The Sudbury 15U Jam Boys are slowing no signs of slowing down, as they tackle Ontario Basketball League play for the very first time.
Posting a flawless 6-0 mark in their opening sequence of the year, the locals were reclassified over the Easter weekend, bumped up to play in the "C" Division.
No matter to these young lads. The Sudbury team simply elevated their game a little more, dousing the Flamborough Fire 50-32 in the opening game of round two action. The Jam overcame an early 10-9 deficit at the end of the first quarter, enjoying a 13-5 run in the second quadrant as the defensive efforts of both Tylor Davison (rebounding) and Brennan Maag (steals) did not pass unrewarded.
With Chris Valcin adding several key assists to a seven-point effort, and Ta Mbvaimbai nailing a pair of clutch three-point baskets, Sudbury would pull away in the second half. Andrew Middleton and Eric Huneault paced the attack, for the winners, with ten and nine points respectively.
The confidence from that game carried over to the next as the northern boys exploded for a 22-point first quarter opposite the Caledon Cougars, nearly doubling their southern Ontario counterparts, 62-33.
Nicholas Burke sparked the early run, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the opening eight minutes, with Anthony Levesque enjoying his best game of the season, matching the 14-point performance and picking up important rebounds at both ends of the court.
A stellar effort by Noah Carpino in the paint included a highlight reel block off the backboard, as the team overcame an illness to Carter Rouillard while closing out April in style.
The team made it back to back 6-0 stretches over the course of the April 29 and 30 playdowns, beating the Barrie Royals (55-39), North Toronto Huskies (60-59), Ancaster Magic (56-47) and York North Avengers (47-39).
The team will now complete their 2016-2017 campaign with an appearance at the Ontario Cup Provincial Championships on the weekend of May 12-14 in London.
Broken into two divisions of four teams each, the event will see the Jam face the Thornhill Thunder, Canadian Basketball Academy and KYBA (Kanata Youth Basketball Association) Ottawa Next Level.
The Jam are coached by Will Stevens and Eric Maag, and sponsored by BM Metals, Anmar and Sudbury Auto Glass.
