From the Brantford Expositor

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2470800

Senior boys Trojans add to historic season
Posted By DARRYL G. SMART
Posted 10 mins ago


This has already been a season to remember for Todd Andrew and his North Park Collegiate Trojans senior boys' basketball team.But the ride isn't over yet. With the school celebrating its 50th anniversary, the senior boys basketball team has already given the student body and alumni plenty to cheer about after capturing the city championship and going undefeated locally.Now they can add the school's second Central Western Ontario Secondary School Association title.On Saturday in Preston, the Trojans rallied from a rough fourth quarter to defeat the Kitchener Collegiate Raiders 62-56 in overtime to claim the AAA title.Dave Eves led the Trojans with 21 points, while Cale McDonald added 19 and Mark Dickens netted 13.

"It was fun to watch," Andrew said. "It was a little nerve-racking towards the end but it was a great game to watch." After getting an early jump on the Raiders and building up a double-digit lead, the tournament hosts began chipping at the lead until they forced overtime with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds of the game."In overtime, we really stepped up to the challenge," Andrew said. "We were able to get up early on them. The guys played some solid defence and that was key."

With the victory, the Trojans qualified for the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association championships in Kingston, from March 8 to 10.And that is only the second time the Trojans have made it to the provincial championships."It really means a lot to finally get the chance to go," Andrew said. "This is the 50th anniversary of the school and we've had some great events go on. This is great for the kids. This has given them a chance to carve a niche for themselves into school history."

While earning an OFSAA berth is a monumental moment for the school, its extra special for the head coach, who was one win away from going as a Trojans player.He said there's been a lot of great basketball players come through North Park but they've never been able to get to the big show. Andrew said because there were lofty expectations on the team this season, the players felt a little bit of pressure.

"These are high school athletes, so, of course, they're going to feel a bit of pressure," Andrew said. "But after losing (in the CWOSSA final) last year they all realized there was some unfinished business." And during the OFSAA championships they hope it'll translate into more hardware. "They're an experienced group of kids," Andrew said. "They put the time and effort in this year and we've set some lofty goals.

"We're going to take it game-by-game. ," Andrew said. "We're going there with the same attitude we've had all season -it's a matter of winning and not by how much. The goal is to get the win."

En route to the final, the Trojans beat Waterloo's St. Davis' 35-34.McDonald scored 12 points, while Eves added seven and Mike Dulmage had six. In their first-round game, the trojans beat Owen Sound's West Hill 62-20.Eves led the way with 19 points, while Dickens and McDonald scored nine each