Wednesday, November 17, 1999 1999 United W a y of Oakville Campaign THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D1 Total OUR GOAL $ 3 .1 m i l l i o n it's Barney! m * t 55% United Way For more info: 845-5571 S |x> rts[fata% & This Saturday 12noon to 2 Teletubbies Town Centre H · Oorval & qew 844-8703 An Oakville Beaver Feature Editor: NORM NELSON 845-3824 (Extension 255) Fax:337-5567 Photo by Peter C. McCusker Oakville product Velimir Radinovic signs up with hoops powerhouse Ohio State last week, flanked by parents Rada and Gliso. Oakville star signs with Ohio State By Norm Nelson BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Photos by Peter J. Thompson A C T IO N P A C K E D : the Oakville Rangers triple-A atom rep team (white jerseys) had a busy weekend schedule with three home games, including this game, the first of a two game set with Windsor. Oakville won this game 3-0 and tied the encore match 3-3. See inside for the story and other rep reports. TOP PHOTO: ref Noel Kemp is giving directions, here, to this Oakville Ranger player, and there's no doubt as to where the destination is -- the sin bin. BOTTOM PHOTO: the Rangers buzz around the Windsor net in their 3-0 win. Bruins get swept at prestigious tourney The Sheridan Bruins came up short at the 32nd Annual Naismith Tournament at Waterloo University, going winless over the three-day weekend event. The defending consolation champs couldn't match last year's strong showing, losing a couple of heartbreakers along the way. Sheridan opened up the tournament against Laurier and forgot to bring their game with them. This one was over early as the Golden Hawks took out the Bruins 75-51. Laurier controlled the game at both ends of the floor shooting 53% and holding Sheridan to 24% from the field. The Hawks also outrebounded the Bruins 49-30. "We shot 18 of 75 from the field," said Bruins coach Leroy Cassanova. "I don't know what was more amazing -- the fact that we took 75 shots or we shot 24%. That sums it up right there." Erne White led Sheridan with 18 points. Shane Bascoe had 12 points, 4 assists and 3 steals while Damian Paratore added 7. The Bruins drew Brock University in the con solation round and lost a close one 82-78. It was a better effort by Sheridan as both teams were tied 33-33 at the break. Brock came out and took a 53-44 lead, but the Bruins went on a 13-2 run to take a 56-55 lead. It was close the rest of the way with Brock tak ing an 80-78 lead with a minute left. Sheridan came back and had a wide open three to take the lead but missed. The Bruins held defen(See 'Bruins' page D3) Sheridan's Chris Bennett (#42) battles under the basket at the recent Bruins Bash tourney which they won. Sheridan wasn't so fortunate, however, at last weekend's prestigious Naismith tourney in Waterloo. File Photo by Peter C. McCusker ___ less than memorable. "I didn't really like it too much at first," he conceded, moments after committing his signature to a full scholar ship to Ohio State, home of one of the strongest U.S. col lege basketball programs, having made it through March Madness to the final four last year. "I remember one time when I was probably 11 my dad took me to play on some team. I didn't like it." Radinovic, a life long Oakville resident except for two years in Toronto (Grade 8 and 9), took another try at the game a couple of years later. "When I was 13 I started playing. It was the fist time I started playing basketball, when I was in grade seven. I played on the school team, there (Falgarwood). That's where it all started, I guess." His favourite player was -- no surprise -- Michael Jordan. "He was fun to watch. Right now it's got to be Vince Carter." In a short time, the 6' 11, 220 pound athlete has come a long way, to the point where he was courted by numerous bigtime American colleges. "I had a bunch of schools calling me," he said, which he ultimately narrowed down to four -- the other three being St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph's and Notre Dame. He visited all of them except for Notre Dame, which was the last school on his itinerary. When the school informed him they had already made another signing, it sealed his decision to sign with Ohio State. And last week, with his mother and father (Rada and Gliso) and sister (Vesna) as well as his longtime high school coach John Phillips (now at Nelson) and Blakelock high school principal Jim Noble looking on, he signed on the dotted line. "It feels good, you know. It's finally done with," he said. It was a tough choice. "I liked all the places I visited -- St. Bonaventure, St Joseph's, Ohio State. I liked all the atmospheres. "But I just felt that Ohio State would provide me the best situation to come in and reach my potential and go to the next level." "I like the atmosphere there. The fan support is great. I think I'll have a good opportunity to play there, and just get better." The facilities were impressive, he agreed. "When I first saw it, you know it's pretty similar to the Air Canada Centre. It seats 20,000. "It didn't play a huge part. I mean it's nice, but you're not playing for the stadium." He will be playing for significantly less people this year as he suits up for one last season of Halton high school ball. "I want us to go as far as we can. Last year we didn't even get out of our region, so we hope to do better than that," said Radinovic. And personally ... "I just want to have a good strong season." Blakelock actually had a decent run last year, mak(See Radinovic' page D3) F jor Blakelock basketball standout Velimir Radinovic, his first introduction to the sport was N e x t Hoi TiTT d j f i l l ! ITS \ IJ j [ i [7 |:<asLr| 1 1mU " j ~B \Wl U ] = G \e n \e v e n 1 JO i |7 | -T11111 1] [TT7T1T7S ft] i 11}m i M i M |7 n r jy 7 T