RecordBy Larry Moko
Some senior seniors have helped propel the Bishop Tonnos Titans to a fast start in boys’ high school basketball.
The visiting Titans improved to 3-0 in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic standings with an 83-69 victory over the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves Tuesday.
Top scorers for the Titans were all Grade 12-plus players – Darrius Mullings, Justus Dryden and Ethan Saleh. Mullings tossed in 27 points, while Dryden and Saleh added 19 and 13 points, respectively.
“I have a roster of older players,” Tonnos coach Matthew Timms said. “I tend to rely a lot on them and how they want to establish the tone of how this team goes.”
Luka Pasalic also scored 12 points for the Titans while another Grade 12-plus student – Simon Samara – chipped in with eight.
Dryden and Mullings are co-captains of the Titans.
“We bring energy,” said Dryden, “and with that, we have experience. It’s our third year playing senior under the same coach.”
“When the guys are feeling down on themselves, we help them through it.”
Dryden and Saleh also excelled on defense, each impressively rejecting a Brebeuf shot attempt.
Tonnos led 23-12 at the end of the opening quarter. Brebeuf fought back, however, to hold a 35-33 advantage early in the third quarter. But heading into the fourth, the Titans again maintained a 57-48 edge.
“We set the tone early with that nice first quarter,” Timms said. “Then we kind of got away from our game that was being preached at practice. That made it a little tighter. I’m very happy with the outcome … a win is a win.”
Said Dryden: “We started playing our game. That’s how we won. The bench really helped us this game. It was an all-round team effort.
“I think 100 per cent we are championship contenders. No doubt in my mind.”
The Braves, who fell to 0-3, got 23 points by Omaree Francis and 10 each by Keen Fleming and Ryan Mpiana.
Brebeuf coach Jae Dunphy said his team was thin at centre due to an in-game injury, and illness. Three front-court players were affected. The Braves starting centre– Joey Nsenda, a transfer from France – had a fever and was unavailable to dress.
“It definitely changed a bit of our interior defense,” the Braves coach said.
According to Dunphy, Brebeuf’s shooting wasn’t up to par.
“We had second-chance cracks at the net, and we weren’t getting them. Then they were off to the races, and it was an easy bucket down there. That deflated us a little bit.”
Although Brebeuf is 0-3 in league play, it won three of four during the preseason.
In other action, the Cathedral Gaels remained in a first-place tie with Tonnos by topping the previously unbeaten St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 46-34. The St. Thomas More Knights (2-1) are now tied with Newman for third spot after a 62-41 win over the Bishop Ryan Celtics (1-2).
Photos by Richard Andoga
Additional photos on the HWCDSB Athletics Facebook Page