Our FEIA Basketball Teams are the Ones to Beat in Canada
By Michael Clarkson
Once again, our two FEIA basketball teams are ranked No. 1 in Canada to start the 2026-27 season.
Both the boys’ squad, of head coach Kemy Osee, and the girls’ team, of Handel Kipp, are considered the ones to beat for 2026-27.
Pre-season rankings on Internet sites, including First Step Sports, a Canadian media, training and prep school coverage platform, had FEIA girls ranked No. 1 and the boys at No. 3 in the country.
Early results have confirmed those rankings and, according to an unofficial poll I conducted with coaches of other clubs, the boys are now considered the squad to beat, as well as the girls, following their 3-0 record in an Oct. 29-30 tournament against club teams in Rome, Italy.
A packed gym in The Nest was witness to some of this on Nov. 22, when the boys’ Falcons swooped to a 99-67 victory over the visiting Cambridge International Academy.
Calgary native Deng Ngor, considered the best player in the nation, had a pre-Halloween monster game with 27 points, five rebounds, four blocked shots, four assists and three steals. Totu Akuentok, of Edmonton, had 16 points and 11 rebounds while and Athian Madut, of Brooks, Alberta, secured 13 points and six steals.
The Falcons are 2-0 in early play of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and 1-0 in the national North Pole Hoops.
“There are some good teams in Ontario, but I would see Fort Erie (boys) in the championship game at the end of the season,” said freelance broadcaster Aaron Sanders, who does play-by-play for many Falcons’ games on YouTube. “They have length, shooting, speed, energy and good coaching.”
The male Falcons play in a Grind Session tournament on Nov. 5-8 at Ridley College in St. Catharines. Their next home game is Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. against Orangeville, under former FEIA coach Charles Hantamakous.
The FEIA girls continue to be the top team in Canada with a 3-0 record in Ontario and 1-0 in national action. They are 6-1 overall, including 2-1 in a recent tournament against American competition in Las Vegas.
The Lady Falcons mounted a dominating 111-75 win at Lincoln Prep on Oct. 19 with Portia Reisen, of Ottawa, amassing 32 points, Amelia Sow, of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec, scoring 22, and Jordyn Nohr of Langley, B.C., 19.
Impressive stuff, since one of their starters, newcomer Jayla Jackson, of Detroit, has been injured.
While coach Kipp is pleased with the development of players, he said he would “be happy not to be ranked No. 1 at the beginning of the season. But No. 1 at the end.”
The Falcons host teams from across North America in The Battle in the Fort on Nov. 5-8, a showcase event for college and university scouts.
This is nothing new for both of the FEIA national teams, who were ranked No. 1 going into last year’s playoffs, but lost in the national championships, partly due to injuries. However, the boys won the Ontario crown.
As well this season, the girls’ regional team, under coach Areej Burgonio, has received Top 10 consideration against more elite competition. Along with our national girls, the Regionals have been struck hard with the injury bug.
