CYBL Grade 8 Session 1 Kicks off – CIA Bounce, Canada Elite Lead the Pack

The Durham College – University of Oshawa Institute of Technology gymnasium was buzzing this past weekend as The Canadian Youth Basketball League (CYBL) kicked off its first of five basketball sessions.

These five sessions aim to help in the development of student athletes as basketball players, strong relationships within the basketball community, and character through the game that we all love.

The CYBL’s grade eight division is especially strong as it contains sixteen of the best basketball programs in GTA, and all over Ontario such as the London Ramblers, Ancaster Magic and OYBA (Ottawa Youth Basketball Association) Capitols to name a few.

Despite the many teams that participated in this week’s session, teams CIA Bounce and Canada Elite programs had stood out, attracting the crowd’s attention.

Both clubs were superior to their competition as they ended the week as the only two teams with perfect records leaving Oshawa with four wins, zero losses and a couple hundred point games under their belt.

However, what makes this matchup so intriguing is the fact that these two programs could not be further apart in their styles, philosophies and tactics.

CIA Bounce represents a brash, physical, defensive in your face style of basketball that is not for the faint of heart.

Their defensive intensity and pressure is key to victory as it usually stifles their opponents into early turnovers and a big lead.

Another key to success for CIA is that they have the best player on the court at all times – Addison Patterson

Patterson, a 6’2 point guard, hails from Bruce Trail Public School in Milton, Ontario and is the real deal.

Patterson was the best player in the gym as he proved to be a scoring machine, getting to the basket at will and finishing with either hand or creating space off the dribble and nailing jumpers.

His basketball IQ was also through the roof as he always seemed to know when to make the right play – defensively or offensively.

But what I found to be the most impressive attributes that Patterson brought to the table was his willingness to dive on the ground for loose balls and his high motor as he seemingly never took a possession off.

While on the other hand Canada Elite brought a much different team to the table, one that coach Jay McNeilly admits has only been together for one year, but to his credit, looks like they have been playing together for much longer than that.

Canada Elite’s team play is best summarized by the style of play by their best player Cashius McNeilly.

Like Cashius, Canada Elite is a smooth flowing, very confident, almost effortless team that makes the game of basketball look simple and easy.

Although CIA Bounce and Canada Elite’s philosophies may be different, if there is one thing both coaches can agree on it’s that the CYBL is a big step forward in developing Canadian basketball.

“It’s a very exciting environment,” said coach Dareck Mackey of CIA Bounce. “The parents get very involved, you got people coming from all over, even people that don’t have teams in the league are coming out to watch the games so its definitely a great experience for the kids.”

Coach Jay McNeilly also sang the CYBL’s praises adding, “I think the CYBL is very good for the development of basketball in the GTA. I like the atmosphere and the expansion by the CYBL into the youth division as it is a good opportunity to have more outlets in the city for the game of basketball.”

While Canada Elite and CIA Bounce currently lead the pack with 4-0 records, teams like UPlay Canada, Bayan, Burlington and WC2PLAY trail by one game with 3-1 on their resume.

Visit our partners at CYBL to view Full Standings right here.