PARIS— Assumption Junior Lions player Kaleb Thomas is all business once he steps on the basketball court.
Showing to be a real money player Thomas led the offence by posting 10 points, but it wasn’t quite enough as Assumption on Thursday, February 13 at Paris District High School dropped game two of the Brant County high school Jr. basketball championship 47-27, and were consequently swept by the B.C.I. Mustangs.
“They made their shots,” a disappointed Thomas said shortly after the championship loss. “We played good defense and did some good things.”
After dropping the opener of what is a best two out of three championship format, Assumption showed they weren’t going to go down without a fight as they were hitting most of their shots and had the momentum with a 17-13 lead at half.
“We were just playing,” Thomas, who had eight first half points. Also playing a huge role in Assumption’s success this year was Grade 9 student/athlete Daelon Smith who played some solid defense and had some quality offensive chances.
In terms of strategy heading into the second Smith stated, “To just keep playing. Just keep playing.”
Early in the second half, Mustangs began taking away the momentum as they scored a basket 36 seconds in and eventually with 4:38 left in the third, made it a brand- new game as they drew even at 19-19.
Continuing to take control, the Mustangs couldn’t miss as they racked up another seven straight points and found themselves in the driver’s seat in leading 33-23 heading to the fourth.
“They’re a good team,” Thomas said.
There was no slowing down the Mustangs who notched 14 fourth quarter points as they celebrated a Brant County high school Junior basketball championship.
