On 25 February, the MGCI Senior Boys basketball team played in the Toronto South Region championships for first place in their league. The game was held on home court at Marc Garneau CI, against Humberside Collegiate Institute. Although it proved to be the toughest match of their season, the Cougars maintained a steady lead throughout the whole game, coming out on top with a score of 70-60. The top scorers, each with 26 points, were small forward Rakeem Tatham, who also led the team with the highest overall points during the season, and shooting guard Rammy Tarin.
When asked about the vital aspects to their victory, Tarin commented “Most importantly, it was a team effort by everyone, since everyone had a part to play in the championship.”
Abdul Houssein, the point guard for the Cougars, added “Other teams always relied on a star player, like a go-to guy. But for us, everyone made important contributions. We fought through together the whole time.” Tatham also cited determination as a significant factor to the outcome.
The team was originally coached by Mr. Hillman, but after he was unable to continue, Mr. Priebe-Nizar took on the position with the help of Ms. Libunao and Mr. Gallow. Mr. Priebe-Nizar commented “[The team] overcame a lot of adversity, and were very impressive.”
The championships marked the end of a successful season for the Senior team.