With a record of 8-4 in the regular season, Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School's Senior Prep qualified for the playoffs as the 4th seeded team. Of the 4 losses, 2 were defaults as Coach Melnik was unavailable due to family responsibilities.
At the end of the March Break, the Crusaders competed in the prestigious 2025 North Pole Hoops Division One Scholastic Championship Tournament held at York University. The team had to win 3 games over a 32-hour span to be crowned Champions!
Under Coach Melnik's guidance, the team was battle-tested. With a demanding combination of tough games, incredibly intense practices, early morning skill development, and strength & conditioning sessions, the team was well prepared for three 40-minute games in such a short time span!
In the first round, the Crusaders defeated the #5 seeded King Heights Academy by a score of 78-68. Leading contributors were Kaden Jonas with 22 points & 8 rebounds, Kanan Christmas with 20 points & 4 rebounds, and Adrian Aquino with 13 points & 4 rebounds.
In the semi-finals, they defeated the #1 seeded St Jude’s Academy by a score of 92-88. Leading contributors were Kaden Jonas with 26 points, 6 rebounds & 6 assists, Adrian Aquino with 12 points & 8 rebounds, and Dre'Kel Clayton with 11 points & 3 assists.
In the Championship Final, the Crusaders fell to the #3 seeded Bond Academy by a score of 94-88. At the half, they trailed 49-41. With 6 minutes remaining, that deficit had grown to 19 points! But, in typical "never say die" fashion, the Crusaders mounted another spirited comeback. With 1 minute remaining the Crusaders trailed 88-86. Leading contributors were Adrian Aquino with 23 points & 6 rebounds, Kanan Christmas with 19 points & 5 rebounds, and Dre'Kel Clayton with 19 points & 5 assists. Starting combination guard Kaden Jonas was sidelined for the Championship Game due to an ankle sprain suffered late in the semi-final. Despite a valiant effort, the team felt the impact of his absence.
This has been a very long season with many highs and lows. These boys came a long way from September and improved vastly. They made FHC very proud, not only with their high level of play but also with their class & professionalism. In fact, both Junior and Senior Prep teams accomplished an incredibly successful return of FHC to the world of elite Canadian prep basketball!
Coach Melnik and the team celebrate their remarkable progress and hard-fought journey, embracing their achievements and growth. Twenty years after The Beginning, we’re thrilled to embark on the second year of The Return!
