Some Athletes Continue To Shine During Exam Break

Exams are over. Now, not only is it time to get back to a full range of sports, but it'll be very interesting to see if the players and teams that were on a roll before the break can continue.

I was at the Ollie high school boys' hockey tournament on Friday and, well, most of these kids were playing hockey for their club teams while they wrote exams during the day. Some looked a bit rusty, but the majority were fine and prepping for the playoffs. Not so sure the athletes in basketball, volleyball and the others sports will be as loose, which could make the jobs for coaches that much harder.

It's Friday. I know, time for the athletes of the week. Short list this week, just five. Not much to grade when the shop has been closed for the January exam break. Here we go:

Chris Adams-McGavin, St. Andrew's. I hear this guy is ranked in Ontario and Canada - in squash. He plays on a Saints team that has a 10-0 record in the private school league and the team has won several CISAA titles. He's dominated his recent matches over Crescent, Trinity and Ridley and, I am told, is also a very good clarinet player.

Margaux Daly, Malvern. She's on the school academic honour roll and also knows how to play hockey very well. Her varsity team has a 4-1 record in league play, just one point out of first place. Two goals for her in a 9-0 thumping of Danforth in their Toronto District Secondary Schools Athletic Association league game.

Edmond Lee, Bethune. A grade 10 student and captain of the junior boys' basketball team that has a 14-0 record. He scored 23 points in a 65-44 win over Mowat in an exhibition game. In a tournament earlier this year, he had a season-high 31 points over George Harvey. It's the best record for the team since they won the junior title in 1995.

George Mason, St. Michael's. He's the very talented basketball player who transferred from Park Street High in Orillia - and has now been ruled ineligible to play for his adopted school. We're assuming they make it to the provincial playoffs. He scored 28 points in a 62-49 win over Greenwood and had 25 in a 75-29 win over St. Andrew's in league games.

Mike Morrison, St. Theresa of Lisieux. Quite the goalie for the Lions senior hockey team - the one that played four games and won them all at the Ollie tournament. I saw the final and this 17-year old was spectacular between the pipes turning aside 37 of 39 shots. He also won the "top goalie" award in the tournament shoot-out competition.

That's it. More next week.

Comments

[Family Friend]

I also saw the game. Morrison was standing on his head to help his team. Thank you for recognizing him. I am a friend of his family.

[J.F.]

I was waiting for this list and maybe it came out before you got results from a tournament. I would like to add Patterson Farrell who has had a phenomenal tournament at the annual Bur Bear Invitational for high school boys teams. He scored in three, maybe four, games and also has a brother on the same team at St. Thomas Aquinas high school. That's the one in Oakville, not in London or Brampton. I hope you can put this on your blog. This is great because lots of people read it and the gets love it also.

[Jeffery]

With little or nothing on, it's a wonder you could pull together five students for your list. Nice group too. I didn't know squash was a school sports and so popular.

[Mrs. Regan]

I don't like the reduced five version. Even with the exam break,I would certainly think there is enough to mention five more athletes. It's too bad there aren't more schools sharing results and information. As a parent, I do think it's very disappointing at the number of schools who just don't care when their teams lose.

[W.L.]

Squash in school sports?
Are we not going a bit too far?
I thought you were pulling our legs with water polo, mountain biking, bowling and frisbee. My oh my, has school sports ever changed since the days when I had to beg to get time on the intramural team.

[Waldo]

Squash is for the kids and thosee preppy schools. I don't believe any other school league in Ontario has squash. I wonder if the private schools recruit squash players too?