2008 - 2009 LSSAA Basketball

LCCVI
Lambton Central Lancers

NCIV
Northern Collegiate Vikings

SCITS
Sarnia Collegiate
Blue Bombers

SCHR
St. Christopher
Cyclones

SCSS
St. Clair Colts

SPHS
St. Patrick's
Fighting Irish

NLSS
North Lambton Eagles
 
 
It was already a formality that St. Christopher's high school would be hosting three basketball games on Saturday.

What was left to be decided was how many St. Christopher's Cyclones teams would be playing.

The answer is all three.

The Cyclones defeated St. Patrick's 34-51 in junior action to earn a birth into the LSSAA championship game.

They will play the Northern Vikings, who defeated St. Clair 57-34 .

"I was nervous at the beginning," head coach Sean Maheau said after his Cyclones victory. "But the boys came to play. Mike Rocca was very impressive as was our big guy Martin Popiel."


As a Grade 9, Rocca led the Cyclone offence with 16 points while Popiel led the way on defence with many blocks before fouling out in the fourth.

It will be an up-hill climb when Northern and St. Chris meet in the finals.

Northern (who went 12-0 this season) defeated the Cyclones by 22 points their first game and eight in their last meeting.

It was the only two losses for the Cyclones all year. "They are so deep," Maheau said. "You always expect them to be in the finals."
 


Justin Zonneville lead the way for the Vikings against St. Clair with 19 points including 13 in the first quarter. He alone out scored the St. Clair team in the first (13-10).  "They kids played well," Northern coach Jason Cain said after the win. "St. Clair stuck with us for most of the first half."


As for the prospects of meeting the Cyclones in the championship game, Cain said there are some match-up problems.

Most of the Northern team was on-hand to see the St. Chris victory over St. Pats. "Just doing some scouting and watching how they play," Cain said.

The Cyclones and Vikings will meet up at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

In the senior ranks the Cyclones will host St. Clair after the Cyclones nailed down a buzzer beater in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter against Northern to advance.

The game will go at 8 p.m. The Midget game goes at 2 p.m. with St. Chris hosting LCCVI or Northern in the Finals.


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