Gemini junior volleyball boys advance beyond pre-season ‘6-7’ level of experience as season winds down

Tillsonburg junior Gemini Logan de Leye (right) hits the ball against the defensive attention of Ingersoll DCI’s Eckjeet Singh (left) and Carson Darlington, with Gemini middle Stephen Araoye looking on. (Jeff Tribe photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

The Tillsonburg Gemini junior boys’ volleyball team began its Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) Southeast campaign a little ‘6-7’ in terms of experience.

But collectively, a Grade 9-heavy roster progressed as the campaign unfolded, improvement hoped to carry over into the next year.

“This was just like a building season,” said Gemini power Rudy Lofthouse following a 20-25, 25-12, 25-18, 25-19 playoff loss to the homecourt Ingersoll DCI Blue Bombers Oct. 28 at IDCI. “I think we’ll have a strong team next year.”

“I thought we got better throughout the year,” agreed teammate Michael Gubesch.

That progress showed as the Gemini came out strongly and took the first set.

“Then we held back a little bit,” said middle hitter Stephen Araoye. “Didn’t give 100 per cent effort.”

Some fatigue might have been understandable, given the previous evening’s 18-inning World Series marathon, watched in its entirety by Tillsonburg setter Emerson Hodges.

“Kirk was good, best player on the team probably - and then Ohtani went off.”

“That’s what happened, none of us got any sleep last night?” smiled coach Melissa Jacko, herself a Toronto Blue Jays fan, albeit with limits.

“Absolutely… did I stay up to 2:30? No.”

Unlike the Jays, the 2025 Gemini trajectory did not lead to a TVRA championship final, however the coaching staff was pleased with their development across a nine-match regular season. It featured a win over the Woodstock College Avenue Knights and a five-set battle with the Lord Dorchester Beavers.

“A good season. Some athletes we had to make volleyballers out of,” said Jacko. “Lots of growth this season, lots to build on next year,” she added. “Gonna pick up right where we left off.”

Senior football team led into the fourth

London Saunders Sabres 17, Tillsonburg Gemini 1

Tillsonburg carried a four-game winning streak and considerable momentum into its TVRA Williamson Division semi-final against the undefeated London Saunders Sabres, a game which played out far closer than the final score would indicate.

The Gemini took a narrow 1-0 lead in the third quarter’s latter stages, carrying that tight advantage into the final period.

“It was a great defensive battle,” said Gemini coach Lee Janzen.

A series of ‘great defensive stops’ were compromised by penalties, which gave Saunders the field position it needed to kick a go-ahead field goal midway through the fourth. Late in the game, the Sabres added a touchdown, converted for a 10-1 advantage with minutes to play.

Faced with the loss of their running back, the Gemini were forced to go to the air. Typically, Tillsonburg’s passing game is a team strength, but the Gemini struggled to throw the ball under poor weather conditions, said Janzen. Putting the ball into the air against the wind resulted in an interception and short field for Saunders, which added another late TD to round the final score.

“We played with a ton of character against an undefeated team,” credited Janzen. “But untimely mistakes cost you against a good team and our lack of depth haunted us in the fourth quarter when injuries started to pile up.”

Junior girls basketball playoffs

Tillsonburg Gemini 41, St. Thomas Central Elgin Titans 28

Having closed out their regular TVRA season the week before with a win over the Titans, coach Keirsten Sanderson was able to adjust her team’s gameplan accordingly for the Tuesday, Oct. 28 game.

“The girls ran their plays and were able to steal the ball for fast breaks which helped the score. We were able to keep a distance between us and Central Elgin for the majority of the game.”

Point guard Sophia Monsere led Tillsonburg offensively with 14 points, Kate Bruner had 10 and Ashlynne Ivanyshyn contributed nine.

With the win, Tillsonburg travelled to Woodstock CI that Thursday, falling by a 38-18 margin.

“The game did not go in our favour but it was our last of the season and the girls just wanted to go out and have fun,” said coach Sanderson.

Up against what she credits as ‘an amazing team’, the Gemini weren’t able to score as they had two days earlier.

“But we did get everyone on the court and it was a nice way to round out the season.”

GEMINI TVRA PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD

Senior Football

Williamson Division Semi-final

London Saunders 17, Gemini 1

Junior Girls Basketball

Preliminary Round

Gemini 41, St. Thomas Central Elgin 28

Quarter-Final

Woodstock CI 38, Gemini 18

Senior Girls Basketball

Preliminary Round

Lord Dorchester 36, Gemini 21

Junior Boys Volleyball

Ingersoll DCI 20, 25, 25, 25; Gemini 25, 12, 18, 19

Senior Boys Volleyball

Preliminary Round

Lord Dorchester 25, 25, 26; Gemini 18, 19, 24