For the second straight year the Martingrove Collegiate Institute (MCI) Senior Boys Basketball team has won the Toronto District School Board’s West Region title with a win over George Harvey Collegiate Institute, 75 – 59.
Expectations for this year’s season were placed at a high level after the senior boy’s basketball team reached OFSAA last year only to fall short to eventual champions, St. Matthews Secondary School, in the provincial championship semi-finals.
Coach Shawn Gray credits the hard work of his players and their vision of getting back to OFSAA as the engine that is driving this year’s team:
“Our goal from the very start has been to win the Toronto City Championship and get back to OFSAA. Last year (at OFSAA) we lead St. Matthews by 10 at half-time during the semi-final game and ended up losing. That game was a maturing process for all of us. We want to rectify last year’s OFSAA loss, and that begins by bringing our best to the Toronto championship games.”
Martingrove is lead by fourth year players Matthew Wright, Steven Manoljovic and Justin Bakuteka. All three seniors have been with the program since the ninth grade and their maturity and growth has been vital to the success of the team. As each of the seniors will be moving on next year, this year will be one of MCI’s best chances to bring home the school’s very first provincial title.
The road back to OFSAA will not be an easy one. This Thursday (3:30pm) the Martingrove Senior Boys will begin their Toronto Championship journey as they square-off on their home court against the respected Western Technical Commercial School in a winner take all playoff game.
For Coach Grey, his seniors and the rest of the team they hope to bring their best as they continue their goal of getting back to OFSAA.
For more information on Martingrove’s senior basketball team, and the Toronto City Championships, please visit:
http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=8&menuid=1860&pageid=1422
ExerciseToronto.Com Staff
