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18 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2009 Titans surprise Loyola in clash of Catholic heavyweights By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR It's almost certain that bigger games are in store this high school senior boys' basketball season for both the Loyola Hawks and Holy Trinity Titans. But that all seemed forgotten Tuesday at Loyola, where the first regular-season clash between the two Catholic rivals had the feel and intensity of a championship game. Playing in front of a loud, if not large, crowd in the Loyola gym, the Titans jumped out to an early lead and then held on for a 56-52 "This was a great win upset of the defending for us confidence-wise, Halton champion Hawks. Trinity's Vicrum Kailey, especially early in the who led all scorers with 18 season." points and put the game away with a breakaway layup with Holy Trinity's 18 seconds to go, said Vicrum Kailey Wednesday's showdown was more important than just a typical December league game. "It was much bigger, especially because they've been beating a lot of teams from across the province," the 18year-old forward said of the Hawks, who are 19-2 overall and have already won three tournaments -- including the prestigious Cathedral Classic last weekend. "This was a great win for us confidence-wise, especially early in the season." Trinity coach Vic Juzenas was encouraged by his team's ability to hold on in the fourth quarter, something the Titans (2-1 in league play, 10-6 overall) struggled to do in previous games. Trinity led Loyola at halftime in a tournament earlier this year before the Hawks rallied to win. "We've been playing okay for three quarters," Juzenas said. "We've been playing teams tough and then just can't seem to finish the deal. Today, we were able to finish." Jordan Catterall scored 14 points, Tim Doyley had seven and Malcolm Fischer added six for the Titans, who led 31-28 at halftime and 48-41 after three quarters. Loyola was led by a 15-point effort from Adam Presutti, 11-point outings by Mike L'Africain and ex-Titan Troy Stevenson, and nine points from Rohan Boney. BOUNCING AROUND: Holy Trinity Titans guard Jordan Catterall (left) attempts to beat Loyola's Mike L'Africain off the dribble during Tuesday's Halton high school senior boys' basketball contest at Loyola. Trinity won 56-52, handing the Hawks only their second loss in 21 games this season. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Hawks coach Gary Laurin admitted the loss will bother him a bit more than it probably should, considering how well his team has played this season. "It stings. I'm going to think about it. I love to compete, I love to win," said Laurin, who guided the Hawks to a surprising OFSAA appearance last year. "We're going to use it as a learning experience. I'll do my best to make it a learning experience." BRIEFLY... Trinity was scheduled to fly out to Edmonton yesterday (Wednesday) to compete in the Jasper REB International Basketball Tournament. Titans assistant coach Andrew Saulez participated in the tournament years ago when he played for St. Thomas Aquinas... Loyola's victory at the Cathedral Classic vaulted the team up to second in this week's Toronto Star high school basketball coaches' poll rankings. The Hawks beat third- ranked Martingrove 63-50 in the final of the Hamilton tournament. "It was a great weekend for us," Laurin said. "The top five teams in the GTA were there. It's a big one."... Loyola might have been even stronger this year had it not been for a season-ending knee injury to Peter Rusic, who started for the senior team as a Grade 9 student last year... Three of Trinity's losses this year have come to the Nelson Lords, the team that eliminated the Titans in the semifinal round of last year's Halton playoffs. "It gets nervewracking," Kailey said, "but it's more motivation."... It's early, but there appears to be plenty of parity in the Halton senior boys' loop this year. Five of 11 contests last week were decided by five points or less. Trinity lost to Nelson by two and beat Bishop Reding by five, while the Abbey Park Eagles nearly upset Loyola, falling 68-64.