Well, time to review the best of the week and the first of some serious high school competition early in 2009. Looks like basketball players get the majority of attention and for good reason. Coaches get a huge pat on the back for a good job highlighting their players. Volleyball coaches need to start hyping their athletes.
Here they are, my stars of the week.
Brandon Bos, Markham. I know he's not Bruce Springsteen, but forgive me for having some fun at the end of a long week. He's "the Bos" of a Markham senior boys' basketball team that has 21 wins in 27 games. The latest: a 72-68 thriller over North Albion at the Blue and Silver Classic senior boys' basketball tournament in Markham. A few days earlier, Bos had 37 points in a 72-64 York Region league win over Thornhill. And his father is the coach.
Jordan Clarke, Holy Trinity. Sitting around a bunch of folks at the St. Mike's Classic, people were talking basketball over and over and kept referring to "No. 5". Check him out, the kid can play. So, I watched. Not bad. I was impressed. He scored 17 points in a 65-59 consolation-round win over Vaughan Road. He also put up a game-high 25 points in a 73-56 loss to West Hill. I would debate that he's a huge factor in the Oakville school team having an overall 18-5 record.
Josh Collins, Vaughan. Give him a basketball and then stand back and watch. With all the hype focused on players from other teams, Collins just might be one of the most exciting shooting guards in the Greater Toronto Area. He scored 28 points, eight from the three-point line or beyond, in an easy 64-51 senior boys' basketball win over Emery at the St. Mike's Classic.
Jenna Dingeldein, Martingrove. Four goals. Nothing else needs to be mentioned. Then again, the four came in a 5-2 win over Lawrence Park in a Toronto District School Board varsity girls hockey game. No big surprise. She can play any position but goal and is one of the top players in the league.
Justin Eagles, Milton District. First win this season, and in nine games, for this Halton Region Tier Two boys' hockey team. Eagles actually scored more goals than the opposition. Make that four goals for the youngster in a 6-3 win over Abbey Park.
Kurtis Ethier, Jean Vanier. Here's a school that once had a very good senior basketball program. New coach Steven Hnatiuk has to start from scratch, especially with as many as eight players that were expected back instead getting the heave-ho for a variety of reasons. Ethier could be the start of good things to come with an impressive 21 points, including five three-point baskets, in a 74-45 loss to Eastern Commerce at the St. Mike's Classic.
Evan Jasper, Anderson. A four-goal game for him in a 9-3 blowout of McLaughlin in the Durham Region senior boys' hockey loop. Earlier in the week, he scored twice in an 11-2 drubbing of Clarington Central in another league game. Now, if the winners can only find another league for front-runners St. Mary, Ajax and Eastdale.
Daniel Mullings, Laurier. Not much is known about this guy, unless you have a chat with the senior basketball team at West Hill. Mullings had a game-high 29 points, including one of those crowd-pleasing jams with the game well in control. Yup, Laurier handed West Hill just its third loss of the year - a 64-52 spanking in a Toronto District School Board senior game.
Mark Spadafora, York Memorial. Once, the Mustangs were one of the most feared high school hockey teams in town. Now, despite a 3-1 league record, things never stay the same with York Memorial dropping to the Tier Two league in the Toronto District School Board. Spadafora, one of the sparkplugs for the Mustangs, scored three goals in an 8-2 win over Thistletown.
Elisabeth Stathopulos, Macdonald. An established field hockey player, this time she traded in the running shoes for skates. The result: three goals in a 9-0 thumping of Cedarbrae in a Toronto District School Board varsity girls' Tier Two hockey game. After the season ends, she'll pack her skates and head south to the University of Connecticut on a scholarship.
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