Two of the top teams in the St. Thomas Men's Basketball League went head-to-head Wednesday wtih Elite Stars Elgin and Cole-Munro Foods tipping off the triple-header. 

After trailing early 7-2, the Trout went on a 14-2 run to take the lead after one quarter. However the Stars answered back with a 20-13 second quarter, to tie the game at 29. 

In the third, the Stars jumped out to an 8-point lead after the Trout struggled from the field.. In the fourth, the Stars locked it down and pulled away for a 70-58 win to take sole possession of top spot in the league at 6-2. 

Ron Wakefield had 28 points and Brian Apfelbeck 15 for the winners, while Jack Girden (16) and Andrew Cole (15 pts) lead the way for the Trout (5-4) who fall out of top spot. 

In the middle contest, Mackie's got back in the win column and climbed their way out of the basement with a 81-65 win over Talbot Trail Physiotherapy. In a game which went back  and forth through the opening 16 minutes, the OrangeAde's (3-5) took the lead near the half, and maintained a double-digit advantage most of the rest of the way. 

Nic Roberts-Neef had 22 points, while Taran Beekhuis had 21 and Ian Thomson 14 for the winners. Ryan Pflanzer had 28 points and Aaron Baker 24 for the Physiotherapists (4-5) who were missing three starters and had just five players. 

In the finale, Home Hardware with just four players of their own, and one spare beat Ambrose Plumbing 74-67. 

The game started in favour of the Plumbers with Jimmy Hendricksen pouring in a dozen in the opening quarter as they led by two. However after that there seemed to be a lid covering the hoop for anyone but the big man as the Home Owners slowly took the lead, and held it for most of the final 30 minutes. 

Missing thhree starters, the Home Owners (5-4) called up Nic Roberts-Neef and the rookie scored 31 points to compliment the others the victory. Juan Carranza had 16 points, Nicolas Hinds had 14 and Alex Roberts-Neef a dozen for the winners. 

Hendricksen finished with 34 points including a career high 4 three-pointers in a losing cause with Tyler Annett adding 11 for the Plumbers (2-5) 

Cole-Munro Foods has taken advantage of a fortunate schedule, and capitalized to win their fourth straight game. 

The Trout have drawn some short-handed rosters, but taken full advantage to improve to 5-3 and top spot in the league. 
Cole-Munro (5-3) wore down Home Hardware Monday to cruise to a 74-57 victory. 

With the Trout leading just 46-42 late in the third quarter, they went on a 16-2 run to blow the game wide open, leading by 18 going into the final frame. 

Jack Girden had 24 points and Oliver Taylor 21 for the winners.  Connor Hodgins-Depont had 28 in a losing cause for the Home Owners (4-4) who were missing three starters. 

Elite Stars Elgin moved to within a half-game of top spot with a 76-59 win over Talbot Trail Physiotherapy. 

The Stars (5-2) used a massive second half, outscoring the Physiotherapists (4-4) 45-22 putting it out of reach with most of the final quarter to go. 

Rob Wakefield had 23 points, with Josh Vigars adding 15 for the winners.  Ryan Pflanzer had 21 and Bradley Young 11 in a losing cause. 

In the finale, Jimmy Hendricksen imposed his will from the opening tip as Ambrose Plumbing was just too big for Mackie's. 

With deep positioning, the 6'11 centre was able to just make layup after layup as the Plumbers led by 11 after one quarter, and 18 af the half. 

Hendricksen scored 20 of his game high 30 points by the break, with Andrew Lynch adding 17 and Steve Barton 13 for the Plumbers (2-4) who pick up their second win this season. 

Nick Roberts-Neef and Tai Montfort had 20 points each for Mackie's (2-5) who were able to battle back to bring the game within 11 in the fourth, but no closer. 

As Trey Yesavage was turning in a performance for the ages, the St. Thomas Men's Basketball League struggled to field some rosters Wednesday. 

Two of the three games were played, with the other postponed. 

In the opener, Mackie's got back in the win column after a three-game losing streak, beating Home Hardware 72-60. 

With both teams missing top players, the OrangeAde's outlasted a five-man Home Owners squad for the win. 

Tai Montfort had 22 points, while Brent Lale added 15, and Nic Roberts-Neef and Ian Thomson a dozen each for the winners (2-4).  Juan Carranza lead four players in double figures for the Home Owners (4-3). 

The game was tight for most of the contest, with Mackie's jumping out to a double-digit lead, but Home Hardware answering with a run of their own to tie the game at 44.  A 6-0 run at the end of the third, and a six-point fourth quarter advantage stretched the game out of reach.  Mark Cummings had 16 points, with Alex Roberts-Neef scoring 12 and Ben Girden 10 in a losing cause. 

In the second of two, Cole-Munro Foods held off an undermanned Talbot Trail Physiotherapy squad for a 75-68 victory. 

The game featured the league's top two scorers going head to head and it didn't disappoint.  Jack Girden scored 31 points for the Trout (4-3) while Ryan Pflanzer had 30 for the Physiotherapists (4-3). 

The game was tight most of the way with the scorers exchanging blows. Girden made 14 field goals, while Pflanzer was bottled up from deep, but fought his way to the rim and the foul line going 15-18 from the charity stripe. 

Oliver Taylor had 14 points and Andrew Cole 13 for the winners, while Aaron Baker had 16 points and call-up Merrick Mount had 14 for Talbot Trail. 

A triple header of basketball Monday night took a back burner for concern over an injured player. 

We'll get to the details and an update in a minute, but first Ryan Pflanzer scored 41 points to lead Talbot Trail Physiotherapy to a 79-72 win over Ambrose Plumbing. 

Pflanzer scored 13 points in the opening quarter, as TTP jumped out to a 22-14 lead.  That mark was extended to a dozen at the half as reigning Elgin Chrysler Player of the Week Isaiah Kelch scored 11 in the second frame. 

In the 3rd, Pflanzer scored another 16 as they maintained their advantage and won by seven. 

Kelch finished with 17, with Aaron Baker adding 12 for the winners (4-2).  Jimmy Hendricksen had 28 points for the Plumbers (1-4). 

Midway through the fourth quarter, the game tok a turn when Matt Agbetiafa went down with injury and needed a trip to STEGH. 

He sent a note which said he suffered a deep hip sublaxation. His hip popped out and back in. He's on crutches for now and may have some damage. He'll be out indefinitely and will have more information in coming days. 

In the middle contest, Home Hardware used 19-12 third quarter to pull away from Elite Stars to win 77-56. 

Leading by two at the break, the Home Owners (4-2) won the second half 39-22 with four players scoring double figures. Juan Carranza had 21 points with Connor Hodgins Depont adding 19 as HH pulled into a tie for first overall. 

Rob Wakfield had 16 in a losing cause for the Stars (4-2) who now share a 3-way tie for first. 

In the finale, Cole-Munro Foods took advantage of a short-handed Mackie's team to blow them out 101-77. 

The Trout jumped out to an early 16-point lead but a hard fight by the OrangeAde's erased the defecit to lead 31-30. From that point it was one-sided as the Trout blew it out by early in the third quarter. 

Jack Girden had 36 points with Andrew Cole adding 20 and Owen Samms 15 for the winners who now are back to .500 at 3-3. 

Taran Beekhuis had 25 points and Tai Montfort 24 for Mackie's (1-4) who have dropped three in a row with an undermanned team as they await the arrival of their first round pick.