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Al14-The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 26, 2006 SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sleblanc@haltonsearch.com Dawgs net OBA titie on Iast-second shot GRAHAM PAINE / CANADIAN CHAMPION UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Bishop Redîngs boey Melo (#10O) collides with Kevin Kim of King's Christian Collegiate Cavaliers durîng Halton 'AA' semnifînal action of senior boys soccer Wednesday afternoon at Reding. The host Royals steamrolled ta a 4-O decîsion and advancement to this afternoon's regional championship in Burlington against Oiakville's St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders, who beat E.C. Drury 4-O in the other semîifinal. Adam Stjepanovic scored two goals for BR, while brothers boey and Andrew Melo added one each. Milton Districts sen- 'or girls qualified for today's Halton 'A4' finals with a 3-O win over Acton yesterday. Scoring for the Mustangs in the semîfînals were Elizabeth Clark, Jill Posavad and Fioria Sînanan. Thrîlling finish clinches Tfier 2 goidjorjuveniles By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Championship victories dont get any more exciting than this. Estabiishing a new benchmnark for edge-of-your-sest thrills that may neyer be equaled wuthin local rep basketball circles, Malik Diaz-Mercurius sank a jump shot off the back board with a mere two seconds left to, give his Madd Dawg juveniles the OBA lier 2 titie in London Sunday afternoon. "I don't think Hollywood couid have written a better ending," said the jubi- lant 16-year-oid point guard, whose clutch basket cemented a 68-67 tri- umph over the Scarborough Blues. "I stili dont know what happened. i just broke in and shot." Added co-coach Zac Alilovie, "I've neyer seen anything like that (finish) before." The Madd Dawgs' hopes for provin- cial goid had Iooked radier blesk just three weeks eariier, when offensive anchor AI Aliiovie severely twisted his left ankie in exhibition play But the six-foot-five-jnch standout managed to make ît back in time, and - despite having missed three weeks of practice and not heing at 100 per cent mobility-wise - was no worse for wear when it came to his scoring touch. His best efforts were reserved for quarterfinal play, when he drained five three-pointers and 21 points overail to fuel a 57-49 decision over the Richmond Hill Riders. "We told AI not to be too aggressive in ternis of dniving to the net, hut he The juvenile Madd Dawgs celebrate their OBA Tier 2 titie win. was stili making his outside shots and getting the rebounds," said Alilovic, who led this year's team alongside Paul Field and Ken Schildroth. A few defensive adjustments - pri- marily with regard tc guarding tihe low post - wouid aiiow thse Madd Dawgs to exact revenge for their lone round- robin ioss in thse semifinai. Abie to neutraiize the London Goid Medai's twin towers in thse rematch, Milton booked passage to, the champi- onship with a commanding 63-42 win. Exceptionai defense, particulariy from Steve Pies, was compiemented by dou- ble-digit scoring by Aiilovic, Diaz- Mercurius and Brandon Greenwood - who stood out with 18 points in the quarterfinai. From there, the Madd Dawgs had ail kinds of trouble containing Scarborough ail-star Dedo Jospes in the titie match - and were dlown hy seven pointswith five minutes remaining. With OBA goid hanging in the bal- ance and piaying with a sense of urgency, the local juveniies wouid draw within striking distance on a number of late fouis - narrowing the gap on pos- session tumnovers after their opponents faied to capitalize ait the line. In a naii-biting final few moments of - ee JUVENILES' on page Al17 Iat, INSTil Ad goSpnd AL.. a rl Amr eA:m WILSON Mm & Lai Fuit UnefArias Golf kais W1wal atUI Fll Un 1/2 PRICE 50%OF 50%OFF tu 5XLisP*t#111el*d 78lMintrbo Eastitl1 I ol SPLDN I 7î, 0I I &O Ma& Fn9oSlG-1487 O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -11