Published Feb. 27 2018

At the start of the season in early October the HHSS Senior Red Hawks basketball team identified three goals they wanted to achieve this season:  to finish first in Kawartha A League play to win the Kawartha A Championship and to play in the COSSA A final (A designates schools with a student population under 500). On Thursday Feb. 22 the team saw the last of their three goals come to fruition.

The excitement began in the COSSA A semi-final with the Red Hawks (No. 1 ranked Kawartha school) squaring off against Quinte Christian School from Belleville (No. 2 ranked Quinte region school). Our starters Owen Patterson-Smith Sam Longo Zak Shantz Kyle Cooper and Rylan Gwyn took control of the game in the first quarter with tenacious defence that led to numerous fast break opportunities. Our second unit of Emily Domerchie Austin French Steven Dudgeon Cam Little Coleman Heaven Connor Swinson Colby Lambshead Lucas Bortolussi and Alex Cundy provided quality minutes off the bench.  Quinte Christian orchestrated a charge late in the third quarter to cut our lead to 10 points but the Red Hawks dug deep in the fourth quarter to build the lead back up. Final score:  HHSS 50 Quinte Christian 35.
The win put the Red Hawks into the COSSA A final against perennial powerhouse Nicholson Catholic College from Belleville. Over the last two seasons Nicholson has won both silver and bronze at OFSAA. Their squad this season has four starters who returned for a fifth year of high school and they are on a mission to win OFSAA gold.  As much as we were hoping to give Nicholson a scare the Red Hawks could not find an answer to Nicholson’s unbelievable defence and their quick transition game. We wish them luck at OFSAA and we hope they win the gold.

Congratulations Red Hawks on an incredible season! Your dedication work ethic and team play allowed our lofty goals in October to become reality. All the best in the future to our graduating team members Emily Domerchie Cam Little Zak Shantz Rylan Gwyn Jonas Hill Paydon Miscio Lucas Bortolussi Alex Cundy and team captain’s Owen Patterson-Smith and Sam Longo.
Submitted by Paul Longo senior Red Hawks coach