An Elite Canadian high school basketball tourney took place in Hamilton at Cathedral High School this past weekend. Eight of the provinces best programs battled for supremacy. What we learned at the Mark Walton Invitational followed by a detailed results summary…
Hamilton Loves Hoops
Refreshing to see so many people from the Steel Town community that came out to enjoy the Mark Walton Invitational. Strong support anticipates this tourney annually and majority love to talk basketball.
Gaels Gymnasium
Cathedral Gymnasium. Designed by Mark Walton in the mid 90′s.
A dying breed of a basketball venue in Ontario. You must see it to believe it. Especially at near capacity. Whether your just there as a spectator, photographer, press duties or playing it’s both a privelage and a pleasure to put in work inside the vintage Cathedral gymnasium.
Officiating
Level of officiating in Hamilton compared to the GTA in 2013-14 is night & day. Crew who worked the Mark Walton may not reflect all the referees in the Hamilton region but on opening day (aside from maybe the final minutes of FHC & CC) officials let the boys hoop. If your guy is going to the charity stripe he FELT contact. No freebies, no whistle happy zebras. They even excused a player who hit a three ball then triggered a couple gun shots in the air.
Mark Walton
The man, the myth, the legendary coach in Canadian HS hoops. Walton’s resume includes both playing and coaching with Cathedral. It’s not easy to win a OFSAA. Let alone 4 (1 as player, 3 as coach). Walton has been the driving force at Cathedral since they moved campuses to Wellington Street back in the mid 90′s. Of Coach Waltons four provincial championships, ALL were undefeated campaigns.
Amazing Feat. 1 OFSAA as player. 3 OFSAA’s as coach. Mark Walton the legend.
University Coaches
3 of the top 5 teams in the GTA and the reigning ‘AAA’ champs from Windsor were present. This talented 8 team tourney brought out a handful of Canadian University coaches.
List included Algonquin Assistant Coach Jim Langis, Brock head coach Charles Kissi , Carelton head coach Dave Smart, Nippising’s head coach Chris Cheng, Toronto’s head coach Chris Cambell, & Windsor’s head coach Chris Oliver.
Cathedral Hospitality
Last year some HHC staff had the privilege to witness St Edward Campion open up their tournament in a similar fashion vs Gonzaga. The scene Friday morning minus a PA announcer was comparable to the 2012 Campion Showdown. From on point gonvenors in their customized Mark Walton Invitational hoodies to the pride in the stands for a 9:30AM tip … ‘first class’ is an understatement. Not only did they engage the student body to fill up the place, tournament organizers scheduled Eastern Commerce for the showcase game. In return they knocked off the #4 ranked team in GTA and did it behind some stingy D in front of Mark Walton and the Gaels faithful.
Windsor Got Talent
Arriving in Steel town one week after losing to St.Mike’s in the Freeds final (injured and depleted) Catholic Central showed serious flashes of promise. They outplayed Cardinal Newman with what CN does best, defense. Then exchanged punches with Father Henry Carr right to the final buzzer. The pride & joy of Windsor, Ontario flexed its muscles and showed that the ‘AAA’ OFSAA champs with no returning starters could also be a contender for the ‘AAAA’ crown if they choose. Coach Cusamano well decide their future in January.
Panthers Prowling
Henry Carr & D’Youville tip off in the Championship game.
Panthers are rolling. Looking like a team thats finally buying in to their coaches philosophy on offence with ball movement. DamIann Prehay game in game out offers a motor 2nd to none. 2016 Splash brothers Montague & Gould can bury you beyond the arc, 2015′s Agunye & Clayton are crucial when both attack and are willing rebounders, throw in X-factor (5th year) Jerome Simpson and DY have all the tools. If the Panthers can click together for four quarters, nail free throws & minimize turnovers, DY have the talent to be provincial champions or at the very least serious contenders.
Champion Crusaders
Champion Crusaders above. Champion hardware below.
Marcus Bonnick & Ty Stewart Nelson may not have the height or athleticism as alumni’s Jalen Poyser & Dillon Brooks did, but both have an intensity that you just can’t teach.
Marcus Bonnick continues to have stretches where he goes BANANAS! In the third quarter alone of the semi finals he had 12 points including 3 splashes from downtown and if he missed any of his 3P FGA’s he was chasing down his own rebounds. Growing up his nick name was M.Dollar. So far this fall with his NBA shooting range Bonnick has been worth more then dollars to FHC, he’s been priceless.
Ty Stewart-Nelson is also an unsung hero for Henry Carr. TSN is as poised and composed of an athlete that you can find in Canadian high school hoops. For example, Carr allowed Catholic Central to go on a 17-4 run late in the fourth quarter. Trailing by 1 after a worthy game winning 3 ball from CC — TSN sitting on 14 points on the game (none in the fourth) –hits a floater with 5 seconds left on the game clock. Absolutely clutch!
Both Bonnick and Stewart-Nelson possess a passion & demonstrate leadership skills coaches drool over. Toss in 2017′s Anthony McNish & Grant Audu on the court with them and the four are a FORCE to be reckoned with.
Tournament Summary Special by: Larry Moko
For the second consecutive year, Father Henry Carr Crusaders of Etobicoke have captured the overall championship at the Mark Walton Invitational senior boys’ high school basketball tournament held by Hamilton’s Cathedral High School.
Anthony McNish sinks a basket in a tight championship match with d’Youville on Saturday. (Photo: Gerry Graham)
The Crusaders defeated Brampton’s St. Marguerite d’Youville Panthers 50-49 on Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Cathedral gym to take top honours among the eight entries.
Third-place went to last year’s provincial high school Triple A gold-medal winners, Windsor’s Catholic Central Comets, who got past the host Cathedral Gaels, 71-67. The consolation title went to Toronto’s Eastern Commerce Saints. They edged Cardinal Newman Cardinals, 63-59. Oakville’s Holy Trinity Titans downed St. Thomas More Knights, 56-49, to take seventh spot.
“It’s very tough to win this tournament,” said Carr coach Paul Melnik. “These are probably eight of the top teams in the province. To come back this year, with half my team gone, and win again …. We’re really happy. We just want to work hard. The young guys are stepping up.”
Overall this season, the Crusaders are 16-1.
Carr led 7-6, 23-16 and 34-30 at the end of the quarters. Addy Ogunye’s three-point basket at the buzzer for the Panthers completed the scoring.
Guard Marcus Bonnick of the Crusaders was selected the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He netted 21 points in the finale and teammate Anthony McNish added eight. For the Panthers, Ogunye and DamiAnn Prehay were the leading scorers with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
The Father Henry Carr Crusaders (R to L: Marcus Bonnick, Ty Stewart Nelson, Brendon Chevannes) are presented with their trophy. (Photo: Gerry Graham)
Melnik praised the efforts of Bonnick: “He worked so hard in the off season to improve his conditioning and skill level. And with the improvement in both, his confidence has gone through the roof. He’s earned a leadership role. So when the game is on the line, we’re going to put the ball in his hands.”
Mark Walton, whom the tournament is named after, coached Cathedral squads to three Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations boys’ championships before stepping down as head coach in 1998. As a player, he also won a provincial title with the Gaels. Those accomplishments were brought up by Melnik during the awards ceremony.
“Mark Walton was an elite player and coach,” Melnik said. “I coached against him way back when. He’s not my mentor, but he’s like my mentor.”
Ogunye was selected a first team all-star along with Prehay. Other all-stars were Ty Stewart-Nelson and Anthony McNish of the Crusaders along with Isaiah Familia of Catholic Central. The second-team all-star choices were: Daniel Dzierzawski of Cathedral, Ignas Brazdeikis of Holy Trinity, Narcisse Ambanza of Eastern Commerce, Nyong James of the Catholic Central, and David McCulloch of Cardinal Newman.
SATURDAY RESULTS
Seventh-place game: Holy Trinity 56 (Shamiel Stevenson 22, Ignas Brazdeikis 17) St. Thomas More 49 (Joel Clarke 11, Osayi Ignivan 11)
Consolation championship: Eastern Commerce 63 (Trayvon Ross 14, Narcisse Ambanza 16) Cardinal Newman 59 (Josh Nardini 18, David McCulloch 11, Tyler Brown 10)
Third-place game: Catholic Central 71 (Isaiah Familia 21, Eriq Jenkins 15, Nyong James 14) Cathedral 67 (Daniel Dzierzawski 30, Kareem Kollins 13, Shemar Mensah 11).
Overall championship: Father Henry Carr 50, St. Marguerite d’Youville 49.
Wednesday the staff at Hoops Hype Canada in attendance at the 2013 Mark Walton Invitational take a in depth look at the stand out performers from the two day tourney. Wide range of talent from 2014′s to 2017′s whose performances did not go unnoticed and will be recognized. Stay tuned…