The host Three Oaks Axemen will take on the Charlottetown Rural Raiders at Three Oaks in one semifinal on Saturday, and the Prince Andrew Panthers face the Colonel Gray Colonels in the other at Summerside Intermediate School. Both games are scheduled for 10 a.m.
The seedings were determined Friday night after the Axemen took on the Panthers in a clash of 2-0 (won-lost) teams. The Halifax-based team had too much firepower for the hometown Axemen, winning 77-53.
“We turned the ball over too much,” said Axemen head coach Faro Halupa. “We’d make a run and get back and make it a close game, and then we’d turned the ball over five possessions in a row and they’d all of a sudden be back up by 15.
“You just can’t turn the ball over and expect to beat any team at this level, or any level, the way we did.”
Earlier Friday, the Axemen defeated the Bluefield Bobcats 64-48 while the Panthers topped Bluefield 82-58.
Pulled away
The Panthers began pulling away as they took a 20-12 lead as the first quarter ended. Three Oaks fought back in the second quarter to within three points, but another surge gave the visiting team a 43-32 lead at the half.
The Axemen came out flat at the start of the third quarter, and went nearly five minutes before scoring their first basket while trailing 61-43 at the end of three quarters.
Tauras Smith (21), Nate Skeete (17) and Carvell Clayton (17) were the Panthers’ top scorers. Clayton was named Prince Andrew’s player of the game.
For the Axemen, Tanner Mendoza (10), James Meek (8) and Pat Murray (7) keyed the offence. Three Oaks’ player of the game was Pat Murray.
Prince Andrew head coach Brad Martin said his team had to play strong against Three Oaks.
“We had to play a strong game because (Three) Oaks gave us all we could handle,” Martin said. “(Their) defence was good. I like their execution and their half-court set. They move the ball really well.
“We had to get up and get a little busier, apply a little more ball pressure.”
Martin doesn’t expect an easy time with Colonel Gray in the semifinals.
“Another tough game,” he said. “We played them once before and they gave us everything we could take. I think we week lucky to win it the last time we played them, so they’ll be tough.”
Halupa said the Axemen will regroup and get ready for Charlottetown Rural.
“We haven’t played them yet,” Halupa said. “We know what to expect.
“We know who’s on the team. Hopefully, we’ll be ready.”
Axemen 64 Bobcats 48
Aiden Smith (10), Colin Arsenault (10) and Adam Gallant (9) were the top offensive producers for Three Oaks.
Zack Marsh (20), Kurtis Kemp (11) and Euan Groman (5) ignited the Bluefield attack.
Players of the game were Andrew Brawn (Three Oaks) and Nick Jackson (Bobcats).
Skills competition
Three-point and star-shooting contests were held just before the Three Oaks-Prince Andrew game.
Jack MacAulay from Charlottetown Rural won the three-point shooting event with a score of 15. A perfect score would have been 18.
“We turned the ball over too much. We’d make a run and get back and make it a close game, and then we’d turned the ball over five possessions in a row and they’d all of a sudden be back up by 15. You just can’t turn the ball over and expect to beat any team at this level, or any level, the way we did.” - Axemen head coach Faro Halupa
Charlottetown Rural also won the star shooting contest in a time of 42 seconds.
Skills competition
Three-point and star-shooting contests were held just before the Three Oaks-Prince Andrew game.
Jack MacAulay from Charlottetown Rural won the three-point shooting event with a score of 15. A perfect score would have been 18.
Charlottetown Rural also won the star shooting contest in a time of 42 seconds.
mcarson@journalpioneer.com
Standings
Christmas Classic
round-robin standings:
Green Pool
W L
Prince Andrew 3 0
Three Oaks 2 1
Bluefield 1 2
Westisle 0 3
Red Pool
Charlottetown Rural 2 0
Colonel Gray 1 1
Amherst 0 2
Christmas Classic
Christmas Classic snapshots
from Friday’s games:
Bluefield Bobcats 76
Westisle Wolverines 47
Euan Groman scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Bobcats, who led 35-28 at halftime.
Zack Marsh (18) and Kurtis Kemp (15) were Bluefield’s other top scorers. Austin Luxton (18), Cory Buchanan (11) and Kenan Wilkie (6) led Westisle.
The players of the game were Marsh and Luxton.
Colonel Gray Colonels 71
Amherst Vikings 70
The Vikings’ Jason Morse provided the highlight of the first two days of the 20th annual tournament.
Morse, who finished with 17 points, sank a buzzer-beater from Amherst’s side of centre court as time expired to make it a one-point game. Logan Dowe led the Vikings with 18 points, and Caleb Hayes chipped in with six.
Joe Burey’s 27-point effort keyed Gray’s attack. Jeff Morrison (21) and Jeremy Thompson (19) also had big games for the Colonels, who trailed 35-33 at halftime.
Burey and Dowe were named players of the game.
Prince Andrew Panthers 85
Westisle Wolverines 47
Tyshon Boutlier (14), Aiden Crowther (10) and Aaron Williams (9) were the Panthers’ top offensive producers while Wilkie poured in 27 for the Wolverines. Matt Gallant (7) and Andrew Gough (4) were Westisle’s other top point-getters.
The Panthers led 45-25 at the half.
Players of the game were Ian Melanson (Prince Andrew) and Kent Doucette (Westisle).
Charlottetown Rural Raiders 72
Amherst Vikings 54
Steven Seviour sank 18 points to pace the Raiders, who also received 12 points from Jack MacAulay and 10 from Brayden White.
For Amherst, Adrian Van Vulpen (18), Hayes (16) and Matt McCrossin (15) were the top offensive producers.
Rural led by 17 points, 37-20, at the break.
Players of the game were Fola Oluyede (Rural) and Van Vulpen.
