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Vandalay + Coldplay = All The Way
Game: 55
With Mark Dorado, Harvey Bradford, and Aris Nunez-Ruiz at the Coldplay concert, Scoregasm had their work cut out for them against a red-hot Vandalay Industries team. Even without 1st team All-Star Kris Raymond for the entire playoffs, Vandalay Industries seemed to find a way to compensate for the void and rally as a team to get to the finals. Led by Joel Allen on offense and Sultan “the Sultan of Swat” Mir on the defensive end, they dominated when they had to and gutted out some gutsy wins as well. In the final, the domination continued. Though the game was close through to half-time, Vandalay won each quarter and put the game away with a 27-15 edge in quarter #3. Though Graeme Mitchell and Sheldon Lawton were steady for Scoregasm, the story of the night was Joel “the flame thrower” Allen who got hot in the second half and all but single handedly sealed the deal in a 3 minute stretch. Allen went 7/10 from the 3-point line to finish with a timely season high 34 points. Sasa “the GM” Livancic was the X-factor with some gritty play on both ends and some key baskets to squash Scoregasm runs. Though the play of Scoregasm steadily got more intense throughout the season, they were unable to climax in the final minutes leaving their eager fans unsatisfied.
Congratulations to team Vandalay Industries for a great run!
Photo: Team Vandalay Industries – 2009 CAN Events Agency Men’s Basketball Spring League Champions.
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Physical Battle Decided in the Final Seconds
Game: 54
In perhaps the most tightly contested game of the season from start to finish, the Tropics and Vandalay Industries gave us a game to remember in Wednesday night’s semi-final match. Vandalay struck first led by a few baskets from Joel Allen but the Tropics countered with a few baskets of their own. This hard-fought battle had it all – emotion, physicality, technical fouls, hard fouls, and of course a dramatic finish. With the score tied and less than a full possession remaining, the Tropics had the ball and elected to attack the basket for a high percentage attempt or to draw contact. After a missed shot and a defensive rebound, a foul was called on the Tropics away from the ball as Vandalay was breaking out of their zone to attempt a final shot for the win. The foul put Daryl Balog on the line for 2 shots with 7 seconds remaining. The result was 1for2 and a 1 point lead. The Tropics called a time out and drew up a last second play but Vandalay had other plans in mind for them. Gregg Frankson had the basketball at the top of the 3 point line and as he began to make his move past the defender, Vandalay chose to throw an unexpected double team his way forcing him to give up the ball to a cutting team mate that was just out of reach. The ball sailed out of bounds ending the season for the Tropics and placing an untimely blemish on their perfect season. The turning point in the game came early in the fourth quarter when Corey Saban received his 5th and disqualifying foul as he was arguably the best player on the court at that moment in time. In his departure, Gregg Frankson stepped up and became more aggressive but being one weapon short proved costly down the stretch. Michael Szynkowski led all scorers with 21 points and 9 rebounds while team mate Joel Allen added 18 points. Robbie Valpreda added his usual 18 and 15 and team mates Gregg Frankson and Corey Saban chipped in with 16 and 15 points respectively. The win capped off a night where both undefeated #1 seeds fell to #2 seeds from opposing divisions setting up an interesting final with 2 teams that will struggle to match up against the style of their opponent. It’s anyone’s game.
Photo: Michael Szynkowski
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Late Surge Catapults Scoregasm to the Finals
Game: 53
After an even 23-23 opening quarter, And 1 appeared to be in control holding the lead by 5 heading into the fourth quarter. The final frame featured a massive momentum swing as Scoregasm was able to muster a rally to tie the game and surge ahead in the dying minutes. A late 3 pointer by Graeme Mitchell all but sealed the deal and forced And 1 into a scramble situation in which they had to try to manufacture points in limited possessions. Team Scoregasm was victorious by a score of 76-70 on the heels of a dominating 23-12 fourth quarter. Sheldon Lawton and Graeme Mitchell led the way for Scoregasm with 17 and 14 a piece. A major factor in the victory was the second half play of Aris Nunez-Ruiz as he poured in 11 of his 13 in the frame. And 1 was led by Ethan Sir with 18 while on the defensive end while David Brown provided a spark with several hustle plays and 8 rebounds.
Photo: Sheldon Lawton
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Scoregasm Survives
Game: 52
After a blistering start out of the gates to a 24-12 advantage, team Scoregasm struggled to score as the Niners chipped their way back into the game and cutting the lead by half by the end of the second quarter. Despite Harvey Bradford struggling to find his way to the basket without hearing the whistle blow against him, the team was able to rally and maintain the lead through most of this game. Billed as a must-see game, it was exactly that. The intensity was through the roof. On a few occasions, play had to be stopped to clean up the floor from loose bodies that had sweat on it. Darren Graham was forced from the match after receiving an inadvertent elbow to the mouth. Paul Kuperus started slow but found his stride hitting a couple of deep, contested 3 pointers that had the opposing bench wowing and asking each other if they had seen how far out he was. At the end of the day, the defensive pressure of the Scoregasm team was the difference as they gave little room and time for Niners ball handlers to make effective decisions. Aris “Hulk” Nunez-Ruiz led the way in victory with 24 points and 7 rebounds while Paul Kuperus equaled his total with 24 of his own against a stingy assortment of defenders. Scoregasm lives to face the undefeated And 1 squad. This contest will be a fast-paced match with pressure defense and up-tempo breakouts from start to finish. These teams should match up well and it is a toss up which team gains the advantage on paper. It should be an exciting game. The final four features the top 4 teams and should be exciting!
Photo: Aris Nunez-Ruiz
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Top Seed Tested
Game: 51
The undefeated powerhouse Tropics squared off against the 2-4 Courtside squad on Tuesday night. Quick and easy victory, right? Not exactly. After quarter #1, Courtside held a 29-25 lead and had the Tropics reeling. Cleary taken off guard, they decided to switch up their offense and sat in a zone to thwart the screen and roll which had proved effective for Courtside. This move turned out to be the difference in the game as it took most of the second quarter for Courtside to make the necessary adjustments to attack the zone. In the meanwhile, the edge and momentum shifted to the Tropics as they outscored their dazzled opponent 27-14 in the frame. The teams played to draw in the 3rd and Courtside made a push to narrow the gap in the 4th as they won the quarter by 7 points. Unfortunately for them, the 2nd quarter deficit was too large to overcome and they fell in formidable defeat by a score of 99-89. Robbie Valpreda and Gregg Frankson were the offensive catalysts in the win with 32 and 27 points respectively. Kyle Saban once again orchestrated the flow of the attack dishing 9 assists in the process. Lee Chanin and Shane Leman confirmed their All-Star status in their farewell contest with 21 and 20 respectively. The win sets up a dynamic semi-final for the Tropics as they face the peaking Vandalay. Can the Tropics solve some potential mismatch problems? Can Vandalay find an answer for the dynamic duo? Only time will tell.
Photo: Robbie Valpreda
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Balog Flirts With History
Game: 50
In the absence of Ditka, team Vandalay was able to muster another solid team effort and hold off the pesky Above the Rim underdogs. Above the Rim was the aggressor early and led much of the 1st quarter, but as the game progressed into the later stages, they forgot the recipe of success that gained them the lead in the first place. They all but abandoned the team concept and employed a 1on1 offence which was ineffective against the big, veteran-filled Vandalay crew. Vandalay had a clear game plan to exploit the inside mismatches on some of the younger smaller players from Above the Rim and was able to manufacture good shots by making the right passing when the double team came. Daryl Balog began to assert himself as the game went on and finished with 18 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Joel Allen was also a beast, finishing with 24 points as he was the recipient of the vast majority of mismatch scenarios. Graeme Reid was solid in the contest with 17 points and 9 rebounds. On the losing end, Jacob Wojcicki and Theo Parks led the way offensively with 25 and 20 respectively. Desmond McDonald was the chairman of the boards with 16 aggressive rebounds in the match. Above the Rim’s Cinderella journey has come to an end and they put up a great fight for a team that was thrown together via the draft process.
Photo: Daryl Balog
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Curtis Goes Out Gunning
Game: 49
In a game that was supposed to be a mismatch, the 2-4 Rawhide squad gave undefeated And 1 all they could handle and then some. The playoff intensity was in full effect from start to finish. Adrian Curtis led the charge for Rawhide with 25 points and 15 rebounds to go along with the near highlight of the night as he made a poster out of the And 1 defense. Curtis cut through the lane in the 2nd half and attempted a monstrous slam on the help defenders which back rimmed out as a result of the contact he took to the face on the attempt. This contest was close the entire way with each team answering the others runs regularly. Some late hot shooting by Judd Payne almost gave Rawhide enough firepower to catch And 1 but their savvy undefeated swagger reared its head and they calmly answered the toll again. Jason Burke led the way for And 1 with 19 and Chris Stoltz added a much needed 14 points.
Photo: Adrian Curtis
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Scoregasm Set for the SL
Game: 48
Team Scoregasm plays a strong team game once again to dismantle Les Centurions. Though Alain Ndahirwa put up a strong 17 points and 4 steals, it was not enough to remain competitive throughout the entire game. Harvey Bradford led the way for Scoregasm with 14 points and 7 rebounds. With the decisive 83-35 victory on Wednesday night, team Scoregasm has set up what might be the most exciting game of the post-season as they face the Niners SL in the quarter-finals. Player personnel will play a monstrous role in this battle. Will All-Star Ryan Reed be able to make it to the game? What about Ossie Hinds and Steven Lamont for Scoregasm? These key players will undoubtedly be the X factors. If everyone shows up, look out because the potential for this game to be explosive is enormous.
Photo: Harvey Bradford
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Black Stuns the Beaver
Game: 47
Above the Rim was able to survive a break-out performance by NAIT guard Dennis Ashworth to win a highly entertaining contest by a score of 65-55. Ashworth was dynamic throughout the game scoring in a variety of ways including some high-difficulty baskets in traffic to finish with 20 points to lead the Eger Beavers. Jim Bonin’s early hot shooting coupled with Theo Parks attacking the rim set the tone for Above the Rim. The story on this night, however, was the aggressive play of Desmond McDonald on both ends of the ball. McDonald gave an inspired effort scoring a team-high 12 points and securing 11 rebounds. His frustrating post defense was key in neutralizing the Beavers’ inside advantage and giving his squad a chance at victory. Jim Bonin and Theo Parks each finished with 12 points as well. The wins set up a date with Ditka and company in the quarter-finals.
Photo: Desmond McDonald
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Rawhide Prevails With Team Effort
Game: 46
Led by All-Star Adrian Curtis, team Rawhide was able to muster a solid team effort to secure a victory against the Speedy Claxtons. Though they went into the half with a 36-28 lead, the Claxtons kept surging and making runs to close the gap. The Claxtons threatened to take the lead on several occasions only to be thwarted by a timely basket or key defensive stop by a member of the determined Rawhide contingent. At the final buzzer, Rawhide was victorious with a 65-57 score. Adrian Curtis led the way with 18 points, followed by Connor Fairbanks with 13 points and 10 rebounds. JJ Russell and Gary Thomas put forth formidable offensive efforts in the loss with 19 and 17 respectively.
Photo: Adrian Curtis
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4 vs 5 Matchup Proves to be Anticlimactic
Game: 45
Team Courtside came into this game as slight underdogs, but was clearly focused on shedding that label with an inspired team effort led by All-Star Shane Leman – 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Leman was on fire early with 7 3-pointers in the first half only to cool off in limited minutes in the second half once the game was out of reach. Leman set the tone and his mates followed with 3 other players scoring in double digits. 2nd team All-Star Lee Chanin finished the game with 13 points and 9 rebounds while Josh Melton and Steve Wiebe added 13 and 10 points respectively. Courtside was able to feast on Ramrod who was noticeably missing 3 of their top guns in this pivotal game. With the victory, Courtside advances to play another day with another chance to play the role of the spoiler.
Photo: Shane Leman
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Former Griffin Mates Go For 30 a Piece
Game: 44
The first half of this contest was a back and forth affair and had the underdog Run-N-Gun squad primed to complete the first round upset heading into a first half 30-30 tie. In the absence of All-Star Ryan Reed, Sean Wragg stepped up his game showing why he was a feared opponent back when he anchored the NAIT national championship team’s defensive attack. With Kuperus having a rare off night which still saw him pour in 16, Wragg filled the void with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. On the other side of the ball, Wragg’s former MacEwan team mate Nathan Deklerk was equally as impressive with 30 of his own in his usual deceptive fashion. Though Deklerk and Wragg played to an even contest, the secondary scorers of the Niners SL proved to be the difference as Darren Graham finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds to come away with an 81-65 win to advance to the next round.
Photo: Sean Wragg
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Raymond vs Ditka
Game: 43
In my humble opinion, I believe that on Tuesday night Kris Raymond gained valuable headway in the ongoing debate as to who wins in the monumental, cosmic, inevitable battle vs Mike Ditka. With 33 points and 11 rebounds at the half, it was clear that Raymond was preparing for a record-setting spring league performance. In a game that was never really in question, Raymond was a beast and attacked the basket early and often. At the conclusion of the contest, Kris Raymond had both single-handedly out-scored and out-rebounded the opponent. Raymond: 57 points and 23 rebounds. Team Bonesaw: 53 points and 20 rebounds. Bonesaw was without some key inside players which created a flurry of mismatches in the key on both ends of the floor. Michael Szynkowski and Joel Allen had solid games as well. Szynkowski finished with 26 points and 26 rebounds while Allen added 24 and 23. This dominating performance was without the services of 2nd team all-star Daryl Balog. Vandalay has clearly made a statement to the rest of the league that they are a postseason contender.
Photo: Kris “Ditka” Raymond
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2009 ALL-STARS ANNOUNCED
BLUE DIVISION
1ST TEAM
Adrian Curtis (Rawhide)
Nathan Deklerk (Run-N-Gun)
Gregg Frankson (The Tropics)
Shane Leman (Courtside)
Robbie Valpreda (The Tropics)
2ND TEAM
Lee Chanin (Courtside)
Jesse Denscombe (Eger Beavers)
Kevin Dia (Eger Beavers)
Sheldon Lawton (Scoregasm)
Aris Nunez-Ruiz (Scoregasm)
GREEN DIVISION
1ST TEAM
Jason Burke (And 1)
Trevor Harrington (Above the Rim)
Paul Kuperus (The Niners SL)
Kris Raymond (Vandalay Industries)
Ethan Sir (And 1)
2ND TEAM
Daryl Balog (Vandalay Industries)
Steffan Favis (Ramrod)
Theo Parks (Above the Rim)
Ryan Reed (The Niners SL)
Gary Thomas (The Speedy Claxtons)
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Merta Breaks Out
Game: 42
Les Centurions put forth one of their best 1st half efforts of the season, pushing Ramrod to the limit and forcing them to bring a solid team effort in the second half. Justin Nolette led the Centurions with 21 and Stephen Williams finished with 18. The story on this night was former Concordia star Phil Merta. In a breakout performance, Merta amassed 29 points and 9 rebounds in what is easily his best game of the season. Ramrod has the tools to do some damage in the playoffs if they can get a strong turnout and contributions from the key players.
Photo: Phil Merta
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Raymond Runs Over the Speedsters
Game: 41
Kris Raymond was too big, too strong and too versatile on this night to be stopped by the Claxtons’ defense. Though the Claxtons were able to start the game with an emotional slam dunk, Vandalay was never really tested. Raymond led the way with 26 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals, while team mates Michael Szynkowski and Joel Allen chipped in with 19 and 16 respectively. Cody “the Mule” Vermeulen finished with 16 points in a losing effort.
Photo: Kris Raymond
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Overtime Thriller
Game: 40
Wednesday night saw the season’s first overtime game. In a heavily contested and emotional matchup, it was only fitting that the finish be equally as dramatic. And 1’s perfect season was on the line while Above the Rim was essentially playing for nothing but momentum heading into the playoffs since their ranking was determined prior to the match. In the overtime frame, And 1 jumped into the early lead with their team play as all 5 players on the floor hit the scoreboard. Above the Rim found themselves with the ball and a 3-point deficit. They were able to get a good look at the basket and as it sailed through the air, it appeared we were going to a second overtime but the ball hit the backrim, dashing Above the Rim’s chance to play the role of David vs Goliath – at least for now… Jason Burke led the way with 18 points while Theo Parks and Kyle Fairbairn each had 16 in the loss.
Photo: Jason Burke
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Too Many Weapons To Contain
Game: 39
Scoregasm finished the regular season with a near perfect record of 5-1 falling only to the undefeated powerhouse Tropics squad. Though their record is impressive, they have not breezed through the regular season and have had a few tests which are sure to make them stronger as they prepare for the postseason. On Wednesday night, Sheldon Lawton, Jason Harke and Aris Nunez-Ruiz each had 20 points with new comer Harvey Bradford pouring in 16. With a starting line up that is all capable of putting up 20+ points, they are a team to watch out for. The undermanned Run-N-Gun squad put together a spirited effort and showed that with a few more players present, they can surprise. Brad Prince was outstanding leading the way in effort and points (17). Carter Kearl was right behind him with 16 while Nathan Deklerk and Djbril Kande added 15 and 13 respectively.
Photo: Sheldon Lawton
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Beavers Peaking?
Game: 38
The Eger Beavers began the season with an 18 point loss and went on to a 1-2 record. Since, they rattled off 3 consecutive victories and are primed for a run into the postseason. The Beavers were mildly tested on Wednesday night against Courtside but their size and inside dominance seemed to create mismatches which in turn freed up their outside attack later in the game. Don Phillips and Jesse Denscombe were able to attract enough attention on the inside to either score or make plays for the hot shooting hands of Evan Eger and Kevin Dia. Dia finished with another strong performance with 25 points. Mike Chapelsky led the way for Courtside with 12. With a few streaky scorers, Courtside is a team that no one would want to face if all cylinders fire at the same time as they could be a favorite to pull off an upset in the playoffs.
Photo: Don Phillips
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Valpreda Says Enough is Enough
Game: 37
After another slow start by the Tropics and some hot shooting by Rawhide, Robbie Valpreda decided that enough was enough as he asserted his will upon helpless defenders. The Tropics found themselves facing a significant deficit early as Rawhide splashed 11 quick points in the blink of an eye to take a commanding lead. The Tropics spent much of the first half methodically chipping away at the lead and took a slim 46-40 lead into halftime. The second half, however, was Tropic basketball from the get-go. The punished Rawhide with a balanced inside out attack and relentless fast-break baskets and outscored their opponent 57-31 in the second stanza. Valpreda finished with 31 points, missing only 3 shots the entire game. Frankson once again brilliantly filled the role of sidekick as he scored 22 points. Corey Saban completed the trio with a steady 16 while older brother Kyle still managed 8 assists in a foul-plagued performance. Adrian Curtis was feisty in the loss finishing with 24. The win improves the Tropics record to a perfect 6-0 heading into playoffs.
Photo: Robbie Valpreda
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Dia-nomite!
Game: 36
Late addition Kevin Dia is playing like a man on a mission. After a year off from college basketball, he doesn’t seem to be missing a step. In fact, he looks better than he did in his rookie season with the King’s University College Eagles. Dia needed to shoot the ball well from downtown in order to hold off the feisty Bonesaw squad whose record is not indicative of the fits they create for opponents. After being down 42-24 at the half, Bonsaw was able to mount a more complete half to outscore the Eger Beavers 36-29 in the second. Though they were able to mount some momentum heading into the playoffs, it wasn’t enough to garnish a victory for the upbeat bunch as they fell 71-60. Dia finished the game with 23 points on 5 for 7 from beyond the arc while team mate Jesse Denscombe added 17 points and 11 rebounds.
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Former Tigers Team Up and Triumph
Game: 35
Former Leduc Tiger and McNally Tiger Nathan Deklerk and Brandon Horton put aside the never-ending debate about who is the best Tiger and teamed up to nudge past Rawhide in an exciting matchup on Monday night. The game had several lead changes throughout and came down to the wire. Deklerk managed to foul out of the contest which appeared to be the end of the road for Run-N-Gun. With Deklerk on the bench, Horton and company stepped up and played inspired basketball on the way to an exciting 65-62 victory despite 13 points and 11 rebounds from both Adrian Curtis and Connor Fairbanks of Rawhide. Cameron Burr was also stellar in defeat with 14 points and 6 rebounds as he was the only player from Rawhide that was able to shoot the ball with any sort of consistency on this night. Horton displayed his all-star provincial and national championship game and looked like the Brandon of old scoring 23 with 11 rebounds. Deklerk finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Photo: Brandon Horton
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Tropics Clinch Top Spot in the Blue Division
Game: 34
Team Courtside gave a valiant effort against the giants trailing only by 8 at halftime but the big guns were too much to hold off for a full game for the undersized squad. Josh Melton had a solid effort in a losing cause as he poured in 15 points to go along with a solid defensive effort on Robbie Valpreda whenever they matched up against each other. Lee Chanin and Shane Leman also added 16 a piece. The Tropics hit their stride in the 2nd half outscoring Courtside by 18 to take a commanding 102-76 victory. Kyle Saban led all players with 6 assists while team mate Robbie Valpreda had a game high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Gregg Frankson chipped in with 20. With Kyle Saban orchestrating the offensive attack and heavy hitters Valpreda and Frankson putting up all-star scoring numbers, the Tropics are preparing for a magical playoff run.
Photo: Kyle Saban
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Ramrod 5 Shocks the Niners
Game: 33
With only 5 players at the game, Ramrod once again found a way to compete under fatigue. The aging Niners were visibly struggling to play at a high level on back-to-back nights so team Ramrod only having 5 players seemed to bring both teams to a comparable level of fatigue, resulting in a highly entertaining game. The contest remained within a couple of possessions from the early stages on the 1st half with neither team able to shake free for a double digit advantage. In the final minute, the lead changed hands several times and Ramrod found themselves with a 1 point lead before coughing up a turnover and giving the Niners a last second chance at heroics. Rohin Judge came up with the loose ball and was forced to hoist a half court shot which sailed wide right “Finkle-style”, sealing the 81-80 win for Ramrod. Paul Kuperus poured in his routine 24 while teammate Sean Wragg had his best game of the season with 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Rohin Judge added 11 in his farewell performance including a pair of critical back-to-back triples in the second half. Sean Van Diepen started off hot in the first half and finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds. Reid Fralick finished with 21 points 10 rebounds and 5 steals for the win but the story on this night was line-mate Steffan Favis. Favis finished with a game-high 27 and also added 7 rebounds and 5 steals.
Photo: Steffan Favis
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Youngster Breaks-out For Big Game
Game: 32
If you don’t know the name Kyle Fairbairn, ask Vandalay Industries about him – they are sure to know who he is now. Averaging only 5.7 points per game, Fairbairn lit up the scoreboard with 6/9 3-point shooting to finish with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Veteran Above the Rim teammates Jim Bonin and Trevor “Chernobyl” Harrington were stellar in defeat as well with 22 and 16 points respectively. On the other side of the ball, Vandalay’s Kris Raymond returned to the all-star form we are accustomed to seeing as he dominated the game with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Daryl Balog added the secondary scoring touch with 16 while chipping in 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Clutch free throw shooting and an inability to secure a key defensive rebound proved to be the difference down the stretch as Vandalay came away with a slim 80-76 victory.
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Speedy Rolling After Back to Back Wins
Game: 31
Could it be that the Speedy Claxtons are finally finding the winning formula? After a 0-3 start to the season, the Claxton Clan has rattled off 2 straight victories by an average margin of 28.5 points per game. Recording 21 assists in tonight’s game, it is clear that Speedy and company have made a conscious effort to share the ball and attempt to succeed playing solid team basketball. Shane Vermeulen had another strong game with 10 points and 9 rebounds while teammate JJ Russell led the team with 12 points. Gary “crotch rocket” Thomas added a solid 11 points and 5 boards. Mike MacKay chipped in with 8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks and a couple of near alley-oops through the heart of the defense. The Speedy Claxtons will face a big test against Vandalay Industries on Wednesday as they attempt to make it 3 in a row heading into playoffs.
Photo: JJ Russell
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Niners Survive a Scare
Game: 30
The 2-headed monster of Paul Kuperus and Ryan Reed struck early and often against Vandalay Industries as they architected a masterful inside and out offensive attack to maintain their hopes of a second place finish in the Green division. Vandalay came out lethargic in the contest and was unable to connect with any consistent frequency with their shot attempts. Joel Allen tried to ignite a spark with his 16 points but was unable to rally the rest of the troops. Aforementioned Kuperus and Reed finished with 26 and 17 respectively. Coach Judge is sure to be happy with the victory which all but seals 2nd place unless they suffer a major meltdown in the coming games.
Photo: Paul Kuperus
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And 1 Still Undefeated
Game: 29
Though team Ramrod boasted a mere 7 players, they still managed to push And 1 to the limits and a near blemish on their perfect season. And 1 jumped out to an early lead of 13 by the half only to see it diminish in the 2nd stanza. Reid Fralick from team Ramrod led all scorers with 16. Greg Cutler and Barret Hunter led the way for And 1 with 13 a piece while Chris Stoltz notched his best all around performance of the season with 9 points and 10 rebounds. Now only Above the Rim stands in the way of an undefeated regular season for And 1.
Photo: Chris Stoltz
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Monkey Off The Back
Game: 28
The Speedy Claxtons played their best game of the season to-date and were able to come out with their first win of the season in convincing fashion with an 79-57 win versus Above the Rim. Shane Vermeulen was the star on the winning team with 17 points. JJ Russell and Cody Vermeulen played the supporting cast role in this match as they finished with 16 and 14 respectively. Trevor Harrington was steady in the loss with 20 points.
Photo: Shane Vermeulen
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Bradford Scoregasms All Over the Hide
Game: 27
In his first ever Spring League game, Harvey Bradford showed no signs of nervousness on the big stage that is the CAN Events Spring League. With 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, Scoregasm’s Bradford was clearly the most dominant player on the court but Adrian Curtis of Rawhide was not to be outdone. Curtis shook off a poor shooting night the game before to cruise to 26 points in the loss. Connor Fairbanks was steady as well with 16 points and 6 rebounds which was not enough as they fell 72-75 to Scoregasm.
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Bonesaw Struggles to Cut Through the Defense
Game: 26
Once again, Robbie Valpreda led the charge for The Tropics with 18 points and a surprising 1 rebound in the victory. Gregg Frankson followed up his 30+ performance to add a modest 14 while Corey Saban shook off a woeful output in his prior contest to chip in with 13. Colten Ennis struggled against his former MacEwan mates finishing with 8. The Tropics are starting to find their groove and are preparing to peak at playoff time. Can anyone knock them off if they continue to play at this caliber? Only time will tell.
Photo: Robbie Valpreda
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Deklerk’s Domination Not Enough
Game: 25
Despite Nathan Deklerk’s Herculean effort of 22 points and 15 rebounds, team Run-N-Gun were Ran and Gunned out of the gym as they managed a mere 49 points through 5 minutes of game play. On the other side of the ball, Courtside got contributions from most players with no one standing out alone. Josh Melton led the way with 14 points off 7 for 8 shooting and Leman chipped in with 12.
Photo: Nathan Deklerk
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Wiebe Catches a Hot Streak
Game: 24
After a few dramatic games for Courtside, it appears that they are starting to find their roles and are now getting much needed production from a more balanced attack. Steve Wiebe broke out of his slump to catapult the squad towards a 10-point victory over the scrappy, high-energy Bonesaw contingent. Steve slashed his way through the lane to capture the victory and a game-high 21 points. Shane Leman was steady once again in the victory with 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists while Lee Chanin added his routine handful of 3-point bombs to finish with a tally of 12. The return of Colton Ennis was much needed for team Bonesaw but his 19 points and 13 rebounds were not enough to will his team past Wiebe and company.
Photo: Steve Wiebe
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Scoregasm Cannot Perform When In Heat
Game: 23
The Tropics team provided the knock out punch early in the match and Scoregasm was unable to erect themselves to a point where they could compete enough to close the gap. The fast-break attack of The Tropics was in full force despite a relatively quiet 19 points and 9 rebounds from Robbie Valpreda. Led by floor general Kyle Saban with 10 assists, The Tropics were able to find the gaps in the porous defense of Scoregasm and penetrate at will. Gregg Frankson was sensational in the victory, finishing with a well-rounded 31 points off both an inside an outside offensive attack.
Photo: Gregg Frankson
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Dia Delivers in Debut
Game: 22
On Tuesday night, the Eger Beavers pulled a rabbit out of a hat and his name was Kevin Dia. In his first spring league game of the season, Dia looked shaky on his first few shot attempts before quickly settling into his role and taking over the game. Kevin missed his first 3-point attempt followed by 7 3-pointers without missing again. The Beavers adjusted their attack by drawing Dia’s defender on dribble penetration in order to give him the ball and an open look from beyond the arc. The hot shooting led to a comfortable 81-48 victory over team Rawhide. Cyril Ashworth began hot for the Eger Beavers club but digressed to Dia’s hot hand to lead the charge. Dia’s final total was a whopping 31 points with Cyril Ashworth and Don Phillips each adding 14 points in the win.
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Niners Continue to Roll
Game: 21
The team game of the Niners SL continued to pay dividends as the cruised to a 105-59 victory against Les Centurions. Paul Kuperus was simply unconscious shooting 10 from 12 from the 3 point line to lead all scorers with 34 points while still finding a way to accumulate 6 assists in the process. Sean Wragg, fresh off his Hawaiian vacation and looking like Don Ho, was solid throughout the game adding 21 points and 12 rebounds. Justin Nolette led the way for Les Centurions with 18 while Alain Ndahirwa and Stephen Williams each chipped in with 16. Williams also led all rebounders with 13.
Photo: Paul Kuperus
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Speedy Runs Out of Gas
Game: 20
Determined to get out of their slump and improve on the woeful 0-2 start, the Speedy Claxtons jumped all over the undefeated And1 squad, opening a 20 point lead 7 minutes into the contest. All cylinders were firing and they were playing with energy and passion on both ends of the court. And1 was able to make a push to close out the first half and trim the deficit to 10 by the break. The second half was the tale of Jekyll and Hyde. And1 was the aggressor and Speedy Claxton became the passive, timid group. And1 one was able to match the intensity they had shown in their previous wins and take the lead early in the second half. At this point, the momentum was clearly in their favor and Speedy was rattled. A few poor shots, a few turnovers, and a technical foul and the game was over completing the 31-point swing for a 61-50 victory. Ethan Sir led the way for And1 with a quiet 17 while Jason Burke added 14. Jeremy Walters stepped up his game in the second half and led the surge finishing with 14 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Trevor Dreger led the way for the Speedy Claxtons with 17 and Gary Thomas added 14.
Photo: Jeremy Walters
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Reid and Raymond Render Ramrod Flaccid
Game: 19
It was evident a few minutes into the game that Team Ramrod was in for a long night. They struggled to convert on routine open jump shots while Vandalay Industries caught fire early and managed to open up a high-octane first half fast break and 3-point attack led by Graeme Reid’s 19 points. Reid connected on 5 of 6 3-point attempts in the first half, but slowed to a more humanlike pace in the second half once fatigue became a factor. Kris Raymond was also stellar in the win as he poured in 22 points and 11 rebounds. Michael Szynkowski chipped in with 12 points and 13 rebounds. King’s University College’s long-range gunner Reid Fralick led the charge for team Ramrod with 17 points but was unable to muster enough support to keep the game close. Once team Ramrod finds their shooting touch, we can expect them to be a contender at season’s end.
Photo: Graeme Reid
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Balog Brilliant in Blowout
Game: 18,
Vandalay Industries bounced back strong from their first loss in a decisive victory against Les Centurions. The undermanned Centurions fought hard and more than doubled their first half output in the second half, led by Alain Ndahirwa and Justin Nolette with 21 and 19 points respectively. The shining star was Daryl Balog of Vandalay who recorded the league’s first triple double of the season with 13 points, 11 assists and 10 steals. Balog’s speed, tenacity and court awareness were a pleasure to watch as he led the assault. Kris Raymond was solid in the win with 17 points while Michael Szynkowski chipped in with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Photo: Daryl Balog
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Ramrod Survives a Close One
After being down 6 points at half time, Ramrod stormed back to outscore Above the Rim 40-25 claiming a 9-point victory. No individual stood out in the contest and both teams gave a solid effort. Theo Parks led all scorers with 15 points for Above the Rim with team mate Trevor Harrington not too far behind with 11. On the winning side, Reid Fralick finished with 13 while Nick Zutz and Steffan Favis each added 8. With the win, Ramrod improves to a perfect 2-0 record.
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Around Here, They Call Me Sir
Game: 16
Once again, The Niners SL played a solid team game with four players scoring in double digits – Darren Graham 22, Paul Kuperus 19, Neil Schneider 18, and Rohin Judge 17. Paul Kuperus hit 3 straight 3 pointers mid-way through the first half and with the inside attack of Graham, the Niners appeared to be on their way to a decisive victory until Ethan Sir got hot. Sir shot a sizzling 80% from the field and 67% from the 3-point line on his way to a dazzling 36 points. Not to be outdone was team mate Jason Burke who notched 26 points and 8 steals and was a tough speed matchup for the aging Niners defenders. Jeremy Walters had a strong all-round performance finishing with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Barret Hunter poured in 14. And 1 remains undefeated at 3-0 and seems to be gaining more steam heading into the 2nd half of the regular season.
Photo: Ethan Sir
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No Love Lost
Game: 15
Tonight’s match-up against the Tropics and the Eger Beavers was easily the most intense battle of the night. From an untrained eye, one might think there was a genuine dislike between the teams but it was a tale of 2 teams showing their competitive nature and not wanting to accept defeat. There were no major stand-out performances and no late game heroics – just a hard-fought contest that had to see someone win and someone lose. The play was aggressive - both physically and verbally- with neither team ready to surrender an inch. With seconds remaining, the Eger Beavers were forced to hoist a barrage of trifectas at the rim and followed each shot with a valiant effort on the offensive glass. When the buzzer sounded, the Tropics were on top with a score of 54-50 pushing their perfect record to 2-0. Robbie Valpreda led all scorers with 16 points in the win while Don “Tex” Phillips led the way for the Eger Beavers in a losing cause with 11.
Photo: Robbie Valpreda
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Leman/Chanin Tandem Fall to Scoregasm
Game: 14
Lee Chanin had his 2009 breakout performance and showed why he has been a consistent, high-percentage offensive weapon for the past few years in spring league. Missing only 3 shots, he amassed 20 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out in the late stages of the nail-biter match with team Scoregasm. Shane Leman was also his usual self as he mildly flirted with a triple-double with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists in a losing cause. With the loss, Courtside falls to 0-2 while the climaxing Scorgasm improves to 3-0. A dismal 4 for 19 from the free throw line spelled certain defeat for Courtside. Scoregasm was led by former University of Manitoba guard Graeme Mitchell and Aris Nunez-Ruiz with 19 and 18 respectively. Mark Dorado, the spring league’s version of Jerry West (appearing as the league’s logo template), finally made his debut to the league and was visibly hindered by a recent injury, finishing with a modest 5 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. When all players are present, team Scoregasm is proving to be an undersized juggernaut in this league with the potential to knock off one of the giants if the stars align.
Photo: Shane Leman
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Horton the Hero
Game: 13
After a disappointing 0-2 start, team Run-N-Gun was determined to turn around the season before all was lost. Brandon Horton decided to pick up his game in the absence of the teams leading scorer Nathan Deklerk. Horton was in attack mode the entire night finishing with 14 free throw attempts and 5 offensive rebounds. He was not to be denied as his final stats totaled 32 points and 11 rebounds. Carter Kearl also put out his best effort of the season finishing with 20 points while Djibril Kande notched 11 rebounds in the victory. With the loss, Bonesaw falls to 0-3 and showed signs of dependence on team leader Colton Ennis.
Photo: Brandon Horton
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Photo Finish
Game: 12
After a disappointing opening game, The Speedy Claxtons bounced back and competed against a quality opponent in team Ramrod. The Claxtons held a slim advantage through much of the contest only to see it dissipate in the late stages. Tamer Douglas had a strong return from injury hitting timely baskets and finding open team mates when needed – he finished with 13 points and 5 assists. Nick Zutz led the way with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 (yes, 6) blocked shots. Trevor Dreger hit a pair of timely 3-pointers in the second half to make the game interesting a help close the gap. Gary Thomas also added a long range bank-shot late in the game to pull within a possession of the lead but turnovers and solid defense from Ramrod shut the door to the late comeback as team Ramrod held on for the slim 70-68 win. Thomas led all scorers with 17 points and 9 rebounds for the loss.
Photo: Nick Zutz
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AND 1 Rounding Into Fine Form
Game: 11
After a hard fought first week victory, team And 1 continued to roll and become more cohesive as a unit as they stepped on the throttle from the opening tip and showed no signs of letting up until the final buzzer sounded. Former SAIT standout Chris Stoltz was outstanding in the lopsided victory as he led the way with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Jason Burke followed with 15 of his own. Humber College star and national champion Jeremy Walters moved the rock for the winning squad, dishing 10 assists in the victory and creating an infectiously unselfish atmosphere. And 1 is showing with their intensity on defense and cohesive play that they intend to contend for the championship.
Photo: Chris Stoltz
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The Stars Come Out To Battle
Game: 10
The battle between the Nines SL and Above the Rim featured a flurry of fantastic individual efforts by several players on both teams. Jacob Wojcicki finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds and added the 3-point game to his arsenal hitting 3 for 5 from downtown. Hoop to my Loop Parks was stellar once again with an explosive 22 points as he broke down the defense getting to the rim for spectacular finishes. Trevor Harrington finished with 26 points and 8 rebounds on an extremely high percentage outing. As impressive as those stats are, they weren’t enough to propel team Above the Rim to victory as they fell 94-84 to the Niners. Paul Kuperus and Ryan Reed were determined to get another win and were the 2 best players in the league on this night. Unfortunately for Above the Rim, they were on the same team. Kuperus showed why he is one of the deadliest 3-point shooters in the city of Edmonton pouring in 5 of 12 from beyond the arc and finishing with 27 points. There was no answer for Ryan Reed as he led the way with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. He started by attacking the defense for layups and showed his full repertoire by dishing to open teammates when the defense adjusted. If this tandem can continue to play at such a high caliber, the Niners SL could surprise some fans and hoist the trophy when all is said and done.
--and by trophy, I mean a T-shirt--
Photo: Ryan Reed
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Courtside Get the Raw Deal
Game: 9
After an opening round bye, Courtside met up with Rawhide and played them close, trailing only by 3 as the first half came to an end. In the second half, the game remained close throughout until the dying minutes when Rawhide provided the clamps defensively and began to convert on fast-break attempts, highlighted by a rim-rocking thunder dunk by Adrian Curtis to seal the deal. Connor Fairbanks led the charge for Rawhide with 15 points while Adrian Curtis and Cameron Burr chipped in with 11 a piece. In a losing effort, Shane Leman muscled in a hard-fought 23 points against a stingy defense which maintained steady physical contact and double teams on his attempted drives to the basket. Rawhide’s teamwork and defensive intensity proved to be the different on this night as Courtside appears to be trying to figure each other out and is sure to find the winning formula sooner than later.
Photo: Connor Fairbanks
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Denscombe Delivers
Game: 8
After a disappointing opening day loss to the upstart Scoregasm crew, Jesse Denscombe and the Eger Beavers were determined to right the ship. After a see-saw first half which ended in a 27-27 tie, the Beavers flexed their collective Labia Majora and engulfed the helpless Run-n-gun team. Denscombe was nothing short of brilliant in the win as he set the tone early and often. Denscombe scored a game-high 21 points, missing only 3 shots in the process while grabbing a whopping 12 rebounds. The supporting cast was steady enough to bring home the slim lead as they held the always offensively potent Nathan Deklerk to 14 points on limited shot attempts. Next up for the Eger Beaver is the talent-laden Tropics squad where they’ll need a strong team effort to slow down the high octane Tropics offense.
Photo: Jesse Denscombe
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Pressure Defense Proves To Be the Difference
Game: 7
Bonesaw began the contest with a barrage of easy baskets and solid team play led by former Grant MacEwan forward Colton Ennis. The score remained close in the first half with neither team able to grab a stranglehold on their opponent. The second half, however, was a much different story. Apparently, enough was enough for team Scoregasm as they decided to employ a variety of presses and traps forcing turnovers and rushed shots which led mostly to easier baskets on the other end of the floor. The Mitchell-Hinds combination hooked up for a handful of backdoor alley-oops with the help of solid screens from Jason Harke. At the conclusion, the score showed a 27-point victory for team Scoregasm in what was a much more competitive match than what was indicated on the scoreboard. Aris “The Honduran Hulk” Nunez-Ruiz led all scorers with 19 with Sheldon Lawton close behind with 16. Colton Ennis was a bright spot for the losing Bonesaw squad with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. With the absence of Mark Dorado and Steven Lamont, team Scoregasm’s 2-0 start becomes even more impressive.
Photo: The Honduran Hulk
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Game of the Night
Game: 6
In what was easily the game of the night, AND 1 pulled out a shocking win over a well-built Vandalay Industries squad. The game was physical and included some heated exchanges, but when cooler heads prevailed and the smoke settled, what was left behind was a photo finish. The second half was a see-saw battle with the lead changing hands on several occasions. With less than 30 seconds remaining and down 2 points, Kris Raymond stepped up to the free throw line and calmly knocked down 2 foul shots to give his team a 1-point edge. AND 1 stormed down the court and after a few wild shots and a flurry of offensive rebounds, Ethan Sir found the ball in his hands with an opportunity to play the role of hero on this night. He hoisted a smooth baby hook over outstretched defenders and as he had done all night, sunk the basket with ease, giving AND 1 a 1-point lead with 3 seconds remaining. Vandalay Industries attempted a half court shot for the tie but fell short. Ethan Sir led team AND 1 with 21 points while Greg Cutler led the defensive attack with 6 steals. Kris Raymond was brilliant in a losing effort with a game-high 24 points and 9 rebounds with Joel Allen not too far behind with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Photo: Ethan Sir
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Chemistry the Key to Crushing the Claxtons
Game: 5
From the opening tip, it was evident that The Niners SL have played together. Already a staple in Division I Men’s league, they decided to bring their cohesive style of play to Spring League. Opening with a 13-0 run, they were consistent throughout the contest and set the cruise control in the second half. Despite a subpar offensive outing by Sean “the Swat Doctor” Wragg, the Niners SL were still able to mount a convincing win. Paul Kuperus led all scorers with 19 points while Sean Van Diepen notched 11 rebounds. Darren Graham and Rohin Judge rounded out the scoring with 17 and 13 respectively. The Speedy Claxtons uncharacteristically struggled with their shooting percentage and is sure to bounce back in their next contest.
Photo: Paul Kuperus
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Teamwork Prevails As Above The Rim Gels Early
Game 4:
Thrown together through the Spring League draft process, team Above The Rim showed sings of cohesion in their first game together sharing the ball and working together on defense. They faced an undermanned Les Centurions squad boasting a mere 6 players for their first contest. Plagued by foul trouble, Les Centurions were forced to finish the game with only 4 players on the court. Former North-side playground legend and Grant MacEwan standout Theo Parks led the way with 18 points showing that he is still as explosive as ever. Trevor Harrington, Spencer Campbell and Jacob Wojcicki each poured in 11 points while Des McDonald added 10 in the win. Stephen Williams led the way for Les Centurions with 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Photo: Theo “hoop to my loop” Parks
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The Tropics Make an Early Statement
Game 3:
The Tropics are showing early why they may be the team to beat in this year’s edition of Spring League. With a dominating, well-balanced attack, Valpreda and company made easy prey of their first opponent by more than doubling their shooting percentage and holding an equally impressive +23 edge in rebounding. Former CCAA Player of the Year Robbie Valpreda showed that old age and a few extra pounds is no reason for concern as he is sure to dominate each opponent he faces this season. Valpreda led the charge with 28 points and 14 rebounds. Gregg Frankson, fresh off a season away from college basketball, showed he is still going to be a force with an effortless 21 points. Corey Saban added 18 points and 7 assists while Jeff Stork and Dan Spriensma chipped in with 15 a piece. In the loss, Nathan Deklerk was his usual brilliant self with 24 points and 7 rebounds.
Photo: Robbie Valpreda
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Explosive Threesome Too Much For Bonesaw
Game 2:
The Harry Ainlay alumni trio of Adrian Curtis, Connor Fairbanks and Tommy Watson proved to be potent offensively for Bonesaw to stifle for an entire game. Though Bonesaw showed flashes of brilliance and heart, team Rawhide was the aggressor all night. Led by Curtis, Fairbanks and Watson with 18, 17 and 14 points respectively, Rawhide cruised to a 20-point victory. Nick Pawliuk led the way for Bonesaw with 11 points and 6 rebounds in a losing effort. Jordan Kluthe was also steady with 8 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
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Mitchell Leads Attack On Beavers
Game 1:
In a game that truly was never in question from the opening tip, Graeme Mitchell showed his offensive prowess leading all scorers with 19 points. Team Scoregasm played a well-rounded team game as all players contributed and they shared the rock amassing 30 team assists. Ossie Hinds showed why he was named CCAA All-Canadian with a near triple double in the league opener (14 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds). Sheldon Lawton poured in a solid 18 points to round out the balanced scoring attack. Nigel Ottley was consistent in the loss for the Eger Beavers with a high-percentage effort, scoring a team high 16 points in a losing effort.
Photo: Graeme Mitchell
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