It was an all-Orillia battle Tuesday as Twin Lakes Secondary School and Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School locked horns for the right to advance to the Georgian Bay Secondary School Association (GBSSA) junior boys' championship.
The jam-packed gym at Twin Lakes was loud and full of energy with fans of both schools on hand for the tip-off.
The initial quarter of the game was fast-paced and exciting as both teams played ping pong with the lead. After the first quarter, the Thunderbirds led the one-possession game 18-15.
In the second quarter the Thunderbirds started to lose their legs and couldn’t keep their pace, and the Flames took advantage, going on a run of 13 unanswered points. The Flames went into the half with a 36-26 advantage.
Out of the break, Zac Waite of the Thunderbirds led the charge, pushing his way into the paint, knocking the ball off the backboard all while being pushed to the ground, and drawing a foul. The play would bring the Thunderbirds' fans to their feet and would bring Twin to within 12 points.
Going into the final frame, the score was 54-42 in favour of the Flames.
The Thunderbirds tried to claw their way back into the game but they couldn’t shut down Flames star player Tyler Huxtable, who kept making and finishing dynamic plays for his squad.
Huxtable led both teams with 20 points as the Flames reigned 70-58. They will move on to the GBSSA championship, where Huxtable says it’s time for the school to end a drought of seven years without a GBSSA title.
“It would mean a lot to us, and our school to win it all," said Huxtable after the semifinal victory.
“This is a fun and close group of guys. This is the best year of basketball I’ve played in my life, so to earn a banner with this group would be pretty special," he said.
The Flames, who won the Catholic School Athletics of Simcoe County title last week, will host Huntsville in the GBSSA championship game on Friday.
Heading into the title game, Huxtable's expectations are sky high.
“I think we are a pretty tough team to beat right now and if we press and execute well I think we are going to win this thing,” said Huxtable.
Waite led Twin Lakes, who won the Simcoe County Athletic Association title last week, with 12 points.
