Joe Linder’s 43 Fuels Dover Bay’s Back-to-Back No Regrets Title
Collingwood vs. Dover Bay Sr Boys
2025 No Regrets Tournament Final
December 13, 2025
Pre-game notes
The championship game of the No Regrets Tournament is set to tip off, featuring the defending No Regrets champions and current #2 ranked AAAA Dover Bay Dolphins coming off a dominant performance against a talented Argyle Pipers squad. Dover Bay is looking to become the first team to go back-to-back since the Handsworth Royals won the 2018 and 2019 tournaments.
They are set to face off against the #3 ranked AA Collingwood Cavaliers, who punched their ticket to the final with a hard-fought semi-final win over St. George’s. Dover Bay enters the game with a clear size advantage against the guard-dominant Cavs, but stylistically these teams are very similar: both want to push the pace and surround their primary creators with shooting.
Plenty of attention is on the talented grade 11 provincial team guard Joe Linder, who is averaging 35 points per game on the season and whose elder brother Frank won tournament MVP last year. However, Collingwood head coach Andy Wong points out that he is far from the Dolphins’ only scoring weapon to key in on:
“Linder is someone we have to slow down and deny as much as we possibly can [...], the problem is, when it’s out of his hands, #12 [Ahmed Eltahan] seems to be knocking down absolutely everything, and #13 [Dane Schdmit] was pretty dominant against Argyle yesterday. All of their pieces can do everything and we’ll have to see what we can do.”
In similar fashion, Dover Bay assistant coach Michael Linder (Joe’s father) had plenty of praise for Collingwood’s balanced attack:
“We’ve got to rebound… [Collingwood] has tenacious guys [...], quick shooters, and they shoot with joy and love… I love the way they play.”
As a side note, I also asked Linder Sr. about his other kids: Dover’s team manager Eric Linder is already a certified bucket in grade 7 and there’s yet another Linder brother in grade 5. As unbelievable as it seems, we have another decade of Linder bros in Dover jerseys ahead that will undoubtedly be the cause of some premature grey hairs for opposing coaches around the province.
1st quarter
Dover controls the opening tip, but Collingwood forces an early turnover, and it’s the Cavs who strike first as #12 Peter Huang opens the scoring with a clean swish three, assisted by #21 Jake McAdam. The Dolphins respond immediately with a triple of their own from #12 Ahmed Eltahan.
It’s interesting to see Dover Bay start the game in man-to-man defense as they are best known for their swarming 2-2-1 press which falls back into a 2-3 zone. The Cavs move the ball well in their continuity ball screen offense, and lead guard #5 Harry Bell gets on the scoreboard with a strong lefty drive. However, the Dolphins race down and again tie the score less in less than 10 seconds with an and-1 by the athletic 6’6 Dane Schmidt.
Rebounding quickly becomes a problem for the Cavs, as Dover grabs multiple offensive boards and makes them pay: Joe Linder buries a corner three off a baseline inbound set. This time it’s Collingwood with a quick response as #6 Elliot McNeil scores in transition, but Dover Bay’s pace is relentless: Linder goes right back to work, drilling an and-one triple and converting the four-point play. The fast-paced game we anticipated is on full display.
Linder stays scorching hot, knocking down another triple to push Dover ahead 19-7 just four minutes in and forcing a Collingwood timeout. Out of the timeout, Collingwood coach Andy Wong elects to go to one of his favourite set pieces which creates an easy bucket inside for the Cavs’ Huang.
However, the first quarter has been all Joe Linder - off a turnover, he races downcourt and drains yet another three. It’s his fourth in a row and it’s 22-9 Dover less than halfway through the 1st quarter. He launches a well-deserved heat check which finally rims out, much to the relief of the Cavs’ bench.
A collective exhale of “oos” and “aahs” ripples through the crowd as the Dolphins execute a sideline set piece to perfection, with Schmidt climbing the ladder to grab a pass well above the rim and finishing the alleyoop with an and-1.
With the Cavs’ attention focused on Linder’s hot start, coach Wong’s pre-game concerns are coming to fruition. Linder’s incessant pace sets up Eltahan for a clean look at 3 which he swishes. In the half court, they mix in a decoy Iverson cut action for Linder which sets up an easy high-low look inside.
Despite struggles at the free-throw line (Collingwood goes 3/10 in the opening frame), Bell cans a late three to close the quarter and Collingwood is still very much in this game. After one, it’s 34-24 Dolphins. Linder leads the way for Dover with 16 points while Huang has set the tone for the Cavs with 14 of his own.
2nd quarter
Dover opens the second in their patented 2-3 zone, but Harry Bell immediately punishes it with a catch-and-shoot triple. Collingwood counters with a 2-3 zone of their own, but Linder calmly responds with another three. His shooting is impressive but his reputation as the most well-rounded guard in the province is not by accident: the next possession, he breaks down his defender off the dribble and cruises in for a layup. He’s got 21 points already.
Collingwood are moving the ball well against the zone and their offense is starting to flow, but Dover’s transition play is squashing any chance of momentum for their opposition.
Harry Bell stays hot, drilling another pull-up bomb from deep. Both teams finally miss a few consecutive shots before Dover head coach Darren Seaman elects to take his first timeout of the game leading 41-32 with seven minutes left in the first half.
Out of the timeout, it’s clear Bell has come to play as he scores in transition and then drains another triple off a ball reversal against the zone. Collingwood uses their 2nd timeout, and come out with more crisp ball movement which immediately pays dividends as they find Huang who buries three more of his own. Suddenly, the score is 43-40.
What follows is a blitz of scoring from both teams. Linder hits a pull-up two. The red-hot Huang comes back immediately and swishes a three, only for Linder to race down and create enough space for another bucket inside. Then, Schmidt scores inside, but this time it’s McNeil who responds with a no-doubt three and then a transition basket to cut the lead to 51-48.
I’ve talked plenty about the Cavs’ trio of guards in Huang, Bell, and McNeil, who have scored all of the Cavs points so far and managed to keep their team in the game. However, some credit needs to be given to #11 Yihan Wang and #21 Jake McAdam, who are battling relentlessly on the boards to limit Dover’s second chances.
As the first half winds down, McAdam rebounds out of a crowd, splits the defense in transition, and finds an open Huang for another score. Huang returns the favor on the next possession by finding McAdam down low to give Collingwood its first lead since it was 5-3 in the 1st quarter. At halftime, it’s 52-51 Cavaliers in what has been a phenomenal first half.
Halftime
Joe Linder 27 points, Dane Schmidt 13 points
Peter Huang 20 points, Harry Bell 19 points
Halftime thoughts
What a game it’s been so far. Some incredible shooting, fast-paced transition play, and solid half-court execution has been on display from both squads. The Cavs need to find a way to slow down Linder who is on pace for a 50 piece as well as limiting Schmidt’s touches in the paint. On their end, Dover Bay will be looking to make some defensive adjustments to tighten up their coverage at the 3-point line as well as limit their turnovers which have provided some breathing room for Collingwood.
3rd quarter
Dover opens the second half back in man-to-man in response to Collingwood’s hot shooting. The Cavs immediately flow into a set piece and are rewarded with Linder’s 3rd foul just 12 seconds into the 2nd half.
Collingwood’s halftime adjustments are also evident as they are now faceguarding Linder. On their next possession, Collingwood goes right back to the same set and Bell drains a baseline fadeaway.
Collingwood’s early momentum is short-lived as Linder finds an open Eltahan who drains a three with a rebounding foul called on McNeil. To add to this, McAdam gets whacked with a tech for voicing his displeasure with the call.
The physicality is picking up here in the 2nd half, as both teams scramble and battle for loose balls. Linder muscles in for a tough finish over the outstretched arms of #11 Yihan Wang to tie it. Finally, more players from each team get involved with the scoring, as Wang converts inside on a scramble, and Dolphins’ #4 Landen Ross answers for Dover with a floater.
Tensions rise in this back-and-forth affair as coach Wong pleads his case with the referees as the Cavs are already in the penalty halfway through the quarter. Schmidt spins in the paint to cut it to one at 68-67, but Huang answers again with a dazzling crossover into a spin finish in traffic.
The Cavaliers’ #7 Daniel Pan checks into the game and immediately provides a spark off the bench with production on both ends: a driving layup immediately followed by a steal. Harry Bell follows it up and drills a massive three to push the lead to 77-67! This is a remarkable 25 point turnaround as Collingwood trailed by as much as 15 in the 1st quarter. Some adrenaline-fuelled chest bumps indicate all momentum to the Cavs as Dolphins’ coach Seaman calls for timeout to settle his troops with 1:23 left in the frame.
Out of the timeout, Linder gets a friendly bounce on a tough three ball and Dover launches into their 2-2-1 press. Another Schmidt bucket inside to finish out the quarter at the end of the 3rd quarter, it’s 77-72 Collingwood.
4th quarter
The fourth opens with immediate drama. Eltahan is fouled on a three, Schmidt drains a triple to cut it to one, and this has all the makings of a barnburner.
Linder with a rare miss on a pull-up, and on the other end, Collingwood’s #11 Wang somehow manages to tip in a miss plus the foul as the Collingwood faithful smash their Home Depot buckets in approval. This is followed by a rare and exciting sighting of volunteer Cam Nelson, who cleans a wet spot on the floor to a polite round of applause from this Saturday night crowd.
The Cavs’ Huang goes to his trusty jab-cross pull-up, a move he’s been terrorizing defenders with since middle school to push the lead to 82-76.
Dover continues to stay in their zone but has adjusted to pressure the ball higher and are rewarded by forcing a turnover from an errant pass. Linder hits a baseline middy and then Schmidt earns a late whistle on a missed transition layup to the disbelief of the Cavs crowd. After free throws, we’re all tied up at 82 with 5:30 to play.
Momentum fully swings when Dover again lobs it to Schmidt on a baseline set to retake the lead - timeout Collingwood!
Out of the timeout, the Cavs continue to move the ball well but have gone cold from deep. #12 Eltahan shows some remarkable elevation to bank in a tough mid-range fadeaway before picking off a pass and laying it in to make it 90-82 with 3:30 remaining. The pressure from the 2-2-1 is forcing turnovers and Collingwood cannot convert any of the opportunities they manage to create.
McNeil gives Collingwood some brief hope with a late triple, but Linder calmly closes the door by knocking down a pair of free throws and then draining a pull-up as the shot clock expires. Alas, Collingwood has simply ran out of gas and the tireless Dover Bay squad outscores the Cavs 25-10 in the final frame to take the 2025 No Regrets Championship game by a final score of 97-87.
Post-game notes
What a freakin’ game.
Congratulations to both teams for bringing out the best in each other and for displaying a tremendous level of talent, basketball IQ, and execution that is likely to carry them to compete at the LEC in March in their respective tiers.
I also tip my hat to both coaching staffs for providing us with an entertaining chess match of adjustments and tactics between these two excellent high school programs.
Finally, a shout out to the numerous volunteers, scorekeepers, referees, and fans who make this tournament what it is - a celebration of hoops and community. See you next year, folks!
Final Score
Dover Bay 97, Collingwood 87
Player of the Game and Tournament MVP: Joe Linder
Final Game leading scorers:
Collingwood: Harry Bell 29, Peter Huang 28, Elliot McNeil 20
Dover Bay: Joe Linder 43, Dane Schmidt 28, Ahmed Eltahan 17