U19 Selects boys claim gold in Toronto

The Sudbury U19 Selects boys basketball team are enjoying a memorable start to the season, improving their record to 10-0 last weekend in Toronto, capturing gold at the Hoopdome Basketball Tournament.

Off to a slow start when matched with the physicality of the Collingwood TrailBlazers, the Sudbury crew received a kick-start from the tandem of Kieran Naus (27 pts) and Nico Presot (14), bouncing back to post a 77-68 victory.

Facing Mississauga in Game 2, the Selects overcame a relentless defensive team, sparked by Noah LaPierre (18) and Adrian Kuchtaruk (13), with Naus and Matt Bell providing a yeoman's effort in a 70-62 win.

LaPierre held the hot hand in Game 3, netting 23 points, with every single member of the Sudbury squad draining at least one three-point basket in a 68-55 win over Toronto.

The Selects were dialed in from the outside in their semifinal rematch with Collingwood, with seven of their first eight baskets coming from beyond the arc. Presot drained no less than five treys in the first quarter alone, finishing with 19 points while LaPierre led the way with 27, lifting Sudbury to a 96-67 win.

Facing their stiffest test of the weekend in the championship final, the Sudbury lads found themselves dead even with the Hamilton hoopsters at the end of three quarters, pulling away in the fourth for a 69-64 triumph.

LaPierre and Kuchtaruk recorded 23 and 12 points respectively, as the basketball IQ of the northern team was evident right from the start, a group that demonstrates outstanding teamwork.

The U19 Selects team includes Mike Pigeon, Nathan Werbiski, Brett Holly, Nico Presot, Noah LaPierre, Jordan Loiselle, Matt Bell, Kieran Naus, Adrian Kuchtaruk, Tyger Louis and coaches Kyle Beers, Wayne Lozier and Joel Rehel.

The locals are back in action this weekend, taking part in the Waterloo Wildhawks Tournament.