Team Black prevails in Next 10 game
The inaugural Bob Miller Classic Next 10 All-Star Game at West Niagara produced a nail-biting finish Wednesday night.
Team Black was leading 59-58 late when a Team White player missed a pair of free throws with less than 10 seconds left in the game. The game ended with two players fighting for a rebound under the Team White basket.
Leading Team Black to victory and earning player of the game honours with 15 points was Jeremy Talsma from Smithville Christian.
The 17-year-old Grimsby resident was competing in his first all-star basketball game.
“It was really exciting. I am happy that they have something like this for high school players in the area to play in and it is an awesome idea. It is definitely an honour to play in it.”
It was definitely not just another high school game.
“On the practice on Monday, we got to know our teammates a little bit, had some fun and shot around. We got some basics down on how we were going to play and it was a really good time,” Talsma said. “We came in saying we were going to have fun but obviously there is always a part of you that wants to win, and that’s what we did tonight.”
That desire to win was clearly evident when the game ended.
“You want to get the ball, make sure you don’t get stripped and either get a bucket or get fouled,” he said. “It worked well at the end. Coach drew up a play for me to get the ball and it was good.”
Earning player of the game honours for Team White was Luka Dermott from Saint Michael. Playing in his first all-star game, the 17-year-old Niagara Falls native scored a game-high 17 points.
“It was a great experience and very fun. I love all the energy surrounding my friends and the competition was great,” he said. “It was mainly fun but it was very competitive between the regions. It’s nice to see how other schools play because we don’t play against them in the regular season.”
Dermott’s approach to the game was simple.
“Since I don’t have much chemistry with my teammates, I try and talk to them, swing the ball and see how things flow.”
He felt winning was secondary Wednesday.
“It is not the most important thing. Fun is more important and I had a great time today but it was tough that we lost. But it was a great time overall.”
Dermott is returning for his 12B year at Saint Michael and can’t wait for next season.
“We are going be pretty strong next year. We have been playing with each other for four-plus years now and we are looking forward to next season.”
STATS PACK
Team Black 59 Team White 58
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: Saint Michael’s Luka Dermott and Smithville Christian’s Jeremy Talsma.
For Team Black: Talsma 15; Ben Unrau (West Niagara) 11; Sean Hill (St. Catharines Collegiate) 10; Caleb Olomide (Blessed Trinity) 7; Simon Reid (Port Colborne) 5; Daniel Charest (Saint Jean de Brebeuf) 4; Ben Spittal (West Niagara) 4; Chris Koscak (Niagara Christian College) 2. Also playing were Owen Bradford-Andrew (Holy Cross), and Louis Pullano (A.N. Myer).
For Team White: Dermott 17; Timi Ijaodola (Centennial) 9; Nicholas Capretta (Notre Dame) 8; Kelvin Addo (Great Lakes Christian) 8; Lochlan Belliveau (Governor Simcoe) 5; Dylan Klassen (Westlane) 4; Daniel Nunez (Sir Winston Churchill) 4; Travis Joyce (Laura Secord) 1. Also playing Isaac Jordan (Saint Paul) and Nick Karagiannis.
