Canada Topflight Academy Making Progress, Central Tech Dominant at Holiday Challenge
Day 3 action at the NPA Holiday Challenge kicked off with a matchup between Canada Topflight Academy (Ottawa, ON) and GTA Prep (Mississauga, ON), two teams looking to inch their record closer to the .500 mark. CTA took home the win and improved to 2-5 on the season, thanks in large part to the 32 performance from Lual Akot.
Nice way to finish 2016 with a decisive 92-68 win over a good @gta_prep squad @NPACanada #HolidayChallenge
— Canada Topflight Academy (@CanadaTopflight) December 29, 2016
Graddy Kanku also added 21 points, while Manel Ayol threw in 17 of his own.
It was a solid win for the Ottawa squad, who has struggled to find a rhythm in their play over the course of the season. The CTA squad that took to the court against GTA looked a lot sharper, and are now poised to knock off some other teams if they continue at this level.
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London Basketball Academy vs. Notre Dame was the next up on the docket, and despite a game-high 23 point performance from ND’s Jashon Henry, the team from Sask fell to LBA 115-83.
London Basketball Academy defeats Notre Dame Hounds 115-83. Jalen Warren 21. David Penney 19. Jackson Mayers 18 @lbahoops #NPA
— NPA (@NPACanada) December 30, 2016
Jalen Warren led the London program with 21 points, and continues to make waves with his tenacity on the court. David Penney added 19 and Jackson Mayers dropped 18 in the win, as LBA improved to 5-3 and now sits atop the NPA Western Conference.
David Penney & @lbahoops look to go 2-0 @ the @NPACanada Holiday Challenge. Watch LIVE: https://t.co/W9ogPgaS71 pic.twitter.com/YspIqnYgh2
— NPH (@NorthPoleHoops) December 29, 2016
Penney has been a consistent contributor for the London team all season, averaging solid numbers across the board and making a name for himself as a multi-tool player.
Notre Dame falls to 2-5 on the season, but has consistently been competitive in league play and has shown grit in every competition. Fo-Fo Adetogun and Jashon Henry have solidified themselves in the conversation of top players in the league and have been garnering attention from both sides of the border.
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The final game of Day 3 put the host team Central Tech Prep up against GTA Prep, where CT Prep improved their record to 6-1 on a 101-94 win, vaulting Toronto Basketball Academy for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Central Tech was led by Chris Hankins’ 21 points. Hankins remains uncommitted in his final year at the high school level, but his play in the NPA has started turning heads.
Niagara has offered 2018 🇨🇦 G Steven Rwahwire. Congrats! @Sstevoo__ #NCAA
https://t.co/o4a6LCfxbC— NPA (@NPACanada) December 30, 2016
Steven Rwahwire added 20 points of his own in the win, and his performance at the Holiday Challenge garnered an offer from Niagara University.
Rhawire has brought intensity to the court for the Blues from Day 1 of the NPA season, including an energetic performance at the Pinky Lewis Invitational.
GTA Prep was led by an impressive performance from Jaden Campbell who dropped 29 in the loss, while AJ Lawson added 19. The team falls to 2-5 on the season, and will look to bounce back in the new year as they assert themselves in the Western Conference.
Host team Central Tech XXXI finished off the NPA Holiday Challenge defending their home court, defeating the Notre Dame Hounds 101-67. The game capped off an incredible four days of action packed games, with Central Tech, Notre Dame, Toronto Basketball Academy, GTA Prep, Canada Topflight Academy and London Basketball Academy all taking part in some intense match ups.
Kevin Osawe led the Blues with 21 points, while John Jonathan tossed in another 17 in the win. Osawe and Jonathan aren’t the names usually headlining CT’s statline, highlighting the real depth Coach Kevin Jeffers has on his roster in Toronto.
Fo-Fo Adetogun once again led the Hounds in the scoring department, finishing with 21 points in the loss. Tomas Fovenyi also turned some heads with his 20 points during the final game of the session.
Notre Dame started off firing on all cylinders at the Holiday Challenge, knocking off the previously undefeated Toronto Basketball Academy to kick off the session, then falling in four straight which included a difficult back-to-back set of games. The Hounds finished the session with a record of 2-5, and currently sit at third in the Western Conference.
Despite not having the results they expected in Toronto, the talent the Saskatchewan program is putting on the hardwood in indisputable, with Jashon Henry picking up his first NCAA offer over the weekend as well from St. Bonaventure.
Central Tech used the Holiday Challenge as a chance to climb to the top of the Eastern Conference standings, improving their record to 6-1 over the course of the session. Guard Steven Rwahwire used the session to impress Niagara University, also picking up his first NCAA offer.