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SDSS Junior Bears golden in London

The SDSS Junior Bears won the Purple and White Junior Boys Tournament on Jan. 4. Pictured here are Lucas Cassone, Graham Cassone, Ashton Van Kooten, Zachary Bannerman, Sam Ragogna, Landon Miller, Cole Weyers, Dilip Singh, Declan Martin, Brent Van Nes, Bilad Syed, Issac Brouwer, Koa Thompson, Chris Cassone (coach), Steve Rivers (coach) and Eric Steinman (coach). Absent were Will Heaton and Ma Hughes.
The SDSS Junior Bears won the Purple and White Junior Boys Tournament on Jan. 4. Pictured here are Lucas Cassone, Graham Cassone, Ashton Van Kooten, Zachary Bannerman, Sam Ragogna, Landon Miller, Cole Weyers, Dilip Singh, Declan Martin, Brent Van Nes, Bilad Syed, Issac Brouwer, Koa Thompson, Chris Cassone (coach), Steve Rivers (coach) and Eric Steinman (coach). Absent were Will Heaton and Ma Hughes.

The Stratford District Secondary School Junior Bears claimed their second tournament of the season by taking the Western University Purple and White Junior Boys Tournament in London on Jan. 4.

In the playoff rounds, the Bears dominated with two convincing wins over the London Catholic Central Crusaders and Cambridge St. Benedict’s Saints, outscoring them 134 to 67.

In what head coach Chris Cassone called the team’s best game of the year, the Bears defeated the top-seeded London Mother Teresa Spartans 57-43 to win the prestigious tournament title.

Stratford’s Brent Van Nes picked up the tournament’s top player honours, while Zach Bannerman was named to the All-Star team for his performance.

With the tourney victory, the Bears improved their record to 17-2 on the 2025-26 season.

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