Dave Leaderhouse
Herald Staff
It was a weekend to remember for St. Mary High School’s Brian Tolentino as the star hoops player scored 47 points to lead the Marauders to the gold medal at an invitational senior boy’s basketball tournament in Yorkton on the weekend.
Tolentino’s performance, along with Aaron Halyk’s 13 rebounds and 10 blocked shots, were keys to St. Mary’s 96-61 triumph over the previously No. 1 ranked Moose Jaw Central squad. With the win, the Marauders take over top spot as provincial playoffs are less than a month away. St. Mary has now won five tournaments this year as they previously topped the field at events held in Birch Hills, North Battleford, Meadow Lake and Carlton Comprehensive High School.
Tolentino was the Marauders’ leading scorer in all four games they played this weekend as he netted 24 points in a 73-48 opening-round victory over Caronport, 25 more in a 95-36 drubbing of Melville in the final game of the preliminary draw and 31 points in a 92-52 victory over Yorkton Regional in the semifinals.
Other players turning in strong performances were Sheldon Charles with 11 points in the win over Caronport, George Lebero with 18 points in the decision over Melville and Patience Ishimwe with 15 points, 11 steals and 10 assists in the victory over Yorkton. Lebero, along with Keenan Holash, had 11 points in the championship game and his performance garnered Lebero a spot on the tournament all-star team. Not surprisingly, Tolentino was also selected for the all-star squad.
The Carlton Crusaders were also at the event in Yorkton and they were within seconds of knocking off Moose Jaw Central in the semifinals, which would have set up an all-Prince Albert championship final.
Moose Jaw, however, sunk a three-point shot with three seconds left on the clock to pull out a 74-72 victory. Carlton then went up against Yorkton Regional in the bronze-medal game, but they were denied a medal when the hosts pulled out a 77-71 victory in double overtime.
Carlton had opened the tournament with two straight wins – 82-44 over North Battleford and 67-40 over Yorkton Sacred Heart – to finish first in their pool and advance to the championship side of the playoff round.
Next on the schedule for both local senior boys teams is the annual St. Mary invitational tournament next weekend. There will be eight teams entered in the event with action set to begin on Friday at 4 p.m.
The Carlton senior girls were also on the hardcourts on the weekend as they finished fourth at an event held in Warman.
Carlton opened the eight-team tournament with a 63-31 triumph over Melfort before falling out of the championship bracket with a loss to the hosts from Warman. Carlton was sluggish out of the gate in the third-place game against Meadow Lake as they were down 12-0 early in that game and a valiant comeback fell just short as Carlton lost 46-43.
Carlton will be in Saskatoon next weekend for the St. Joseph’s Invitational.
The St. Mary senior girls were idle this weekend, but they will get back to work next week when they participate in a tournament in Kinistino.
