Ste. Famille and Louis-Riel earn bragging rights

Hosting Franco tournaments in Sudbury means one less fun-filled weekend away from home for local students.

But for fans of basketball and the like, it's a chance to take in some fairly top-end athletes who don't often make their way to Northern Ontario.

The St. Famille Cougars from Mississauga ran away with the senior A championship Feb. 2 at the Franco-Ontarien Basketball Tournament, bouncing the De la Salle Cavaliers from Ottawa 64-32 in the final.

When push came to shove, the Cavs had no reply for the spirited Cougars, led by point guard Jordan Grant as well as forwards Benson Amihere and Lewis Diankulu.

SDDSSAA schools might not have been front and centre on the A court, but two of the best renewed their rivalry in the B gold-medal encounter. The Macdonald-Cartier Panthères withstood a late rally from the Horizon Aigles, chalking up a 51-42 triumph.

Jaymie Ouellette and Caleb Yanchuk netted 15 points each for ESMC while Tyler St. Denis and Josh Jackson countered with a dozen each in a losing cause.

Jean-Vanier took Division C bragging rights, outscoring the Hanmer Sabres 43-31.
In junior play, the Louis-Riel Rebels (Ottawa) avoided a Mississauga sweep, besting the Ste. Famille junior squad 47-36.

Another all-Sudbury final in the B division saw the Collège Notre-Dame Alouettes down the Horizon Aigles 43-35, while the Georges P Vanier Voyageurs outlasted Macdonald-Cartier 42-36 in the C final.

Closing things off, the Sacré-Coeur Griffons defeated Macdonald-Cartier 2 (grades 7 and 8) 45-25 in the junior Division D finale.

The tournament was a collaborative effort, with five local schools — Macdonald-Cartier, Collège Notre-Dame, Horizon, Hanmer and Sacré-Coeur — all helping out with the organization and administration of the tournament that attracted 28 teams to the city.

Many of the same individuals are in for another busy stretch as the Franco Girls Volleyball Tournament invades Sudbury this weekend, with 32 teams taking part in the competition.

Play started Feb. 7.