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OSBA Game of the Week: Top Teams Clash in High-Stakes Matchups

By Damien Lisi, 01/28/25, 12:30PM EST

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This week, the OSBA offers two top matchups for both the Men and Women. In the Women’s West Division, Crestwood Preparatory College (7-0) looks to keep its undefeated record intact against St. Jude’s Academy on Tuesday night. The Game of the Week (GOTW) schedule concludes with a thrilling matchup in the Men’s East Division as the top two seeds, Royal Crown and William Academy, face off on Wednesday night in Cobourg. 

 

CRESTWOOD PREPARATORY COLLEGE VS ST. JUDE'S ACADEMY

 
  • Tip-Off: Tuesday, January 28th at 5: 00p.m EST
  • Location: TSS Athletic Centre in Mississauga
  • Division: OSBA Women’s West Division
 

CRESTWOOD PREPARATORY COLLEGE

 

Crestwood enters the game at 7-0 and is ranked No. 1 in the West. Coached by Marlo Davis, Crestwood has dominated over the past two years, winning back-to-back OSBA Women’s Championships. With Julianna Rodgers and Avery Arije ranked No. 2 and No. 3 on the OSBA Women’s MVP watch list, this team has no shortage of offence. Coach Marlo Davis recently reflected on his team’s growth this season, stating, “Having a group that’s a lot younger with a lot of new faces, I thought we got off to a great start… the individual improvement has been amazing, and the growth of the team has been super exciting to watch.” 

 
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
 
  • Julianna Rodgers: Averaging 20.5 points and 3.8 rebounds. 
  • Avery Arije: Averaging 19.3 points and 5.2 assists.
 

ST. JUDE’S ACADEMY

 

St. Jude’s Academy holds a 5-1 record and is ranked No. 2 in the West, just behind Crestwood. The team’s only loss this season came against Crestwood in December, where they fell 72-55. St. Jude’s boasts a star of their own in Chante Murray, who is currently ranked No. 1 on the OSBA Women’s MVP watch list. Averaging 21.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, Murray has been a key offensive force, a role that will be critical against a strong opponent like Crestwood. Head Coach Kenny Manning recently spoke about Murray’s impact on the team, stating, “She’s very caring as a teammate, and she shares the ball… Having her really impacts our whole entire team because she does so much for us on the offensive end.”

 
ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TO WATCH:
 
  • Marley Hayle: Averaging 4.3 steals per game, ranked fifth in the league per the latest rankings.
 

Tuesday’s game features an abundance of star power, with three players ranked in the top 10 of the OSBA Women’s MVP watch list taking the court.

 

ROYAL CROWN VS WILLIAM ACADEMY

 
  • Tip-Off: Wednesday, January 29th at 5: 00p.m EST
  •  Location: William Academy Cobourg West in Cobourg
  • Division: OSBA Men’s East Division
 

ROYAL CROWN

 

The Lions enter Wednesday’s matchup at 7-1, ranked No. 1 in the East. Royal Crown is coming off its first loss of the season last week, falling to Crestwood 80-73. Justice Haseley continues to be a driving force on offence, leading all Crown players in that game with 18 points. There’s no time for the Lions to dwell on the defeat, as they now face another tough challenge against William Academy, the No. 2 team in the division. These two teams last met in November, with Crown securing a 96-76 victory over William. Lions Head Coach Mike De Giorgio recently spoke about his team’s approach to the season, stating, “We have to continue doing what we do well… playing with pace, pushing the ball… we’ve got to defend and rebound well at both ends.”

 
ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TO WATCH:
 
  •  Yann-Ariel Kouakou-Aphely: Leading the league in blocks with 4.5 per game, dropped 15 points vs. Crestwood. 
  • Xavier Istomin-Monroe: Averaging 8.3 rebounds per game (9th), ranked seventh in blocks (1.5). 
 

WILLIAM ACADEMY

 

William Academy holds a 4-3 record and is ranked No. 2 in the East, aiming to catch Royal Crown at the top of the division. The team has found its rhythm recently, winning back-to-back games after losing to Crown in their first matchup. Leading the offense is Efeosa Oligu, who is averaging 22.3 points and 8.5 assists per game. Ranked No. 4 on the MVP Watch list, Oligu has an opportunity to further strengthen his resume with a strong performance against the top-seeded Lions.

 
ADDITIONAL PLAYERS TO WATCH: 
 
  • Tristan Darko: Averaging 15.6 points and 4.6 assists, No. 9 on the OSBA Men’s MVP watch list.
 

Wednesday’s game is a crucial matchup for both teams as they vie for the top spot in the Men’s East Division. Can William Academy hand the league leader a second straight loss, or will Royal Crown bounce back and defeat them for the second time this season?

These GOTW promise for intense matchups across both the Men’s and Women’s divisions as teams continue to battle for playoff contention.  Fans and supporters are encouraged to tune in to OSBA TV on YouTube to catch all the action live.