March 9, 2006
RED-HOT POWERS MEET IN WILSON CUP
TORONTO - With the Ontario University Athletics East champion scheduled to host this season's championship game, a majority of those in the basketball community figured the road to the Wilson Cup would have to go through Ottawa. For the peaking York Lions, it did just that. But it will end in Toronto at the Tait McKenzie Centre. York went into the nation's capital and knocked off the No. 6 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees and the top-ranked three-time defending CIS champion Carleton Ravens in back-to-back games to earn the right to host the McMaster Marauders in the Wilson Cup, presented by Investors Group, Saturday, March 11 at 8:00 pm. (The game will be broadcast on Rogers in all regions.)
"We're surprising other people but not so much ourselves," says Lions all-star forward Daniel Eves. "We knew we were a good team."
York has played some of its best basketball of the year at the most critical time. The East champs went 14-8 during the regular season, a campaign in which they faced a number of key injuries. But as they got healthy in February with the return of Eves, who broke the third metacarpal in his left hand at a practice earlier in the year, and centre Jordan Foebel - out for five games - the Lions began to put together a solid run. They won eight of the final nine ball games to close the regular season and ikept that momentum going in the playoffs. York needed overtime to get by the Laurentian Voyageurs 85-82 but then made two resonating statements in thumping Ottawa 76-55 at Montpetit Hall and following that up with a solid 82-74 win over Carleton in the Ravens' Nest. The Lions used their tremendous size to overpower a Ravens team missing first-team all-star forward Aaron Doornekamp but it was the poise gained through the hardships of a challenging season that have them clicking as they get set to face a deep, talented McMaster team.
"We got healthy at the right time," says Lions head coach Bob Bain. "We were disappointed in losing some of those games earlier but the good thing was that guys got a chance to play. Then when you get everyone back, you have more weapons. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill. The trick is to keep it going."
Bain loves the make-up of his team right now with players like guards Eylon Zemer (Toronto, ON) and Amde Evans (Toronto, ON) providing strong defensive support, while former Brock Badger guard Rohan Steen (Welland, ON) has contributed on the scoresheet (11.3 points per game and 4.48 rebounds per game) and as a veteran leader. York's big three include Eves, a second-team all-star, averaging 18.71 ppg and 6.4 rpg despite missing eight games, Foebel (Ancaster, ON), the third-leading rebounder in the OUA at 9.24 rpg and first-team all-star guard Tut Ruach (Toronto, ON), the catalyst of the dynamic York offence. Ruach, the 2005 CIS Rookie of the Year, has blossomed in his second season, finishing third in league scoring with 17.27 ppg, behind the Brock duo of Brad Rootes and two-time West Player of the Year Kevin Stienstra, and sixth in assists with 4.18 apg. The wiry guard can also step it up under pressure. He was unstoppable in the second half against Ottawa in the East semis and then dominated in the Carleton game, pouring in 23 points, with 10 assists and four steals on a huge stage.
"He's a veteran in year two," says Bain. "He loves the game and he plays it with a certain reckless abandon."
"It's really great to play with Tut," adds Eves. It's great for the guys. He can create so much."
McMaster head coach Joe Raso is well aware of what Ruach and the Lions can do. In the lone regular season meeting between the two teams, the Marauders pulled out an impressive 92-85 win on the road, despite 29 points from Eves and another 18 from Ruach. The Marauders are loaded with depth and firepower of their own. At 80.18 ppg, they led all OUA teams in offensive output and advanced through the post-season with relative ease in defeating the Windsor Lancers 67-55 and the upstart Laurier Golden Hawks 75-57 in two convincing wins at the Burridge Gym. While the Mac machine is rolling now, it initially looked bleak as the Maroon and Grey dropped its first two games of the year against the two Ottawa-based powers. Raso's bunch regrouped and won 17 of the next 20 to capture the regular season title in an ultra-competitive West Division. For the experienced, senior-laden team, the chance to get back to the Wilson Cup, after losing out to the Ravens in the 2004 finale and then suffering through a disappointing 13-9 2005 season, is gratifying, particularly for fourth-year guard Ben Katz (Toronto, ON), who missed most of last year after blowing out his knee.
"It's been a great year," says Katz, the West's nominee for the Ken Shields Award. "It's been hard work coming back from the injury and it's been up and down personally but it's been so rewarding to be with these guys. They're great guys and it's fun to win, of course."
Katz was one of three Marauders to average double figures in points this season, finishing with 12.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg (second on the team). Swingman John Obrovac (Hamilton, ON) chipped in 13.2 ppg, while forward Adam Steiner (Hamilton, ON) earned his first appearance as a first-team all-star after averaging team highs in points (16.0) and rebounds (7.3). Fourth and fifth-year guards Justin Gunter (Dundas, ON) and Rob Scully (Burlington, ON) have steadied the backcourt, while physical forward Toms Lokmanis (Toronto, ON) and two-time reigning West Defensive Player of the Year Martin Ajayi (Hamilton, ON) are able to amp up the defence in the post and on the perimeter respectively. The Mac defence was stellar against the Golden Hawks in the West Final and that was with a number of players hit hard by a flu bug.
"The key part of is that we had guys that weren't 100 per cent but the guys that weren't 100 per cent gave us 100 per cent of what they had," says Raso.
Both OUA powers expect to be healthy heading into Saturday's Wilson Cup and given the wealth of performers on either side, the game could be a tight one.
"For McMaster to come out of the West, it tells you what kind of team they are," says Eves. "Like we did against Carleton, we need to try and control the tempo."
"It's a team that we always have a bit of a rivalry with going back a few years," Katz says of the Lions. "We know those guys pretty well. And for us, it's a really important game. With teams losing around the country, like Carleton, we've got to go win this one."
McMaster Marauders Team Leaders (regular season)
Points
1. Adam Steiner - 16.0 ppg
2. John Obrovac - 13.2 ppg
3. Ben Katz - 12.1 ppg
4. Martin Ajayi - 10.5 ppg
5. Toms Lokmanis - 7.9 ppg
Rebounds
1. Adam Steiner - 7.3 rpg
2. Ben Katz - 5.2 rpg
3. Toms Lokmanis - 5.0 rpg
Assists
1. Justin Gunter - 81
2. Martin Ajayi - 64
3. Ben Katz - 60
Steals
1. Martin Ajayi - 49
2. Ben Katz - 28
3. John Obrovac - 24
York Lions Team Leaders (regular season)
Points
1. Dan Eves - 18.7 ppg (14 games played, didn't qualify for OUA scoring leaders)
2. Tut Ruach - 17. 3 ppg
3. Jordan Foebel - 13.3 ppg
4. Rohan Steen - 11.3 ppg
5. Amde Evans - 6.9 ppg
Rebounds
1. Jordan Foebel - 9.2 rpg
2. Dan Eves - 6.1 rpg
3. Amde Evans - 5.2 rpg
Assists
1. Tut Ruach - 92
2. Rohan Steen - 43
3. Dan Eves - 30
Steals
1. Tut Ruach - 39
2. Rohan Steen - 29
3. Dan Eves - 19
24 teams, 6 CIS berths, 2 OUA champions - the OUA basketball playoffs, presented by Investors Group.
- O U A -
(Photo: York all-star forward Dan Eves has been one of the key contributors through York's valiant playoff run. The recovering Lions host the West champion McMaster Marauders in the Wilson Cup this Saturday at the Tait McKenzie Centre.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
"We're surprising other people but not so much ourselves," says Lions all-star forward Daniel Eves. "We knew we were a good team."
York has played some of its best basketball of the year at the most critical time. The East champs went 14-8 during the regular season, a campaign in which they faced a number of key injuries. But as they got healthy in February with the return of Eves, who broke the third metacarpal in his left hand at a practice earlier in the year, and centre Jordan Foebel - out for five games - the Lions began to put together a solid run. They won eight of the final nine ball games to close the regular season and ikept that momentum going in the playoffs. York needed overtime to get by the Laurentian Voyageurs 85-82 but then made two resonating statements in thumping Ottawa 76-55 at Montpetit Hall and following that up with a solid 82-74 win over Carleton in the Ravens' Nest. The Lions used their tremendous size to overpower a Ravens team missing first-team all-star forward Aaron Doornekamp but it was the poise gained through the hardships of a challenging season that have them clicking as they get set to face a deep, talented McMaster team.
"We got healthy at the right time," says Lions head coach Bob Bain. "We were disappointed in losing some of those games earlier but the good thing was that guys got a chance to play. Then when you get everyone back, you have more weapons. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill. The trick is to keep it going."
Bain loves the make-up of his team right now with players like guards Eylon Zemer (Toronto, ON) and Amde Evans (Toronto, ON) providing strong defensive support, while former Brock Badger guard Rohan Steen (Welland, ON) has contributed on the scoresheet (11.3 points per game and 4.48 rebounds per game) and as a veteran leader. York's big three include Eves, a second-team all-star, averaging 18.71 ppg and 6.4 rpg despite missing eight games, Foebel (Ancaster, ON), the third-leading rebounder in the OUA at 9.24 rpg and first-team all-star guard Tut Ruach (Toronto, ON), the catalyst of the dynamic York offence. Ruach, the 2005 CIS Rookie of the Year, has blossomed in his second season, finishing third in league scoring with 17.27 ppg, behind the Brock duo of Brad Rootes and two-time West Player of the Year Kevin Stienstra, and sixth in assists with 4.18 apg. The wiry guard can also step it up under pressure. He was unstoppable in the second half against Ottawa in the East semis and then dominated in the Carleton game, pouring in 23 points, with 10 assists and four steals on a huge stage.
"He's a veteran in year two," says Bain. "He loves the game and he plays it with a certain reckless abandon."
"It's really great to play with Tut," adds Eves. It's great for the guys. He can create so much."
McMaster head coach Joe Raso is well aware of what Ruach and the Lions can do. In the lone regular season meeting between the two teams, the Marauders pulled out an impressive 92-85 win on the road, despite 29 points from Eves and another 18 from Ruach. The Marauders are loaded with depth and firepower of their own. At 80.18 ppg, they led all OUA teams in offensive output and advanced through the post-season with relative ease in defeating the Windsor Lancers 67-55 and the upstart Laurier Golden Hawks 75-57 in two convincing wins at the Burridge Gym. While the Mac machine is rolling now, it initially looked bleak as the Maroon and Grey dropped its first two games of the year against the two Ottawa-based powers. Raso's bunch regrouped and won 17 of the next 20 to capture the regular season title in an ultra-competitive West Division. For the experienced, senior-laden team, the chance to get back to the Wilson Cup, after losing out to the Ravens in the 2004 finale and then suffering through a disappointing 13-9 2005 season, is gratifying, particularly for fourth-year guard Ben Katz (Toronto, ON), who missed most of last year after blowing out his knee.
"It's been a great year," says Katz, the West's nominee for the Ken Shields Award. "It's been hard work coming back from the injury and it's been up and down personally but it's been so rewarding to be with these guys. They're great guys and it's fun to win, of course."
Katz was one of three Marauders to average double figures in points this season, finishing with 12.1 ppg and 5.2 rpg (second on the team). Swingman John Obrovac (Hamilton, ON) chipped in 13.2 ppg, while forward Adam Steiner (Hamilton, ON) earned his first appearance as a first-team all-star after averaging team highs in points (16.0) and rebounds (7.3). Fourth and fifth-year guards Justin Gunter (Dundas, ON) and Rob Scully (Burlington, ON) have steadied the backcourt, while physical forward Toms Lokmanis (Toronto, ON) and two-time reigning West Defensive Player of the Year Martin Ajayi (Hamilton, ON) are able to amp up the defence in the post and on the perimeter respectively. The Mac defence was stellar against the Golden Hawks in the West Final and that was with a number of players hit hard by a flu bug.
"The key part of is that we had guys that weren't 100 per cent but the guys that weren't 100 per cent gave us 100 per cent of what they had," says Raso.
Both OUA powers expect to be healthy heading into Saturday's Wilson Cup and given the wealth of performers on either side, the game could be a tight one.
"For McMaster to come out of the West, it tells you what kind of team they are," says Eves. "Like we did against Carleton, we need to try and control the tempo."
"It's a team that we always have a bit of a rivalry with going back a few years," Katz says of the Lions. "We know those guys pretty well. And for us, it's a really important game. With teams losing around the country, like Carleton, we've got to go win this one."
McMaster Marauders Team Leaders (regular season)
Points
1. Adam Steiner - 16.0 ppg
2. John Obrovac - 13.2 ppg
3. Ben Katz - 12.1 ppg
4. Martin Ajayi - 10.5 ppg
5. Toms Lokmanis - 7.9 ppg
Rebounds
1. Adam Steiner - 7.3 rpg
2. Ben Katz - 5.2 rpg
3. Toms Lokmanis - 5.0 rpg
Assists
1. Justin Gunter - 81
2. Martin Ajayi - 64
3. Ben Katz - 60
Steals
1. Martin Ajayi - 49
2. Ben Katz - 28
3. John Obrovac - 24
York Lions Team Leaders (regular season)
Points
1. Dan Eves - 18.7 ppg (14 games played, didn't qualify for OUA scoring leaders)
2. Tut Ruach - 17. 3 ppg
3. Jordan Foebel - 13.3 ppg
4. Rohan Steen - 11.3 ppg
5. Amde Evans - 6.9 ppg
Rebounds
1. Jordan Foebel - 9.2 rpg
2. Dan Eves - 6.1 rpg
3. Amde Evans - 5.2 rpg
Assists
1. Tut Ruach - 92
2. Rohan Steen - 43
3. Dan Eves - 30
Steals
1. Tut Ruach - 39
2. Rohan Steen - 29
3. Dan Eves - 19
24 teams, 6 CIS berths, 2 OUA champions - the OUA basketball playoffs, presented by Investors Group.
- O U A -
(Photo: York all-star forward Dan Eves has been one of the key contributors through York's valiant playoff run. The recovering Lions host the West champion McMaster Marauders in the Wilson Cup this Saturday at the Tait McKenzie Centre.)
Enquires can be addressed to:
David DiCenzo
Communications and Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Phone: 905-540-5156
Fax: 905-540-5149
Email: david.dicenzo@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
