By Larry Moko
The St. Thomas More Knights would like to forget about the way they played at the start of Tuesday's senior boys' high school basketball game.
More fell behind 14-0 against the visiting Bishop Tonnos Titans. Although the Knights eventually closed the gap, they would never pull even, losing 69-52.
That result improved BT's record to 4-2 in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic league standings, while More slipped to 3-3.
"St. Thomas More is tough," Tonnos coach Ben Kwasnik said. "I didn't expect them to play like they did in the first quarter for the whole game."
More trailed 34-21 at the half and 48-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
Knights coach Adriano Grilli said turnovers and missed shots caused his team to face an uphill battle.
"We couldn't make enough shots," Grilli said. "Unfortunately, we turned it over too many times. We played into their 2-3 trap.
"We had about 20 turnovers in the game and we couldn't rebound...that's what killed us."
Gus Denardi was the top scorer for Tonnos with 18 points. Luka Pasalic added 17 and Jason Dryden contributed 11. In addition, Max Tapuska and Justin Oladimeji chipped in with eight and seven points, respectively.
The Knights, who were riding a three-game winning streak, got a game-high 26 points from guard Nazaiah Bernard. Zion Stevens and Marcus Perri netted six points apiece.
"We defended well," Kwasnik said. "We held them to 52, which is really good defence at the high school level. That's all you can ask for.
"Offensively, we still have a lot to work on. Overall, a pretty good game."
Bernard accounted for 13 of More's first 15 points. And it was his string of three straight baskets from behind the arc late in the first quarter that sparked the team.
"When he's on he's very tough to stop," the More coach said of Bernard. "He attacks the basket really well and if he's open for the three, look out."
Tonnos stretched its winning streak to three games. And one of those victories came recently against the defending champion Cathedral Gaels, who went undefeated last season en route to an OFSAA appearance.
"That definitely gave our team confidence," Pasalic said of the performance which handed Cathedral its first loss in six starts this season.
"We have players of all different levels who know their roles, whether that's rebounding, shooting, or driving and kicking.
"This year we're playing for each other as a team. It's been great."
According to Kwasnik, the Titans are resilient and have good senior leadership.
"It's a really competitive league, though," he said. "We need to improve a ton between now and February. We can't get complacent."
Said Grilli: "We had been playing well. Once we get a full team I think we'll be right there among the top four."
In Tuesday's other senior basketball action, Cathedral defeated the Bishop Ryan Celtics, 88-54, the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals downed the ACMT Jaguars, 68-57, and the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves remained unbeaten with a 74-57 decision over the St. Mary Crusaders.
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
