The Kingston-area high school boys basketball championship games were played on Monday afternoon at the Queen’s Athletic Centre.
In the senior contest, LaSalle Secondary School defeated the Frontenac Falcons 58-49. It was the Black Knights first title since 1988.
“It was 30 years too long,” said LaSalle’s co-captain Reegan Comeau.
“It was about time. It was about time LaSalle won this thing. We worked hard as a team all season long. We may have finished in third place in the regular season but we believed we were the best team and today we proved it.
“We beat Frontenac at their own game plan. Defense wins championships and we held a good team to 49 points. We won as a family. Were a brotherhood at LaSalle and that’s what I love about this team.”
“It was a great victory” said co-captain Cole Syllas. “A great win for the team and a great win for the school. We just trusted what our coaches told us. We went out and did what they told us to do and the result was a senior championship for the first time in a long time.”
“I’m so proud to be a part of this team,” added Comeau. “I can’t describe how proud I am right now. I’m proud of the boys, I’m proud of the school for supporting us and I’m proud of the coaching staff that includes Kristin Lawlor, Lucas Allen and Ron Severino.
“Everyone worked so hard and it’s paid off in a championship”.
LaSalle now advances to the EOSSA AA tournament to be held in Kingston on Thursday and Friday. The winner will represent the region at the Ontario championships next month in Pembroke.
In the Junior championship game, the Frontenac Falcons capped off an undefeated season by defeating the Kingston Collegiate Blues 59-42.
“Frontenac is a strong basketball school and today we proved it,” said the team’s leading scorer, Alex Vreeken.
“The secret to our success is working hard in practice. Defense is so important. Our coaches are always preaching defense and today it paid off. They say defense wins championships and we got it done today.”
“It was a hard-fought game,” said Falcons captain Nicholas Adair.
“We struggled a bit in the early going but caught fire midway through the third quarter and never looked back. Our coaches made some adjustments at halftime and it really worked out.
“Winning a championship is nice but going undefeated makes it that much sweeter.”