A late start to the week as I'll be taking in the Resurrection-St. Mary's basketball game at 5 p.m.
Here are last week's top performers, with a late arrival convincing me to push the top-10 list to 11:
Danielle Harvey, WCI: The Grade 12 defender and team captain scored four goals to lead the Vikings to a 5-1 win over Forest Heights in WCSSAA girls hockey play. She followed that up with a strong defensive game in a 7-2 win over Waterloo-Oxford. She is also captain of the Cambridge Fury of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League and hopes to play post-secondary hockey next year.
Carly Payerl, Resurrection: The Grade 12 forward scored three times in a 5-1 win over Southwood and then added a single in a 3-1 win over St. Mary’s as the Phoenix improved to 4-0 in WCSSAA girls hockey play. A member of Rez’s OFSAA champion field hockey team, she also skates for the Waterloo K-W Rangers of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. She also plays softball at Rez as well as representing Ontario in lacrosse.
Max Reiber, St. Mary’s: The fifth-year winger scored twice in a 6-2 win over St. David and three times in a 7-2 win over Huron Heights as the Eagles improved to 3-1 in the WCSSAA boys hockey league. The assistant captain is a team leader on and off the ice, although his teammates like to jokingly ride him for his reluctance to back-check. An offensive and defensive lineman on the Eagles football team, his coaches say his body is simply too big to sledge up and down the ice.
Vedran Dmitrovic, Cameron Heights: The Grade 12 co-captain and emotional leader led the Gaels senior boys to the championship of the Southwood Roundball Classic on Saturday. He was fantastic all weekend, especially in the final again St Thomas Aquinas of London. The tournament MVP took over with the Gaels down by 12 with six minutes to play and got his team to within striking distance. He nailed a free throw with no time left to play to give the Gaels a one-point victory.
Yvonne Pan, Sir John A. Macdonald: The Grade 11 setter and team captain led the Highlanders to five-set wins over WCI and Jacob Hespeler. She has an excellent sense of the court and what her hitters are able to do, a deadly combination with her great touch. Along with setting, she has a powerful spike and is one of the team’s best servers. She participates in student council, and she is a high achieving student.
Filip Cvrkalj, Grand River: The Grade 12 shooting guard also led his team in scoring twice, scoring 38 in a 75-66 win over Galt and 21 in a 57-54 win over Bluevale. A hard-working player that works out with a personal coach several times a week, he is one of the top players in the WCSSAA senior boys basketball league and possibly the best shot blocker.
Jamal Murray, Grand River: The hard-working, Grade 9 player has helped his school capture three consecutive tournament titles over the past few weekends. He was awarded tournament MVP at the most recent Eastwood tournament after making five three-pointers during the second quarter of the title game. He is also a very willing passer which has helped Grand River get off to a 14-0 start in league and tournament play.
Shannon Lodoen, Resurrection: The talented off-side hitter and team captain had a pair of impressive matches in 3-0 wins over St. David and Woodland as the Phoenix improved to 4-0 in District 8 senior girls volleyball play. A team player that is counted on to provide the team with a spark, she also plays club volleyball with the Predators.
Kyle Ellis, Bluevale: The Grade 12 centre scored four goals in a 5-0 win over Cameron Heights. A three-sport player at Bluevale – he also competes in rugby and football – the outstanding two-way player will be missed by the Knights as he suffered an injury last week and is questionable for this week’s games.
Jacob Ranton, WCI: The Grade 12 forward scored 18 points in a 56-55 win over SJAM and 27 in a 65-26 win over Southwood as the Vikings improved to 3-0 in the WCSSAA senior boys basketball standings. Unfortunately for Ranton, who also plays volleyball and badminton at SJAM, he was injured during warmups on Friday as the Vikings prepared to compete in a tournament game. A member of WCI’s student council, he plans on returning for a fifth year.
Riley Densmore, Forest Heights: The Grade 10 wrestler has won two gold medals in the first two meets of the WCSSAA-District 8 schedule. He competed up in the 67.5 category for a win at Monsignor Doyle and then took gold in the 64.5 category at Jacob Hespeler. He'll attemtpt to make it 3-for-3 at the Rockway meet on Friday.