Warriors passive-aggressive defence combo leads to victory

College Avenue guard Dewan Monger works the ball against a St. Mary’s defensive trio including, from left, Destiny Omirigbe, Johnny Bertoia and Quinton Mitchell. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

Even the Woodstock St. Mary’s Warriors’ comparatively passive defensive choice was aggressive through a 66-21 Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South East junior boys’ basketball victory over the homecourt Woodstock College Avenue Knights on Dec. 17.

The Warriors opened the contest with full-on aggressive fullcourt 1-3-1 up pressure, creating points off turnovers which contributed to a 19-7 advantage through the first quarter, upped to 33-11 by the half.

“That’s usually how we start the game,” said Warriors wing Johnny Bortoia, who finished with a game-high 16 points. “I feel like our defence turns into offence for us.”

St. Mary’s dropped back into a 2-3 zone, which while passive in comparison, still held a high level of aggression at the top, Destiny Omirigbe among others looking to disrupt opposing guards through turnovers and outright steals.

“It kind of breaks the other team’s spirit knowing they can’t penetrate through our defence,” said Omirigbe, who tries to read opponents’ body language to anticipate where the ball is going.

“I’m looking for the pass over my head and the steal,” said the Warriors guard, who while finishing with 12 points, enjoys both offence and defence.

St. Mary’s won every quarter, taking the third and fourth by margins of 17-7 and 16-3 respectively, evening their TVRA South East record at 2-2 before the Christmas break.

“They’re a bunch of ball hawks,” credited Warriors coach Jonathan Circelli, a math teacher with a literary bent who feels St. Mary’s may surprise people later on during the season. “They guys gel well, when they’re playing, it’s like poetry.”

Emmanuel Fadeyi added 12 points for the Warriors, Wani Atiki eight, Owen Choi six, Quinton Mitchell and Zion Fagbola three apiece and Josh Morgan and Tristan Manalo one field goal each.

“They’re pretty quick,” credited Knights’ guard Dewan Monger, who along with Greyson Padfield shared their team scoring lead with seven points each, including a three-point field goal apiece.

Padfield’s best work came on the inside for College Ave., protecting the rim and working the boards.

“We just couldn’t control the ball, get the ball into our offence.”

Luca McKevicius, Nick Horinga and Dexter Quipp-Yanger added a field goal each for the Knights and Easton Freeman one free throw.

TVRA South East Junior Boys Basketball

Thursday, January 9

Woodstock St. Mary’s 61, Woodstock Huron Park 42

Tillsonburg 49, Ingersoll 29

Wednesday, January 8

College Avenue 42, Woodstock CI 30

Tuesday, January 7

Ingersoll DCI 52, College Avenue 37

St. Mary’s 39, Central Elgin 19

Parkside 52, Huron Park 37

Woodstock CI 59, Lord Dorchester 39

Tuesday, December 17

Woodstock Huron Park 49, Woodstock CI 29

St. Mary’s 66, College Avenue 21

Ingersoll DCI 40, Lord Dorchester 20

Senior

Thursday, January 9

Ingersoll DCI 60, Tillsonburg Glendale 47

Woodstock St. Mary’s 61, Woodstock Huron Park 54

Wednesday, January 8

Woodstock CI 62, Woodstock College Avenue 48

Tuesday, January 7

College Avenue 60, Ingersoll 40

St. Mary’s 70, St. Thomas Central Elgin 55

St. Thomas Parkside 59, Huron Park 39

Woodstock CI 68, Lord Dorchester 62

Tuesday, December 17

Woodstock College Avenue 73, Woodstock St. Mary’s 62

Woodstock CI 65, Woodstock Huron Park 45