My picks of the week

Another week, and another group of solid athletes as we come close to the March Break, which signals the end of a winter season of high school sports.

Hockey, volleyball, basketball and nordic skiing are the sports featured this time. Read on for some of the better individual performances of the week.

Mark Belvedere, St. Andrew's. He continues a hot pace in the post-season round. This time, one goal and four assists in a 6-3 win over Upper Canada in the first game of a best of three Tier One hockey championship for the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association title. In a 4-1 semifinal win over Appleby, he scored twice.

Chris Bothwell, Aldershot. How about scoring 40 points in a game - and still losing?  It happened in the Halton Region single/double-A basketball final. Career high game for him, but it was St. Thomas Aquinas of Oakville who won the championship with an 80-65 win.
Molly Dyon, Toronto Waldorf. She was the top individual finisher from the Greater Toronto Area, winning a silver medal in the junior girls' four kilometres race at the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association high school nordic ski finals in Midland. Her time of 12 minutes, 46 seconds was one second behind the champion.
Kurlanie George, Monarch Park. Scoring 57 points in a championship basketball game is quite a feat.  He did it , including 45 points in the second half, and scored the tying basket to force overtime. But his team still lost. Humberside defeated Monarch Park 80-78 in the Toronto District School Board South Division Tier Two senior title game. George had 10 three-point baskets. 

Rebecca Glancy, Mowat. Captain and middle hitter for the school senior girls' volleyball team. She averaged 15 kills, eight blocks, four assists and three service aces in three sudden death wins in the Toronto District School Board. Solid player, member of Team Ontario, she was dominant in school East Division final, citywide semifinal and championship
Nicole Hebert, East York. Scored all three goals in a 3-2 semifinal win over Martingrove, one of the traditionally top teams in the Toronto District School Board Tier One varsity girls' hockey league. East York advanced to the playoff round after finishing 6-2 in league action.

Geoffrey McNeely, St. Robert. A four-goal game for him to lead his team, unbeaten in 10 league games, to a 6-2 win over Community Hebrew of Richmond Hill to sweep the best-of-three York Region Tier Two boys' hockey championship in two games.

Adrian Tomlinson, West Hill. He's had a sensational year on the hardwood with 25 or more points in 17 games for the Warriors. Scored 32 points and had 10 rebounds, four steals and four assists in a 75-70 Toronto District School Board Quad-A senior boys' basketball semifinal win over Newtonbrook.

Samantha Walker, Mowat. Three goals, which included the overtime winner, in a 4-3 Toronto District School Board Tier Two varsity girls' semifinal hockey win over Macdonald.
Matthew Wright, Martingrove. He didn't score the winning basket in the league Triple-A basketball championship, but he did almost everything else to keep his team in the game. Solid on the defensive side with some key rebounds and scoring 31 points, tops on his team. The Brown Bears are off to Ottawa for the provincial playoffs and this 6-foot-3 guard is a big reason for it in a 55-53 thriller over Emery.

Performance of the day: A 57-point game

Something big happened on the high school basketball court on Thursday.

It wasn't Eastern Commerce, in a boring 51-41 citywide win over West Hill, becoming the first school in the Greater Toronto Area to win a league championship and claim a spot at the provincial Quad-A playoffs in Windsor in two weeks. West Hill sparkplug Adrian Tomlinson, with 25 or more points in 17 games this year, had 23 this time.

Not even Pickering, which advanced to the Durham Region final on Monday with a decisive 66-48 victory over its neighbourhood Ajax rival from Notre Dame - a school that likes to boast about its overall record, but really hasn't played any of the top teams.

Martingrove comes close, with a splendid 31-point game from Matthew Wright and the game-winning basket at the buzzer from Troy MacDonald (his only points of the game) that gave the Brown Bears a 55-53 Triple-A citywide championship victory over Emery. Martingrove is off to the Ontario trip-A playoffs.

Try, 18-year-old Kurlanie George of Monarch Park Collegiate. You say, who?

After a 37-point game in a 73-36 Tier Two win over Malvern the other day, George scored 57 points - 45 in the second half and OT, but Humberside, ahead by 25 points at halftime, still ended up winning the championship game, 80-78. George, a 6-foot-1 guard who also has high numbers in academics, forced overtime with a tying basket. He had 10 three-pointers in the game.

OFSAA reverses ban on Pickering team

So the Pickering boys' are back - and the provincial folks at OFSAA are now trying to look good by reversing an earlier decision, one that banned a group of players who did nothing wrong.

Give Don Carmichael and his review panel credit for hearing the case out and many people believe Carmichael and Co. did the right thing. Unbeaten in nine Durham Region high school basketball league and playoff games, Pickering - with two more wins - should be on the way to the provincial Quad-A playoffs and a chance to three-peat. A rare thing, and some people think, winning gold again will be tough. 

A mistake was made by the Pickering coach. He's admitted to it and is now serving a package of penalties by his LOSSA league and OFSAA.

Some believe the penalty is also severe - a one-year ban on coaching at OFSAA-sanctioned tournaments and put on an additional probationary period. Gosh, I have read stories about people who commit crimes and serve less time in jail than what was given to Mike Gordensky.

Not only was he thrown under a bus, but dragged too. Wonder if OFSAA takes the same approach with others who break rules? So far, the evidence doesn't show it.

Just one more thing: While Pickering principal Anne Taylor was forced by OFSAA to send a letter of apology to the folks at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, as if they really care in South Carolina, there's a new twist. OFSAA has put all Pickering sports teams on probation until 2012.

Will OFSAA explain? Don't hold your breath.

Four levels in Ontario school sports: is it necessary?

The latest episode of a school getting a bye to a citywide Final Four playoff is just another example of a ridiculous system that needs to re-examined. I think so, but what matters more are the comments from many Star readers, which also include coaches, teachers, parents and students.

Eastern Commerce, a school with a reputable basketball program, needs no free ticket to the Final Four. The school, coaching staff and players will agree. They didn't play a quarter-final last week. Here's part of the problem: Woburn, a school with a 1-8 senior league record, pulled out of going up against the mighty Saints. For the record, Woburn wasn't even supposed to play and the team had already put away uniforms according to its coach. But because it's a Quad-A, or large school it was next in line when another team also backed out. I know, doesn't make sense.

Having four categories - Quad, Triple, Double and Single - to fit school student populations may serve some political purpose, but it's creating a farce with many high school sports. It's also costing taxpayers more money, just what is needed in tough economical times. Some teams that are Double-A are better than Quad-A. There are many situations where teams with losing records advance to a provincial playoff simply because they represent their league and no other school fits "the category".

Many people thought provincial championships brings the best of the best. Maybe in some sports like swimming and track and field, where everyone competes because the four-level category system doesn't apply. No one has been able to explain that to me. The Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association supports four categories, which is why we now have close to 50 championships - including multiple events at the same time.

If the four-level system is alright in some sports, say about six or so, why not be consistent with everything else? In the Toronto District School Board, the largest in Canada, many schools have no intention of competing for OFSAA medals - and, from what I'm told, there is also less pressure on students. Lots of games. Lots of learning. Yup, more fun too - and it is an education in sport.

Playoff time is a great time

I like this time of the year: it's playoff time.

 

Good teams tend to move on. Some don't.  Plenty of upsets too in basketball, hockey and volleyball. Great individual performances in swimming, wrestling and skiing.

 

We're also waiting for the decision of a three-member provincial panel, still deliberating on an appeal by Pickering High on whether to take back a nasty punishment issued by a previous OFSAA committee to the Trojans senior basketball team. It's all regarding the use of two ineligible players - at a U.S. tourney. Pickering players, who did nothing wrong, seem to be caught in the middle of mud-slinging contest. So far, undefeated in league and playoffs, Pickering is hoping to be reinstated. Then, three-peat at the Ontario playoffs in Windsor.The decision comes some time this week.

 

And lots of e-mail about those games with scores that aren't close. Try, lopsided - best way to describe it. On a previous blog I pointed to Father Henry Carr, but only as an example. Here are more: how about Mother Teresa blowing out Brebeuf 109-36 in a senior basketball game. In hockey, North Park trounces Turner Fenton 13-3 in a Peel Region Tier Two boys hockey game and Toronto's R.H. King clobbers Cedarbrae 13-0 in a varsity girls hockey game. There are far too many more examples in the Greater Toronto Area.

 

Whatever happened to the mercy rule and something called sportsmanship?

 

 

 

 

Let's make a deal - the high school hockey version

Now, here's a smart way to resolve a problem and in an amicable way - and student athletes don't lose.

A dilemma at Appleby College in Oakville with the boys' hockey team having to forfeit two games in three days, and both - with the second one being a semifinal playoff - to the St. Andrew's Saints from Aurora. The Appleby team has a handful of injuries, another handful of players in sick bay and five more players on a mandatory school trip in Temagami. The result: a team with eight skaters. Therefore, reason for the forfeits.

The Constitution of the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association calls for a team to be severely reprimanded for two forfeits in a season. There's also fines: $100. for the first default, double the second, plus picking up the tab for opposing teams expenses in busing, additional minor expenses as well as game officials.

But Greg Reid, director of athletics at St. Andrew's, might be up for the "Mr. Nice Guy" award of the year. Reid told me it's important to play. He also doesn't want any severe reprimands on Appleby and he's  a proponent of playing good teams. After speaking with his coaching staff, Reid pulled a deal with Appleby that will have the remaining games in their best-of-the three (St. Andrew's is leading 1-0) played in Aurora on Monday and Wednesday (if necessary) and the Oakville private school also picking up expenses for officials.

Nice guy, eh? A lesson to be learned by other high school leagues as well. Just one final thing. Reid better make sure his hockey team, with a 17-8-8 record, knows Appleby will be looking for an upset.

Top athletes of the week

This job, of picking the top 10 performances of the school week, is getting real tough - and especially at playoff time. Solid showings in many sports, and I know there has to be 25 student athletes who deserve to be on the magic list. So, with apologies to those who didn't make the cut, I had to make some tough calls. And the picks for this week, well deserving in my book.

Here we go, and again coaches and parents and friends, in alphabetical order.

Jonathan Babulall, Turner Fenton. He won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth wrestling championships in Pune, India last November. This guy is good. Undefeated this year in the 44 kilos is no fluke either. For the past four years, he’s earned gold medals at the Peel high school finals and won two provincial titles.

Vince DiVito, St. Joan of Arc. Sudden-death junior boys’ basketball game, a York Region Tier Two semifinal playoff that was decided in overtime, and he comes through with a career game firing 38 points in a 56-50 elimination of Unionville.

Robert Hampson, Lawrence Park. He’s blind and not about to let a disability stand in his way, just ask him. Three events at the Toronto District School Board swim finals – and three gold medals, two in record times. He’s off to the Ontario championships in two weeks.

Julie Hebert, Aurora. When a team has an elite hockey player, you use her at the right time. Hebert scored in a 3-2 loss to Cardinal Carter to see their York Region playoff series tied 1-1. In an abbreviated game that followed to decide a winner, Hebert needed 37 seconds to win it.

Brianne Jenner, Appleby. Two goals in a 5-2 win over Wyoming Seminary from Kingston, Pa., for the North American Prep Association hockey title. A dominant forward and Toronto Star all-star last year, she was captain of the Canadian under-18 team that won a silver medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation tournament last month in Fussen, Germany

Jamie Joslin, Richmond Green. A 5-foot-10 middle hitter on the senior girls’ Tier Two volleyball team, she helped her team in the opening round playoff. The Rattlers won 25-19, 25-18 over St. Joan of Arc. Joslin had 11 kills and six blocks.

Emily Torrens, Mowat. She competed in three events at the citywide swim finals for junior-age athletes, and this grade 10 athlete went home with three gold medals. Here’s the irony, her main sport is water polo and she will be training with the Junior National team in Holland next month.

Jessica Vella, St. Mary. She's played six sports for her school, was goalkeeper for the soccer team that lost a 1-0 double overtime heartbreaker in the provincial final last year and was chosen as the school female athlete of the year. But in the past seven days, it has been her leadership on the ice. St. Mary heads to the Durham Region varsity girls' hockey semifinal after back-to-back wins over Ajax - and she scored in each game.

Rebecca Vint, Humberview. She's consistently scoring the majority of goals for her Peel Region varsity girls' hockey team. Vint had all four this week for the Bolton-area school in a game against Mayfield, the top team in the league. Mayfield still beat Vint and the Huskies, 7-4. She also plays for Brampton in the Provincial Women's Hockey League.

Trevor Williams, Assumption. Steady and effective. Two good ways to describe this very talented guard, easily one of the best in Halton Region. Alright, he scored 17 points in an 89-42 blow-out of Robinson in a quarterfinal. But, fans of ththis school sport will confirm that he's tough on defence, outstanding finding the open man on offence and can dominate a game.

Observations from a Toronto swim championship

I was at the Toronto District School Board swim championships, held at the Etobicoke Olympium, and saw some remarkable performances by students of all ages. A few more observations.

Didn't see any students with obesity problems. For what it's worth, I was curious on how swimmers do in the world of academics. I asked 20 swimmers, all from different schools, and each one claimed to have grades above 80 per cent. One had a 97 per cent overall average. Yikes. Maybe, I got lucky.

I also saw the Malvern Collegiate swimmers celebrating. They won the overall championship with 1,116 points, almost doubling Riverdale. I am not so sure if these student swimmers know that their school pool is slated for closure soon, which just doesn't make sense. Tough times economically, but I wonder if keeping pools open, even some of them, cuts down on long term health problems and huge bucks that will be devoted to care in the future.

Something else worth noting. Robert Hampson, a student from Lawrence Park Collegiate, won three events - two in apparent record times. He's blind and competed in the swimmers with disabilities category. His mother was there to watch too. This youngster was thrilled to win, but bitterly disappointed that more students with disabilities were missing out on a chance to compete and have some fun.

Another thing very clear, didn't see Gerry Connelly, the Director of the School Board, or any of the 24 school trustees out to make a presentation or shake hands with students. Same for the many superintendents. They must have all been in meetings.

> Full swim championship results

Looking for senior hoop stars

That time of the year.

Yes, the arduous task of finding the Toronto Star's top five senior high school boys' basketball players in the Greater Toronto Area. That's quite a few schools - and players - from the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel and York as well as Toronto and the private schools.

In past, we selected our Top Five from a sampling of opinions from select university and high school basketball coaches as well as comments from game officials and a variety of others. Even got to see many players in game action.

This time, the door is wide open to recommendations.

So, fans of the school game, now's the time to talk. We'd like to hear from players too. And parents are welcome to say a few words, but try not to be too partial to your sons. High school, college and university coaches as well as all those folks who claim to know the talent, the great players and more. Let's hear from you.

We're hoping to come up with five very good players - and, I know, we will.

Just a few guidelines. Players have to be in their final year of school. They will also have had an impressive season: scoring, leadership, dominant and free of conflict.

We will consolidate opinions sent through this blog, phone and e-mail messages and even in person. Every player nominated will be checked out and the final five, picked with the help of a Selection Committee, will be our 2009 Dream Team.

Fairly straightforward. Deadline is February 28 - end of the month. Yes, you can drop me an e-mail anytime at dgrossm@thestar.ca

Fairness: what do you think?

Something just doesn't sound right.

The Lake Ontario Secondary Schools Association, made up of teachers and others, administer rules fairly. So, they say - even though they're on the hot seat for a controversial penalty given to Pickering High senior basketball coach Mike Gordensky.

He's the voluntary teacher coach who used two players, ineligible in his league, for a non-league event: a basketball tournament in South Carolina in December. A LOSSA Review Board examined a complaint from a teacher in its league and banned Gordensky from coaching four league games and the league playoffs, if his team made it - and the two-time Ontario champions easily did.

Here's the part that doesn't add up and has lots of people wondering if people might have it out for Gordensky and Pickering - for whatever reason.

David Boone, coach of Whitby's Father Leo Austin hockey team, used one hockey player for two games - while the team was visiting Boston. LOSSA reviewed all the information and the Review Board ruling, in a letter from league vice president Teena McNee, determined Boone did a no-no. He used an ineligible player (who had played a game with the Whitby Fury of the Ontario Junior Hockey League). Again the LOSSA Constitution, McNee wrote, was violated.

But Boone was suspended for only one league game.