Lajeunesse hangin' with the big boys

Three teams are tied with 3-1 records at the end of week two of the sr. boys basketball season including Lajeunesse who beat Sandwich 59-48 Thursday night. "We lost to them last year," said Daniel Ngendabanga who scored 14 points for the Royals. "It was a very good way to motivate us to get them this year so everyone was ready and everyone was engaged and get this W."

Danie Ngedabanga saluted following a key basket late in the game vs Sandwich

With the scored tied at 45 late in the 4th quarter, Lajeunesse was able to make score off key defensive plays to tilt an otherwise back and forth contest in their favour. "We needed to dig down for that one," Head coach Geoff Parent told Powerplay Sports. "They wanted this one really bad."

Despite being the lone single-A school playing Tier 1 this season, Parent says expectations are high with all but one player back from last year's team. After winning gold in 2022, the Royals were the top seed at OFSAA a year ago but fell short of their aspirations of a repeat finishing with a bronze.

"Last year was really the year we went in as the number one seed and when your expectations are higher sometimes you end up with that disappointment at the end of the year," Parent said. "Hopefully that hung with us a little bit and it'll motivate us obviously this year going to Woodstock, hopefully.

Visit, dine and enjoy Downtown Windsor

Holy Names is leading the pack at 4-0. The Knights have beaten every opponent by over 30 points so far this season except for Lajeunesse who lost by 20 in week one. "I'm pretty sure last year we lost by 40," Ngendabanga said. "We want to do something a little bit different this year. Although we lost we played our hardest and held together."

Lajeunesse is tied with Kennedy and Tecumseh Vista for second place in the Tier 1 division with a 3-1 record. They'll visit the Vortex in Tecumseh Tuesday night at 5:30 before heading into the holiday break.