Gold for Midget Cougars

The Sault Cougars midget boys basketball team took the gold medal with a perfect 5-0 record at the Blessed Sacrament Tournament over the weekend in Hamilton.

Against the Jamaal Magloire Basketball Academy from Scarborough, Josh Martella scored 25 points and Seth Whitley added 10 more in a 60-49 Cougars win to capture gold.

The Cougars held a 37-22 lead at the half. JMBA stormed back at the Cougars in the closing minutes of the game but Martella hit a three point shot, drew the foul and completed the four-point play to put the Cougars ahead by 10 points with 1:30 remaining.

The Cougars advanced to the final after edging the Georgetown Hoyas 51-37 in the semi-finals. Josh Thompson scored 12 points for the Sault while Whitley added eight.

In the preliminary round, the Cougars hammered the Kingston Running Rebels 70-43 on the strength of 25 points from Martella and nine from Matt Bertolissi. Leading by just four points at the break, the Cougars exploded in the second half for a 66-36 win over the Toronto Force. Tom Campana led the way with 14 points while Martella added 12. In an earlier game against JMBA, Campana drained 28 points and Martella added 17 in a victory.

Next action for the Cougars, who are 10-1 against Ontario Basketball Association competition this season, is the OBA Championships in Ottawa May 12-14.