The GSBA (Greater Sudbury Basketball Association) U13 Storm boys battled the Orillia Lakers tooth and nail this year, the well-matched pair both slotted into Basketball Ontario Division 17 play - and meeting up twice on provincial championship weekend.
The encounters may have been split roughly 50/50 all year long, but when it really counted, it was the Storm who would prevail as the competitive basketball season came to an end a few weeks back in this age bracket.
Travelling to Niagara Falls for the eight-team event, the Sudbury lads hit the ground running, silencing the Thornhill Thunder (Purple) 39-28, with Gordon Perry netting 17 points to lead the way for the Storm.
The first Sudbury - Orillia showdown would come in game two, a close affair in which the Lakers prevailed 55-51, with the locals struggling to get things going in quarter three. The one-two punch of Gordon Perry (18) and Trenton Marriott (15) combined for 33 points in a losing cause.
The U13 Storm rode a complete team effort in game three (semi-final) as seven different players hit the scoresheet in a 48-27 win over the Thornhill Thunder (White), with Perry (16) and Marriott (12) right at the top of that scoring parade.
With one goal in mind, the Storm surged in the first half, leading the Lakers 25-16 at the break and increasing the gap in the second half, capturing provincial gold with a 54-39 triumph.
No surprise that Gordon Perry was at the forefront offensively with 24 points, but his key supporting cast in this encounter included Jingkai Sun with 14 points, nailing a critical three-pointer, as did teammate Caleb Laplante.
"They battled through every game this weekend with toughness and trust in each other - and it paid off when it mattered most," noted head coach Glen Guitard. "This championship reflects the work they've put in all season and the pride they have representing Sudbury."
Rounding out the Sudbury U13 Storm roster in 2025-2026 were Laughlin Hagen, Carter Guitard, Joel Adarkwah-Sarpong, Hudson Blais, Arnick Mohebbi, Owen Dixon, Brody Herold, assistant coach James Hagen and team manager Alison Brisson.
