Undefeated 2023s Go Head-to-Head; 2022 All Point Guard Battle
This weekend Signature League had its biggest battle on the line as the last two undefeated teams in the grade 7 division went head-to-head.
SBA Willocks and NuStep battled at Lorne Park in Mississauga, Ontario in what turned out to be a physical match-up to the bitter end.
Behind Quinton Martin’s 21 points, NuStep and their defensive intensity, coupled with a deadly fast break were able to prevail to the tune of a 67-60 victory.
Martin was able to impose his will in the latter stages of the game, potting 14 points in the decisive two final quarters.
Doing most of his damage from the free-throw line, taking 17 attempts, Martin was relentless in his pursuit to get to the rim.
However, the victory is never one sided for NuStep as they bring a balanced offensive attack to the table.
The first half belonged to Kailon Nicholls as he scored 15 of his game tying high of 21 points during the initial two quarters.
For SBA Trey Higgins lead his squad in scoring with 14 points in the outing.
Higgins was in typical fashion as the stocky guard took the ball to the rim aggressively and fought through contact to get his buckets. He has shown a good overall game and rarely is rushed or panics in any situations.
NuStep stays atop of the grade 7 division with SBA and Brothers Keepers not too far behind.
In the grade 8 division, the Mississauga Monarchs and Vaughan Panthers match-up where Vaughan was able to prevail with a 83-78 victory behind Mignott’s 25 points.
This was a battle of the point guard’s as Ethan DeLa Cruz and Kymani Mignott put on a show at Lorne Park.
The aforementioned Mignott 25 points came in a variety of ways as he used his quickness in the open court to get to the rim, while his explosiveness helped him finish over the defense.
Mignott also displayed a good shooting touch scoring twice from three-point land and also converting on all six of his free-throws.
However game high honors went to Ethan Dela Cruz who scorched the box score with 32 points, including 17 in the fourth.
Dela Cruz attacked the rim with a great craftiness, using angles and high shots off the window to convert on bigger, or more athletic foes.
Dela Cruz’s biggest improvements have come from the three-point line where the 2022 prospect was hit four threes, two coming from close to NBA range.
He is not a shooter to be left alone.
