Shock teammates face each other, with CECI and St. Joe's meeting in final
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Members of the Central Elgin Titans and St. Joseph's Rams, who all play with the St. Thomas Shock, jump in for a photo together, following the Titans' win over the Rams in the junior final, at the Furfaro basketball tournament. From left, are Nick Dennis, Gavin Barnhouse (behind Dennis), Christian Vecchio, Clark Renaud, Jonathan Zhakata, Max McCauley (holding trophy), Jack Tunstill, Tiekae Dilliard, Jack Stubbs, Owen Waterhouse. (photo / courtesy Jeff Renaud)
By Rob J. Ross
ST. THOMAS - There was a reunion feel in the air, as the Central Elgin Titans junior boys' basketball team won their first tournament of the season.
Central Elgin captured the junior title, going undefeated, during the 10th annual Paul Furfaro tournament, at Holy Cross secondary school, December 8/9.
The Titans met a very familiar opponent in the final, the St. Joseph’s Rams, not only the school, but the players on the floor.
Last season, five players from the Titans and five from the Rams, were teammates on the St. Thomas Shock’s Grade 7/8 team. In fact, several players have traded passes on Shock teams for half a decade.
Now Titans, are Gavin Barnhouse, Christian Vecchio, Clark Renaud, Jack Tunstill and Tiekae Dillard, while Niko Dennis, Jonathan Zhakata, Max McCauley, Jack Stubbs and Owen Waterhouse, are wearing Rams’ jerseys.
Renaud, McCauley, Dennis and Waterhouse were together playing Shock basketball since Grade 3. McCauley has the longest tenure with the Shock, dribbling his first ball in Grade 2.
"It's great to see how far we have all come as basketball players and a lot of that is because of Shock Basketball," said Renaud, a point guard with the Titans. "Even though we go to different schools, we still look out for each other. I can't wait to play them (St. Joseph's) again."
That would be at a future tournament, or if both teams advance to WOSSAA, in February, since the schools are in different associations and will not meet during the regular season.
The players will return to the Shock for the Ontario Basketball Association midget club season, following the high school schedule, next spring.
Winning at Holy Cross should add an extra boost to the Titans, who have started off 2-0, in the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TRVA) South division.
"Our team played very well, showing resilience from ups and downs this past weekend. A few players stepped it up a notch on both sides of the floor leading our team. A great weekend. I’m proud of our team," Titans' coach Richie Ray said. "In the final, with one of our key low post guys getting injured first few minutes of the game, the team came together and put up a hard fight versus St. Joes, who are much bigger than us."
The Titans went 2-1, at a tournament, hosted by St. Joseph's high school, December 1-2.
St. Joe's owns a 2-1 record in District regular season action.