Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
On Friday, February 16th, the Superior Heights Steelhawks hit the hardcourt at White Pines to determine the 2024 Sault Ste Marie High School Junior Basketball City Champions followed by the White Pines Wolverines facing the Korah Colts in the 2024 Sault Ste Marie High School Senior Basketball City championships. To say the senior boys’ final was a ‘thriller’ would be an understatement. Two very talented teams put on a show that included high flying dunks, blocks and tremendous shooting from beyond the arc.
Senior Finals: Korah (6-3) vs White Pines (7-2)
League champion White Pines and Korah slugged it out in a game for the ages. White Pines would hold onto a 15-14 lead after the first quarter and a 33-31 lead at the half. White Pines would extend their lead by four (46-42) after three quarters, but with under four minutes to go in the fourth quarter both teams were knotted up at 50. Back and forth it went, until around the 1 minute and 30 second marker where White Pines would get and ‘and 1’ from Markeese Strawbridge to go up four. White Pines would never look back and come away with a 66-61 victory, securing bragging rights as league and city champions. Markeese Strawbridge would lead all scorers with a game high 20 points, while fellow teammates Ethan McCorkell would add 18 and Justin Grant with 12. For Korah it was Nathan Higham who had 16 points, while Gevin Grisdale and Fernando Corral would both add 13. Fernando’s 13 included three 3 pointers from beyond the arc.
2023-24 Sault Ste. Marie Senior Boys All-Star team:
- Marcus Ruscio (St. Mary’s)
- Keadon Albert (Superior Heights)
- Erik Martone (Korah)
- Markeese Strawbridge (White Pines)
- Gevin Grisdale (Korah)
This year’s Sault Ste. Marie Senior Boys’ basketball League Most Valuable Player was Justin Grant of White Pines. Justin was also recognized as the 2023-2024 John Marasco Award presented by the Sault Ste. Marie Basketball officials. This award is given to the player who best combines sportsmanship with ability.
Senior Boys NOSSA Championships
Next weekend the White Pines Wolverines will be travelling to Espanola to compete in the NOSSA ‘A’ Championships, while Korah and St. Mary’s will be travelling to Sudbury to compete in the NOSSA ‘AA/AAA’ tournament. Winners of the NOSSA events will represent the north in their respective OFSAA championships to be held Marh 4-6th .
Junior Finals: Korah (7-2) vs Superior Heights (7-2)
On Friday, February 16th, the White Pines Wolverines hosted the 2023-2024 City Boys basketball championships.
The junior boys final did not disappoint, as fans were treated to a competitive nailbiter.
Superior Heights came into this game as league champions due to their ‘head to head’ record with Korah. Korah would go into the half up 32-23, and would eventually secure a 53-44 victory. High scorers for the Colts were AJ Coccimiglio with 18 and Aiden Wonch with 16 and a ton of blocks on the defensive end. For Superior Heights it was Nicholas Frost who lead all scorers with a game high of 20, while Drayden Brock chipped in with 8. For his efforts on both ends of the court, Aiden Wonch was awarded the City Finals Championship game ‘Player of the Game’.
In addition to the player of the game award, league all stars and the league’s Most Valuable Player were recognized.
2023-24 Sault Ste. Marie Junior Boys All-Star team:
- Drayden Brock (Superior Heights)
- AJ Coccmiglio (Korah)
- Charles McInnis (St. Mary’s)
- Tristan Cote (Korah)
- Anthony Hunt (White Pines)
This year’s Sault Ste. Marie Junior Boys’ basketball League Most Valuable Player was Nicholas Frost of the Superior Heights Steelhawks.
Junior Boys NOSSA Championships
Next weekend the White Pines Wolverines will be travelling to Espanola to compete in the NOSSA ‘A’ Championships, while Korah and Superior Heights will be travelling to Sudbury to compete in the NOSSA
‘AA/AAA’ tournament.
