Reivers chasing perfection

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This article was published 20/03/2025 (185 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Kildonan-East Reivers will chase perfection on the court next week.

A 21-point performance from Grade 12 guard Rushawn Martin spurred the Reivers to an 87-72 triumph over the Sisler Spartans in the AAAA men’s basketball provincial semifinal at Investors Group Athletic Centre on Thursday.

Kildonan-East improved to 22-0 against Manitoban competition this season — their only loss came against Saskatoon’s Walter Murray Collegiate in an out-of-town tournament — and will look to finish with an unblemished record when they face the Dakota Lancers in the provincial final on Monday, March 24, at IGAC (8 p.m.).

The Reivers aren’t thinking that far ahead yet, though.

“I think we just need to stay focused, put that work in and just stay level-headed,” said Martin, who added a pair of rebounds and assists.

Martin’s game has reached another level as the stakes have increased. The 5-9 guard, who has almost exclusively been a facilitator traditionally, is showing he can score with the best of them, too.

“He’s actually been, I think, the most underrated player this season. He’s been carrying our team, I would say, over the last two months or so. He’s been probably averaging over 20 points. He’s got a first pass mentality and his defence and just the way he plays under control, that’s typical of him,” said Reivers head coach Lloyd Celones.

“If he’s in a fantasy league, he got a little bit of everything (tonight).”

Martin also recorded a steal and a block on this night, showing he can hold his own on the defensive end of the floor, too. He was determined to rise to the challenge in a big moment.

“I just felt like I need to help my team more,” he said. “Instead of just getting them passes and open looks, I need to do more myself because I’m capable of that.”

“From the beginning,” he said about when he struck a groove. “I knew it was going to be a hard game and I knew I had to step up today. I was ready for the competition.”

Kildonan-East forward Settimo Yugu was a force in the paint with a double-double on the strength of 22 points and 16 rebounds. He also had five blocks.

Guard Adrian Lanoria and forward Terry Ogbeide supplied 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Aiden Walker had 13 off the bench for the Reivers.

“There’s always room for improvement for sure. I think maybe passes could’ve been better. There’s a couple of turnovers we had, but besides that, we played a good game,” said Martin.

Sisler guards Daven Sharma and Jancel De Leon tied each other with a game-high 26 points. Sharma was all over the stat sheet, also recording seven rebounds, two assists, a pair of steals and a block.

Lebron Sarmiento provided 12 points for the Spartans.

The Reivers led 27-16; 44-36; and 64-52 at each quarter break, and while they continued to control the fourth quarter, the scrappy Spartans didn’t go away quietly.

“They were very gritty,” said Celones. “A lot of the film that we watched, they’re very gritty, work hard, hustle, very well coached. I wasn’t surprised in terms of how they came out.”

Lancers dethrone Trojans

There will be a new provincial champion after the Dakota Lancers downed the Vincent Massey Trojans 77-64 in a thriller in the second semifinal.

Lancers forward Brady Penner pieced together a big second half to finish with a team-leading 18 points and seven rebounds. Grade 10 guard Daniel Rom was lethal from deep range, connecting on four three-pointers as a part of a 16-point performance, adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Lucas Pujante supplied 14 points, three rebounds and four assists.

Vincent Massey led 21-18 after the first quarter but a buzzer-beating triple from Kinsey Nkunze gave Dakota a 42-37 advantage at halftime. The Lancers maintained a 57-54 lead into the final frame, when they pulled away with several timely stops.

The Trojans struggled to find depth scoring on this night. Guard Magnus Carlos had a game-high 28 points, while forward Jayden Westerlund supplied 16 points.

Joshu.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca