Elite Stars Elgin is the 2025-2026 St. Thomas Men's League Champions. 

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

The Stars handed Ambrose Plumbing its first loss of the post-season in the final game 76-58 to win the Herb Hales Memorial Trophy for the first time. 

 

From the opening tip, the Stars came out of the gate with a dominant defensive effort. They would hold the Plumbers to just two field goals in the first quarter, and finished the openng quarter with a 12-0 run to extend a 7-6 lead to 19-6 after ten minutes. 

In the second, the Plumbers started to mount a bit of a comeback and and inside out game from Jimmy Hendricksen to both Steve Barton and Andrew Lynch from long range cut the lead to just five. WIth nine first half points, by rookie Josh Vigars, the Stars would hold a 28-23 lead at the half. 

 

 

                               

 

(Matt O'Brien gets a high five after hitting a first quarter buzzer beater for the Stars)

 

 

In the third quarter, the offence turned up as both teams started to make more shots. The Plumbers made six three pointers in the third, including two each by Lynch and Barton, including Barton's second which tied the game at 46, the first time since the opening tip the game was level. 

However, as time expired in the frame, Karsten Groen snuck backdoor for a layup giving the Stars a 48-46 lead after three. 

 

                               

(Tyler Annett lines up a three-pointer for Ambrose which cut the defecit to one point) 

 

In the fourth, with the game tied at 48, the Stars started to make a run. They took advantage of some Plumbers misses, and got out running. They would go on an 11-0 run to make the score 59-48. 

It never really got closer as the Plumbers were outscored 28-12 in the final quarter and the Stars cruised to victory. 

Mike Morrison had a game high 24 points for the Stars, wtih Vigars adding 19 and Wakefield 16. 

Hendricksen had 17 points with Barton (16) and Lynch (15) in a losing cause. 

 

 

 

 

                                 

 

(Elite Stars L-R, Nick Lawrence, Karsten Groen, Matt O'Brien, Rob Wakefield, Dan Scheid, Mike Morrison, Josh Vigars, absent Brian Apfelbeck) 
 

 

The Playoff MVP was Rob Wakefield who had 16 points in the title game, while holding opposing centre Jimmy Henricksen to 17. 

Wakefield averaged 26.3 points per game over seven playoff contests, to claim his first President's Trophy award. 

                                  
 

(Rob Wakefield is awarded Playoff MVP by league president Brent Lale)