The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A PAIR of Bahamians went head-to-head in a marquee matchup in Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association regular season play.

Assistant coach Ollen Smith of Niagara Prep led his team to a 93-91 win over Romad Dean and Crestwood Prep to highlight the weekend of the top prep league in the country.

Dean finished with 14 points in the loss on Saturday. Niagara improved to 7-6 while Crestwood suffered just their second loss of the season at 7-2 in the Pool A standings.

Smith, a former Bahamian junior national team standout, seeks to establish an exchange programme between the Bahamas and Canada for prep basketball prospects.

He also serves as director of Empower Sports Network (ESN), and also has recruiting ties to Brock University.

Prior to his post at Niagara, Smith was a member of the coaching staff for the St. Mary’s University Huskies who compete in the Atlantic University Sport Conference of U Sports.

Dean finished with a season high 38 points in week six in an 83-78 win over New Horizon Academy when league play resumed following the winter break and ensuing stoppage due to COVID-19.

In December, the Lions finished the City of Palms Classic in the win column and finished third in the Signature Series bracket with a 68-56 win over Victory Prep (Bradenton, Florida).

Dean finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocked shots in the finale. He averaged 25.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game for the tournament. A 6’7” wing, Dean said his plan is to declare early and spend his senior season focused on his on-court production.