Eastern Commerce is Back On Top, Earn Mark Walton Championship!

NPH TOP PERFORMERS

EASTERN COMMERCE

• Jamal Thomas– 10 points

 

HOLY TRINITY

• Trevon McNeil– 28 points (MVP)

 

HAMILTON, ON–It was yet another hectic week for the NPH team, with several tournaments simultanously in effect.

One of the major tournaments which featured some of province’s finest high school programs was the Mark Walton invitational that took place in Hamilton, Ontario.

After not medalling at the Humber Classic two weeks ago, the Eastern Commerce Saints looked like a completely different team over the weekend as they earned the prestigous Mark Walton Championship in a 53-49 win over Holy Trinity.

“We understood that there was work to do, and we just went hard in practice,” explained tournament all-star Mohamed Camara of Eastern.

On their road to this Mark Walton championship, the Saints were matched up against the NPH #1-ranked team in the country in the Father Henry Carr Crusaders.

In the battle of Toronto, and what looked like an instant classic, Eastern was victorius over the Crusaders despite a valiant 20-point comeback from FHC.

In the championship game, Holy Trinity out of Oakville, gave the Saints all they could handle led by a break-out perormance from MVP Trevon McNeil.

Eastern watched Holy Trinity throughout the tournament and understood what was necessary for the victory.

“We had to defend…they have have been hitting the three-point shot all tournament so we had to keep our hands up, no fouls,” Camara told NPH.

Jamal Thomas led a balanced Eastern attack, while Trevon McNeil dropped a game-high 28 points in a losing cause. This major victory cements the fact that Eastern Commerce is at it again this season, and back on top of the totem pole.

It’s absolutely stunning what a few weeks can do to a team, and expect fluctuation throughout the entire season, as the top teams in the country jock for position in the NPH National rankings.

Participating teams: #1-ranked Father Henry Carr, #2-ranked St Michael’s, Eastern Commerce, Holy Trinity, Loyola, Cathedral, St Thomas More, Mother Teresa

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NOTES: 

Team not yet at 100% Fire Power

• The host team cathedral, looks to have a solid group this season led by combo guard Jaelin Bailey and compact lead guard Neil Santos. 
• Father Henry Carr, who captured the bronze medal will only get stronger from here, which is the scary part. On paper, they are one of the deepest and most talented teams in the country.
• St Thomas More is looking to be on the upper echelon of teams out of Hamilton. They were without their star player in Lamar Barr and have some good pieces which includes Oakwood transfer Xzennis Brereton.
• Loyola was not at 100% throughout this tournament with star wing Rohan Boney under the weather, and lead PG Jake Babic suffering a minor knee injury in the first game. This Loyola team will go as far as Boney and Babic take them.
• St. Mikes lost to a strong Holy Trinity team, however they were also without two starters in their post player, Ryall Stroud and shooting guard Patrick Boivin