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30 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012 Oakville teens shooting for world basketball gold Pate, Babic named to Canadian under-17 squad er often with Grassroots Canada in the summer as well as on the Central West OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF Region's gold-medal winning team at the Jake Babic was confident, right up Ontario Games in 2010. Babic said he's thrilled to be one of the until the moment he got the call to coach David DeAveiro's office Sunday. Then, for players that will try to help Canada conthe first time, he began wondering if he tinue to raise its profile in the sport. "Representing your country is an honhad done enough to secure a spot on Canada's cadet (under-17) national bas- our. Not many can say they've done it," said the 6-foot-3 guard. "There's more ketball team. "My heart was racing," the Grade 11 talent coming out of Canada -- guys in Loyola student said. "I was trying to go the NBA and our age group is doing through in my mind who would be on the really well. All I can say is it's an honour." team." Babic said it still hadn't sunk in that Babic breathed a sigh of relief when he would be donning the DeAveiro told him he Canadian jersey, though would be among the play- "I feel we can go very he didn't really have ers travelling to Lithuania far in the tournament. much time to think for the FIBA U17 World Canada's been one of about it. Within 24 hours Championships, where of being named to the he'll be joined by Oakville's the top teams, and basketball has been team, he was boarding a Anthony Pate. plane for France where Pate had good reason improving every year. the Canadian team will to be a little less anxious We're ready to make a train and play exhibition than Babic. The former monumental change." games against Egypt and Holy Trinity student, who China. now attends Long Island Former Holy Trinity Canada will open the Lutheran in New York, student Anthony Pate world tournament with was a member of last year's three games in three Canadian cadet team that won a bronze medal at the FIBA Americas days, beginning with the host Lithuania on June 29, followed by Croatia and tournament. Pate believes Canada can not only con- Argentina. It will wrap up pool play with tinue, but improve upon, its recent suc- games against Spain (July 3) and Korea cess at the younger age groups. Canada (July 4). Pate, who also stands 6-foot-3 and won a bronze medal at the inauguaral plays guard, says his previous experience world under-17 championships in 2010. "I feel we can go very far in the tourna- with the cadet team will help him this ment," Pate said. "Canada's been one of time around. "I learned the international style of the top teams and basketball has been improving every year. We're ready to play and how to represent my country as a basketball player," he said. make a monumental change." Babic also has some big-game experiPate made the move to the U.S. last fall hoping to increase his visibility and ence to draw on after playing in an earn an NCAA scholarship. He did little to OFSAA gold-medal game at Loyola in hurt those chances this year. In March, 2011. "That whole experience, especially as a his last-second three-pointer gave Long Island Lutheran a 62-61 victory in the Grade 10 with guys like Adam (Presutti) New York State Federation Class A cham- and Rohan (Boney), helped me ease into pressure situations," he said. "That helped pionship game. "It was the most clutch shot I've ever a lot and I couldn't say that I get nervous seen," Lutheran coach John Buck told now." Well, almost never. the New York Post. "It's not surprising at all, considering how well he's played." -- Herb Garbutt can be followed Though they were once high school on Twitter @Herbgarbutt rivals, Pate and Babic have played togethBy Herb Garbutt The thrill of victory NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG CLOSE-KNIT TEAM: St. Matthew students (left to right) Lexi Noden, Kristin O'Neill and Marta Tkaczuk celebrate after winning the midget girls' 4x100-metre relay at the Halton Catholic District School Board's elementary system track-and-field championships last week in Burlington. Hannah Ritchie (not pictured) was also part of the gold-winning relay team. See page 31 for full results from the meet. Allen added to roster for celeb soccer game Former Canadian Football League star quarterback Damon Allen has been added to the list of notables that will participate in next month's Oakville Soccer Club celebrity soccer game. Allen, a longtime resident of Oakville, ranks second in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards. He won four Grey Cups with three different franchises during his CFL career. He will join former Toronto Argos teammate Michael (Pinball) Clemons, ex-Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Rob Butler and Canadian national soccer team alumni Jason de Vos, Kara Lang, Michele Houchen and Clare Rustad for the charity game Thursday, July 5 at Bronte Athletic Field. The game, part of the Oakville Soccer Club's 40th anniversary celebrations, will raise money for the OSC's fee assistance program, which allows children in Oakville the opportunity to play soccer, regardless of the cost. Tickets for the celebrity game are available for $10 at the Pine Glen Soccer Centre. All seating is general admission, and no tickets will be sold the day of the game. Kickoff will be 7 p.m. For more information, log onto www.oakvillesoccer.ca/celebgame.