‘About 2,000 visitors to the city; London preparing to welcome OFSAA Basketball players

As CTV London’s Brent Lale reports, London has a good chance at a local basketball team reaching the podium at OFSAA, set to take place in the city.

The best high school basketball teams in the province are coming to the Forest City.

“It’s an incredible experience to have our own school and our community here,” said Jackson MacGillvary, a forward for the Mother Teresa Spartans.

“The whole of London will come when OFSAA comes around.”

The Spartans are the reigning silver medallists and are hosting the tournament Mar 9-11. Games will also be played at Fanshawe College.

The City of London will see hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact.

“I think in total, about 2,000 visitors are going to visit the city,” said Kwame Aidoo, Spartans head coach and tournament convenor.

“We’ve done well in connecting with local sponsors and companies. We’re looking forward to highlighting the city and then we’re going to let our play on the court showcase the city.”

The WOSSAA champion Spartans should be a top seed at provincials. They won multiple tournaments this year and knocked off a strong Saunders Sabres team to win the TVRA final. The Sabres will also get a berth in the tournament.

“Our team chemistry, our communication, our defense and our offense,” said MacGillvary, when asked his team’s strengths.

“We have people who know how to rebound. We know how to shoot properly, and everyone knows their role on the team. No one tries to be one more than the other. I feel like our just team chemistry is just at the max.”

MacGillvary joked he doesn’t remember the last time London hosted OFSAA.

That’s because he was just two years old.

In 2011, the Beal Raiders lost in the quarterfinals of their own tournament which featured future NBA star Andrew Wiggins whose Vaughan team won AAA gold.

After losing in last year’s championship game in Kingston, the Spartans want that feeling of cutting down the nets in their hometown.

“We want it all this year,” said MacGillvary.

“We think that we’re better than any team. We have had a couple of downs with (Hamilton) Cathedral and a little bit with Saunders, but we feel like we can push through and come out on top.”