t, it was because he was too busy getting it out of the stands. The grade eleven young gun blocked four shots in the game and served as the defensive anchor for his team using his mind blowing leaping ability to effect both sides of the ball. Although Farkic was eventually able to find his game, Ottey has to be credited for his ball hawking pressure.

Sasha Simic of Cam Heights also had a little bit of trouble adjusting to the length and speed of Richardson. Although Simic is a very skilled and crafty scorer, his lack of foot speed and inability to go left really hurt him against the length and quickness of Tyrell Leotaud. Leotaud, (along with Ottey) is a cadet national team member. He was able to show flashes of brilliance on offense with his finishing around the basket, and his defensive pressure on Simic.

 

PLAY OF THE DAY

Nelson’s Stefan Duric out of Burlington offered us the only real bright spot for his team in the game against Oakwood. In the 28-point loss, the senior guard threw down a vicious posterizing dunk on Dwan Williams that brought everyone on their feet.

SURPRISE OF THE DAY

It had to be how easy Windsor’s Herman beat Scarborough’s Mother Teresa 61-31. After a hard fought win against Hamilton’s St Thomas More, Herman crushed Mother Teresa who lost their coach to an ejection.

 

Final Four

J. Clarke Richardson (Ajax) VS Oakwood (Toronto)

Herman (Windsor) St. Mary’s (Kitchener)

 

Court Heinbuch Results

 

Brantford North Park-60

Waterloo-42

Top Scorer: Nick Johnny 23pts

 

Hamilton St. Thomas More -56                 

Kitchener Grand River-38

Top Scorer: Xavier Ellis 12pts

 

Toronto Oakwood-65               

Burlington Nelson-33

Top Scorer: Dwan Williams   27pts

 

Windsor Herman-61              

Scarborough Mother Teresa-31

Top Scorer: Trevella Blythe     16pts

 

Ajax J. Clarke Richardson-57                  

Kitchener Cameron Heights-52

Top Scorer: Nikola Farkic 16pts

 

St. Mary’s Kitchener-58                  

Sir John A. MacDonald Waterloo-52

Top Scorer: Tesloth Simon 17 & Nedim  Hodzic 17pts

 

Oakville Loyola-60            

St. Catharines Governor Simcoe-56

Top Scorer: Dalon MacEeachern  23 pts

 

Guelph J.F. Ross-76             

Toronto Northern-56

Top Scorer: Jonny Sappelton  26pts

 

Windsor W.F. Herman-47         

Hamilton St. Thomas More-35

Top Scorer: Joel Clarke 14pts

 

Burlington Nelson-59              

Waterloo-37

Top Scorer: Stefan Duric 17pts

 

Toronto Oakwood-61             

Brantford North Park-27

Top Scorer: Russell Baker 23pts

 

Scarborough Mother Teresa-77 (OT)

Kitchener Grand River-74

Top Scorer: Elijah Shillingford  27pts

 

Ajax  J. Clarke Richardson-58

St. Catharines Governor Simcoe-44

Top Scorer: Marcus Ottey  23pts

 

Waterloo Sir John A. MacDonald-68          

Toronto Northern-63

Top Scorer: Johny Sappelton  36pts

 

Kitchener St. Mary’s-59                              

Guelph John F. Ross-41                                

Top Scorer: Kristian Vandekemp 21pts

 

Kitchener Cameron Heights-56                 

Oakville Loyola-38

Top Scorer: Sasha Simic  20pts