OSBA Week 7 Highlights: TRC Academy Tops Vaughn, Showcase Season Begins

In the only scheduled game this week in the OSBA, a short-staffed TRC Academy managed to hand Vaughan Prep their seventh loss of the season.

When you only have two players ready to come off of your bench, most teams at this level would be content with just competing in a game against a team as talented as Vaughan.

However, TRC Academy has championship aspirations and managed to hand Vaughan what has to be their most frustrating loss of the season.

From start to finish, the short bench actually managed to give the Wolfpack an extra pep in their cuts and work ethic under the basket.

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Adong Makoui made the most of his minutes with starting forwards Eliel Nsoseme and Brandon John out due to injury.

Makoui would finish the game with a double-double, dominating the offensive glass and being on the receiving end of some quality screen and go passes from guards Isiah Parkinson and Antone Vernon.

Steve Levniac, off an impressive display the previous weekend down in Ohio, continued his dominant play, leading all scorers, while snatching up a bunch of rebounds and opting to attack the rim at every chance as opposed to his usual three-point shooting M.O.

Vaughan Prep wasn’t without fight though, as 5-foot-10 guard Ben Kwawukumey managed to attack the rim ferociously multiple times and finished tough layups to keep the Voyageurs on pace throughout the game.

The Voyageurs held the lead at multiple points and the first half was nothing short of a master class of timely passing, backdoor cuts and finishes under the rim. It was some of the best overall team basketball we have seen in the OSBA so far this season.

Unfortunately for Vaughan, TRC Academy’s coaching staff made the necessary adjustments at half time, and the Voyageurs had no response for the tight interior defence, settling for outside shots where they were cold for most of the night.

TRC would take the 91-84 win and improve to 5-1 on the regular season and 33-8 overall, while Vaughan finished out a frustrating calendar year sitting at 1-7 in the OSBA.

Showcase Roundup:

Almost every team in the OSBA took part in a number of different showcase tournaments across Canada and the United States this week. Here are some of the biggest moments before the Christmas Break:

• Father Henry Carr (3-1), Orangeville Prep  (3-0), and Athlete Institute (2-1) combined for an 8-2 record at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas from Dec. 15-17. One of the best showings from Canadian clubs ever at the prestigious international tournament.
• TRC Academy and their Rise Prep counterparts were in Florida at the Kreul Classic over the weekend. TRC would get a 69-60 win over CPC from Birmingham, AL. Deon Ejim would tally 15 points and six rebounds in the win. The Rise Prep fell 72-67 to Hamden Hall from Connecticut. Mason Middaugh would get 16 points, seven rebounds, and an assist in the loss. Gareth Baugh also tallied seven points and three boards in the loss.
• Vaughn Prep was in Ottawa at the Sun Youth Prep Classic where they managed to knock off regional powerhouse Ottawa Next Level 83-70, while also participating in some local charity work at the Sun Youth Homeless shelter.

• Thornlea Prep had a strong showing at the Holiday Hoops Showcase at the University of Toronto Downtown Campus, defeating West Humber Prep 72-57.
• Ridley College hosted their first International Christmas Classic, finishing third with a 68-54 win over London Prep. Nudey Georges from first place Dawson College picked up Tournament MVP.

Highlights Of The Week:

Next: OSBA Week 6 Highlights: Orangeville Prep Knock Off Champs