Chalk up another Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic basketball championship for the Daly family.
With Aaron Daly starting at centre, the Cathedral Gaels won the 2025-26 senior boys' high school title Monday, 75-55 over the visiting Bishop Ryan Celtics.
It was the second consecutive year Daly has hoisted the league trophy and the fifth-straight year a member of the Daly clan has accomplished the feat.
When Aaron's twin sisters --Keira and Nicole -- played for the Cathedral girls', they led the team to a 90-game winning streak and three consecutive OFSAA gold medals from 2021-23.
"It's pretty awesome to be undefeated," Aaron said of his sisters' success while representing Cathedral. "But two in a row for us is still a huge accomplishment.
"Hopefully, we can go on to win OFSAA and get on the wall like them (with championship banners)."
The first-place Gaels (13-1) trailed 17-14 against the fourth-place Celtics (7-7) at the end of the first quarter. By halftime, however, Cathedral grabbed a 38-29 advantage. And heading into the fourth quarter the Gaels were ahead, 56-37.
Mohamed Yusuf Mohamed had a game-high 28 points for Cathedral, including 21 in the second half. Quinton O'Connor scored 17, Daly netted 12 and Josh Granger-Bigford added 11 points.
For the Celtics, Kai Olak tossed in 16 points. Antonio Salinas chipped in with 14 and Prince Mudenge had 12.
Gaels coach Jacob Cordero said an adjustment was made at the half. During the regular season, Cathedral scored 82-54 and 71-57 victories over Bishop Ryan.
"We weren't playing our game," Cordero said. "It was like a YMCA pick-up game and we needed to clean it up.
"We had to start somewhere, so we started with our defence. We knew if we kept pressing them they would run out of gas at some point."
Celtics coach Mike Diclaudio agreed that turnovers by BR due to Cathedral's press opened the flood gates.
"They are a very good defensive team," Diclaudio said. "They press you hard. My guys fought, but you can't come back against Cathedral if you consistently can't hit foul shots and you miss easy layups. They're too good."
On the plus side, Bishop Ryan impressed with five blocked shots by Olak and Sean Okafor along with the game's only two dunks.
Cathedral got a solid two-way effort by Yusuf Mohamed.
Said Cordero: "He did all the little things beforehand at practice and in watching enough game film of the guys he would be guarding. His preparation really showed tonight."
The Gaels first-year coach also praised Daly's contribution.
"He's a true leader. He doesn't do it by fear or yelling. He leads by example, setting a standard that everybody follows."
According to Cordero, Daly's game has adapted in this, his third year of senior basketball.
"He still guards bigs, but now he's out on the wing shooting the ball and putting the ball on the floor. Even sometimes grabbing a rebound and going coast-to-coast."
With the win, the Gaels advance to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference AAA final on Thursday, February 26. Cathedral will host the winner of the Halton championship between St. Francis Xavier and Iroquois Ridge.
A year ago, Cathedral reached the OFSAA semifinal round before bowing out.
"We're just as good, if not better, than last year," Daly said. "We're playing better defence and more as a team."
Other Cathedral players this season included Mekhi Bennett, Jermaine Franklin, Samuel Wleh, Juleyen Fafard-Butler, Ralph Decius, Jayden Baldwin, Omer Yusuf Mohamed, Daniel Wakenge, Amos Wleh, Ethan Howlett, Matthew Ebonzo and Sander Lukasik Foss.
In the junior boys' semifinal Monday, Cathedral defeated the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals, 74-37, and the Bishop Tonnos Titans topped the St. Thomas More Knights, 89-66.
See photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
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