Top 10 game goes down to the wire
The organizers of the inaugural Bob Miller Classic Top 10 All-Star Game at West Niagara Wednesday did a great job of dividing the teams to produce a competitive game.
Previous versions of the all-star game had teams chosen based on geography but this year’s goal was to have two balanced teams square off.
It worked to perfection as Team Black squeaked out a narrow 81-78 victory when Team White’s three-pointer to tie the game bounced off the rim as time expired.
Leading Team Black to victory was Blessed Trinity’s Michael Akinpetide, who earned his team’s player of the game honours with a game-high 17 points.
The 17-year-old Grimsby native was playing in the all-star games for the third time but this was his first appearance in the Top 10 game.
“It is more exciting and there is better talent. It’s fun playing with guys from other schools who we played against during the season and having a good time.”
The Grade 12 student admitted to some jitters when he was first selected to the event.
“Because I was participating in the three-point contest, I was very nervous but after the practice on Monday, we all had fun and there was great chemistry. We just came in and tried to have fun.”
It was a great experience for him.
“It’s continuing to be a leader, having communication, building bonds and relationships and progressing further with basketball.”
Akinpetide is off to Ontario Tech University this fall and plans to try out for that school’s basketball team.
He will fondly remember his basketball career at BT.
“It has been great. We have had a lot of ups and downs playing against good teams like Saint Francis but at the end of the day we had good communication and good teams and we had a great time.”
Winning player of the game honours for Team White was Notre Dame’s Andrew Benko. He led his team with 16 points.
The Grade 12 student at Notre Dame had a blast playing in the game.
“All the guys know each other and we play against each other all year and it is just fun to be out here with all of them.”
The 18-year-old felt the game started out as fun and then eventually got down to business.
“Everyone was chucking up half-court shots and three-point shots and then we took it a little bit serious at the end because both teams wanted to win.”
It was Benko’s second straight appearance in the Top 10 game.
“It felt a little bit different this time. This is probably my last one and it was good to enjoy every moment and soak it all in.”
He is not sure where he is heading this fall but his top choice is to go to McMaster for business.
“I am hoping to play basketball at the next level. I might be a walk-on but I am trying to talk to some other schools as well and keep my options open if I want to come back next year.”
He has enjoyed Notre Dame basketball.
“It was just playing with all the guys. We’ve won three championships at Notre Dame in three seasons that I have been there so it’s winning those championships, making memories with all the guys and going to practice every day. I loved all of it.”
Winning Wednesday’s three-point contest was Andrew Ens of Saint Francis.
The tournament’s namesake, Bob Miller, was on hand to watch the game court-side and he participated in a ceremonial tip-off and award presentations.
The games were organized by Steve Huisman, Pat Chiarello, Michael Doodeman, Marc Dupont, Shaun Feor, Jonathan Marcheterre, Wade Pychel and Jonathan Thorpe.
The game was sponsored by the Niagara River Lions, St. Catharines Rebels, West Niagara Wolfpack, Domino’s Pizza, Niagara College men’s basketball, the Niagara District Basketball Referees Association, both school boards and BP Sports Niagara.
The evening raised $700 for Gillian’s Place.
STATS PACK
Team Black 81 Team White 78
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: Team Black’s Michael Akinpetide and Team White’s Andrew Benko.
For Team Black: Akinpetide (Blessed Trinity) 17; Andrew Ens, Saint Francis 16; Isaac Walker (Thorold) 15; Elijah Quissua (Saint Francis) 10; Tavish McMahon (A.N. Myer) 7; Matthew Kleinsmith (E.L. Crossley) 7; Julian Sobota (West Niagara) 6; Jack Ciocca (Saint Francis) 2; Joshua Kaufman (Denis Morris) 2. Also playing was Jayke Arnold (A.N. Myer).
For Team White: Benko (Notre Dame) 16; Jared Cook (Sir Winston Churchill) 12; Noah Budgell (Governor Simcoe) 10; Luke Midgley (Eden) 9; Mark Cruz (Saint Paul) 7; Mark Al Makhoul (Saint Paul) 7; Ari Steenhuis (Governor Simcoe) 6; Noah Gmoser (Greater Fort Erie); 5; Luke Johnson (Eden) 2; Kai Schatz (Eden) 2.
