The dream is still alive at the Junior National Racquetball Championships

Some boys can still dream of winning a national championship this year, but the dreamers have been reduced to two per division as the semi-finals took place Friday at the 2007 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C.

Perhaps the biggest dreamer here is Sebastien Boissonneault (Burnaby, B.C.), as he is trying to win a national title at his home club. He started his semi final match in Boys 16 and under against Anthony Barraco of Leamington, Ont. on fire, easily winning the first game. But Barraco, the number two seed, wouldn't quit.

Despite being down in the second game, Barraco fought back to force a tie-breaker. It was the third tie-breaker in three matches for him, and the previous two had both needed more than the normal 11 points.

But today, Barraco's luck ran out, and Boissonneault's dream continues, as he won 15-3, 14-16, 11-7.

It seemed that Boissonneault's opponent would be Conrad Cole of Belle River, Ont., as Cole, seeded fourth, jumped out to leads of 6-0 and 14-6 in game one against top seed, Barret Husulak of Saskatoon. However, Husulak again showed why he was seeded first in the field of 33 players in Boys 16 and under, as he came back to take the first game and the match, 16-14, 15-9.

Before the tournament started, few would have pegged Joshua Keil of Saskatoon and Tommy Murray of Baie Comeau, Que. as the Boys 18 and under finalists, as they were the fourth and sixth seeds, respectively. Yet that's who will play for the championship on Saturday.

Keil defeated the first seed Mathieu Messier of Mascouche, Que., 15-9, 15-12, while Murray put an end to the dreams of 15th seed Jamie Slamko of Edmonton, 13-15, 15-3, 12-10. In the tie-breaker, Slamko led 10-9, so he had a chance to win it, but Murray fought hard to for the victory making several dives across the court to keep rallies alive.

The Boys 14 and under final will be an all Alberta battle, as Kevin Caouette of Edmonton and Logan Hordyski of St. Albert, Alta. advanced to the final Friday. Caouette defeated Samuel Murray of Baie Comeau, Que. - Tommy's younger brother, 15-3, 7-15, 11-8, while Hordyski overcame Michael Capobianco of Hamilton, 15-6, 15-10.

In Boys 12 and under, Coby Iwaasa (Lethbridge, Alta.) had ended the national title dreams of the fourth and fifth seeds earlier in the week, despite being seeded 13th himself. However, the top seed Anthony Schonberger (New Westminster, B.C.) proved to be too much, and he beat Iwassa, 15-12, 15-13.

Ashton Duda of Regina will be Schonberger's opponent in the final, as Duda defeated Sami Harb of Burlington, Ont., 15-8, 11-15, 11-8, in the other semi-final on Friday.

Doubles finals are still to be played Friday night with all the singles finals occurring on Saturday followed by the closing ceremonies. The 167 players have been competing in 22 divisions of both singles and doubles at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C.