By Larry Moko
The intensity level of Omaree Francis ramps up whenever Bishop Ryan Celtics provide the opposition.
"Against BR, I always want to give it my all," Francis said Tuesday after leading the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves to a 74-46 victory over the visiting Celtics in senior boys' high school basketball action.
The five-year veteran scored a game-high 28 points as Brebeuf won for the 10th time in 11 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league starts.
With the result, the Braves remain tied for first place with the Cathedral Gaels, who defeated the Bishop Tonnos Titans, 70-54. Other games saw the St. Mary Crusaders top the ACMT Jaguars, 88-56, and the St. Thomas More Knights down the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 73-51.
Francis, who has been playing at the senior level since Grade 9, said there's a rivalry on the court between the two east Mountain teams. They've had several close playoff battles.
"I don't want to go out of a game against them thinking I could have played better," Francis added. "Or that I could have done this or I could have done that.
"Their players like chirping and every year they really want to beat us. So whenever we play them, we go hard."
Other top scorers for Brébeuf included Liam Acquah, with 13 points, and Connor Mayo-Petry, with 11. Karl Belony contributed eight points while Alex Balogh-Iredale chipped in with seven.
For the Celtics, Antonio Salinas and Nathan Shweihat netted seven points apiece and Kai Olak added six.
Brébeuf, which led 24-11, 40-21 and 57-32 at the quarter breaks, took the early lead on four defensive turnover scores initiated by Francis and three successful shots from behind the arc by Mayo-Petro.
"We have a really good press," Francis said. "Usually we do it to start the games.
"Their passes are easy to read because they throw it wherever they're looking."
The Celtics find themselves in sixth place with a 5-6 record.
"We created a lot of opportunities to shoot today," Celtics coach Mike Diclaudio said. "But my best players couldn't hit their shots and our foul shots are still a problem. Because we can't finish, we can't keep the game close."
Bishop Ryan made only two three-point shots.
"Brébeuf has great full-court pressure," Diclaudio said. "They are a very good team. They wear you down."
Brébeuf coach Nathan Bruzzese was pleased with his team's performance.
"That was a good team win," he said."We've got 10 guys on our bench and all 10 played and contributed."
Francis was the last starter to be replaced.
"Omaree is one of the most talented players in the league," Bruzzese said. "He's kind of been our leader all season so we left him out there with a couple of younger guys to help them gain confidence and develop a little."
Said Francis: "This year I'm kind of looking to get exposure and show what I can do. See if any coaches want to pick me up."
Bruzzese said if Brébeuf and Cathedral run the table the rest of the way, first-place will be up for grabs when the Braves and Gaels face each to end the regular schedule on Feb. 5.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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