FEIA Falcons Capture OSBA Championship in Thrilling 64–62 Victory
By Michael Clarkson
The FEIA Falcons have come miles since losing one of their opening games, 84-60 to Ridley College of St. Catharines, way back on Oct. 14.
Fast forward to Sunday, March 8, when the Falcons defeated the same Ridley Tigers 64-62 to win the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association championship in Toronto. Our Falcons were also provincial champs in 2021-22 and national champs two seasons ago.
The Tigers were defending OSBA champions while the Falcons didn’t compete in the tournament last year.
FEIA guard Promis N’Landu, of Montreal, who will attend George Washington (D.C.) University next season, was the tournament MVP with 28 points in the final game. The Falcons had numerous heroes, including Deng Ngor with 10 points, Eli Jolin with nine and centre Crue Gard, who limited Ridley pivot Callum Smith to three points.
Head coach Kemy Osse said he and assistants Steve Houston and Darnell Landon prepared for such stressful games. “The goal in ourpractises was to make everything harder than it would be in a game,” he said. Kemy gave a “shout out to all the staff, community and fans of the school and to the players, who sacrificed so much.”
In the semi-finals, the Falcons edged Toronto’s Royal Crown 80-76 behind 9-of-10 free throw shooting in the last 2:30 by Jolin, N’Landuand Anthony Ponga. FEIA was responsible for Royal Crown’s only two losses of the OSBA season. “It was a crazy game, but we stayed together,” N’Landu said.
“Playoffs are all about who’s going for it all,” said Jolin, who will attend Santa Clara (California) on a cage scholarship next season.
In the quarter finals, the Falcons beat Cambridge International 85-65.
The Falcons will appear in the Canadian prep school championships March 23-29 in Toronto.
Also at the provincials, the Lady Falcons opened with a thrilling 55-53 win over Capital Courts Academy of Ottawa, defending champions from last season, as Amelia Sow produced a dominating performance with 25 points and a floater in the lane to win it with one second left. Lisa Sirgi had eight points and Nina Nisnjevac six for the winners.
But FEIA was eliminated by Crestwood 75-65 in the semi-finals. The Lady Falcons went 10-4 in provincial league play and 8-1 in league play of the National Preparatory Association.
