WATERLOO REGION (April 11, 2023) – On Tuesday, District 8 announced that Marcus Johnson from St. Mary’s High School was named the senior boys basketball league’s most valuable player.
Johnson helped lead the Eagles to the schools first combined District 8 and CWOSSA senior basketball titles since the 2013-14 season. The grade 12 guard scored a game high 24-points in the District 8 final, and went onto average 25 points per game through his four game CWOSSA championship run.
“This season, Marcus brought a new level of intensity to our team, and a compete level that was infectious to his teammates,” said Eagles head coach Adam Harnack. “From a coaching perspective, he was always striving to get better which was fantastic, and it was a true pleasure to get to know him for the amazing young man that he is off the court. A truly special young man, very deserving of our D8 league MVP award for this season, and we can’t wait to see what he accomplishes in the future.”
Joining Johnson as a first team all-star is teammate Isaiah Blake who added 17 points in the District 8 championship, and led the Eagles in scoring in half of the Eagles regular season games.
The St. David’s senior squad collected the District 8 silver medal and is represented by first team all-star Joe Lippert and second team all-star Nikola Simonovic. Lippert, a grade 11 centre had the team high in scoring in seven games, while Simonovic led the Celtics in scoring in six games.
Malak Hamad earned a first team selection for St. Benedict, helping his Saints to the top regular season record, while teammate Abdullah Hajjo was named to the second team.
Resurrection is represented by a pair of grade 11 guards as all-star selections; Zehnen Lajeunesse earned a first team selection, and Kevon Nath was named to the second team.
Woodland’s Daniel Agbonaye was named as a second team all-star leading his team in scoring, including two 30 point performances. The grade 11 guard also helped the Cavaliers to a single-A CWOSSA championship as the championship game’s leading scorer with 19 points, and a single-A OFSAA consolation championship.
Grade 12 guard Justin Pimentel from Monsignor Doyle was also named to the second team rounding out the senior boys basketball all-stars.
2022-23 District 8 Senior Boys Basketball MVP: Marcus Johnson (St. Mary’s H.S.)
First Team (Senior):
First Name | Last Name | Position | Grade | School |
Isaiah | Blake | Guard | 12 | St. Mary’s H.S. |
Malak | Hamad | Guard | 12 | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
Marcus | Johnson | Guard | 12 | St. Mary’s H.S. |
Zehnen | Lajeunesse | Guard | 11 | Resurrection C.S.S. |
Joe | Lippert | Center | 11 | St. David C.S.S. |
Second Team (Senior):
First Name | Last Name | Position | Grade | School |
Daniel | Agbonaye | Guard | 11 | Woodland Christian H.S. |
Abdullah | Hajjo | Guard | 12 | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
Kevon | Nath | Guard | 11 | Resurrection C.S.S. |
Justin | Pimentel | Guard | 12 | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
Nikola | Simonovic | Guard | 12 | St. David C.S.S. |
First Team (Junior):
First Name | Last Name | Position | Grade | School |
Damien | Bajarias | Guard | 10 | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
Joshua | Henry | Guard | 9 | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
George | Nasir | Guard | 10 | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
Jaydon | Szczepara | Guard | 9 | Resurrection C.S.S. |
Duantay | Tonary | Center | 10 | St. Mary’s H.S. |
Second Team (Junior):
First Name | Last Name | Position | Grade | School |
Luke | Beamer | Guard | 9 | Resurrection C.S.S. |
Lucas | Lai | Guard | 10 | St. Benedict C.S.S. |
Jayden | Mosey-Chuck | Guard | 10 | St. Mary’s H.S. |
Matteo | Santos | Guard | 10 | Monsignor Doyle C.S.S. |
Deinma | Tomlin | Guard | 10 | Woodland Christian H.S. |