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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011 17Hawks power past Titans, even without star guardBy Jon KuiperijPresutti said he and his teammates BEAVER SPORTS EDITORwerent upset with LAfricain for having to miss Tuesdays Halton final. Instead, hen Adam Presutti decided tothey rallied around him.ACCESSreturn to Loyola for a fifthWhatever the situation, Ill support WDENIED:year, he did so with the inten-Mike. I was never angry, Presutti said. Rohan Boney of tion of winning another Halton seniorSorrow was the only word. I really the Loyola Hawks boys basketball Tier 1 championshipwanted to share this with my co-captain. (right) elevates to with teammate and buddy MikeThis would have been great.try and block theLAfricain.LAfricains absence, combined with a shot of Holy Trinity Half of that wish came true Tuesdayhot shooting start from an energized Titans player Jared at Sheridan College.Trinity squad, might explain how the Garcia duringLoyola did capture its third consecu-Titans built a 14-10 lead in the first eight tive regional senior championship, sur-minutes oTuesday's Halton f the game.senior boys' bas-viving a sluggish start to power past theBut then Loyola, undefeated in Halton ketball Tier 1 finalHoly Trinity Titans 60-36.play this year and riding an overall win-at Sheridan But the Hawks were forced to winning streak of 24 games, showed why it College. Thethat title without LAfricain, who wasis viewed as a provincial AAAA gold serving a suspension for an in-schoolmeHawks defeateddal threat. More than one player stirs Trinity 60-36 to incident that took place last week.the Loyola drink.capture their third As it turned out, Loyola didnt needRohan Boney dominated the paint, consecutive Haltontheir star point guard against the Titans.coming up with several monster blocks Tier 1 champion-Grade 10 student Jake Babic started inon defence and cutting to the basket on ship.LAfricains place and softened theoffence, finishing with a game-high 18 absence of a player widely consideredpoints. Presutti added 16 and Peter RIZIERO VERTOLLI / one of the top point guards in the prov-Rusic and Babic each contributed a OAKVILLE BEAVERince.dozen for the Hawks, who entered half-But it made for a bittersweet eveningtime with a 29-22 lead and then poured for Presutti, the Grade 13 shooting guardit on in the second half.that will play university basketball forGary (Laurin, the Hawks head coach) McMaster next season.always has his guys ready. They play well It was especially tough for me. Mikesand they have outstanding talent, even my brother. Weve done this since Gradewhen they lose one guy who has out-9. Its been all of us, but its been me andstanding talent, said Titans head coach him for five years building this, trainingAndrew Saulez.together, said Presutti. For him not toAny time a team is missing a very be a part of this, it takes a spot.See Both, page 21