M-Basketball Playoff Roundup
Western, 78 @ McMaster, 67 Box Score
The Western Mustangs beat the McMaster Marauders on their home court 78-67 in the OUA West quarter-final on Wednesday night in Hamilton, Ont.
Ryan Barbeau had 22 points in the win, adding five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Andy Wedemire was a force in the paint getting the Marauders in foul trouble and scoring 21 points, with seven rebounds and five assists.
The Mustangs got out to a fast start, taking a double digit lead into the second quarter at 24-14. The Marauders fought back holding Western to just 12 second quarter points to cut the lead to 36-31 for the Mustangs.
Western came out strong in the third quarter extending the lead to 58-47 heading into the final frame. McMaster would close the gap and make it a tight game with a few minutes remaining but a number of big Mustangs buckets kept Western in front and they extended the lead back to double digits when McMaster was forced to foul in the final minute.
The Mustangs will travel to Thunder Bay to face the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Source: Western Sports Info
York, 70 @ Ryerson, 80 Box Score
The Ryerson Rams men's basketball team advanced to the OUA East semi-finals with an 80-70 triumph over the York Lions at Kerr Hall Gym on Wednesday evening. Toronto native Ola Adegboruwa recorded 24 points in the win, while rookie Bjorn Michaelsen continued to impress in just his second game back from injury, tallying 11 points and five rebounds.
Ryerson was hot out of the gate, scoring the game's first nine points. Michaelsen looked in mid-season form, taking a foul and dropping the first two points of the contest from the line. After Adegboruwa stuffed Lions veteran David Tyndale, he carried the ball to the other end of the floor and laid it in to continue the momentum. Five straight points by first-year Jahmal Jones gave Ryerson a stronghold on the first quarter. Michaelsen brought the crowd to a roar by stuffing a sure lay-up on defence, and then putting together a nice passing play to fellow big-man and rookie Eric Hobson, who picked up a bucket off the glass to spread the lead to 14.
Down by 12 heading into the second, the Lions looked to get back in the game after finding four straight points. However, Jelane Pryce (Innisfil, Ont.) answered for the Rams with a cool hook shot from just inside the foul line. Adegboruwa then took over the period, streaking to the basket after some confusion in the Lions defence to drain an easy two, and then finishing a looping pass from Michaelsen into the basket minutes later. The first half was capped off by a Pryce three-pointer after the Lions sat back and allowed him the open look, and the Rams would enter the locker room with a commanding 43-22 halftime lead.
"It's always nice to get off to a good start, but sometimes it's a bit scary because you know you're going to give up a run at some point," explained Head Coach Roy Rana, who recorded his first playoff win as the Rams bench boss. It was also Ryerson's first OUA post-season victory in nearly eight years. The Rams defeated the Laurentian Voyageurs in the East Quarter-Finals on February 28, 2003.
The Lions did come out in the second half with more purpose, as Tyndale got hot from the perimeter, dropping eight points, including a long three ball that seemed to swing the momentum for York. The Lions would go on a 9-0 run that brought the game back into single digits. Justin Bell completed the streak with a nice lay-in that also drew a foul, which he converted to bring his squad within nine points.
The Rams did their best to weather the storm, as Adegboruwa and Michaelsen each recorded a bucket at the end of the third to once again push the lead to 10 heading into the final period.
"It's a game of runs and energy," said Rana. "(York) made shots, and we weren't playing with the same intensity and started to force things."
The Lions only got hotter in the fourth, as Ostap Choliy made an incredible three-pointer from a few meters inside the half-line. Stefan Haynes got into the comeback, bringing York within four after a three-point play.
However, the Rams quickly recorded four more points courtesy of some quick end-to-end play by Jones and Adegboruwa, and the Lions' comeback was finally put to a halt.
Rana was happy with his team's ability to bounce back from York's second-half push. "As a coach you worry from the time the ball tips off to the end of the game. They made runs, but we responded and fought back."
The mountain to climb will now get even higher for the Rams, as they travel to Ottawa for a match-up against the No.1 Carleton Ravens. The top-seeded team in the nation put together a perfect 22-0 record through regular season play, and have their sights set on another CIS banner.
For Rana and his squad, there will be no major changes made in preparation for the tough test on Saturday. "We've played them a number of times and all the teams know each other now. (We must) continue to stay crisp. It's really more mental at this point."
The Rams will take on the Ravens in Ottawa on Saturday evening.
Source: Ryerson Sports Info
Guelph, 72 @ Laurier, 80 Box Score
Kale Harrison of Stratford, Ont. scored 23 points to lift the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks over the Guelph Gryphons 80-72 in the first round of OUA men's basketball playoffs. Both team's entertained an energetic crowd of 300 people at the Athletic Complex.
"They came out playing really well. We were fighting our way back the whole game and were finally able to overtake them in the fourth quarter," said team captain Kale Harrison. "However, a win is a win and we'll take it."
Laurier took the first quarter 24-23, but in the second frame, the Golden Hawks fell behind 17-12 and went into the half down four. They continued to battle back into the game finally taking the lead for good at the end of the third quarter on a Kale Harrison free throw. A 22-15 final frame sealed the win for the purple and gold.
"I was pleased with the way our kids battled back at the end," said head coach Peter Campbell. "We didn't start out the way we wanted to."
First year standouts Patrick Donnelly (Oakville, Ont.) and Jamar Forde (Mississauga, Ont.) struggled at the beginning of the game, but provided key plays in the final minutes to help seal the win. Donnelly with a pivotal layup and Forde with a block in the final seconds.
"Harrison's job is to be Harrison, Max's job is to control the game for us and Buckley's got to be a big presence inside, and if those guys do that for us we are in good shape."
The Hawks big three of Harrison, Allin and Buckley scored a combined 51 points for the home team. In addition to Harrison's 23 points, Maxwell Allin (Chatham, Ont.) posted 11 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists while Matthew Buckley (Waterloo, Ont.) scored 17 and pulled down 10 boards.Sharif Wanas (Burlington, Ont.) provided a presence from the bench with an 11 point, seven rebound effort.
The Gryphons were led by Michael Petrella who posted 19 points. Kevin Cameron had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Laurier now advances to the OUA quarter-final to take on the Windsor Lancers who finished second in the OUA West and received a first round bye.
"We went down there last year and it was a close game," finished Harrison. "We didn't beat them last year, but this is a good time to start."
Source: Laurier Sports Info
Laurentian, 77 @ Ottawa, 83 Box Score
The Gee-Gees are right on track with their season with tonight’s 83-75 OUA playoff win over the Laurentian Voyageurs.
The Gee-Gees went to work early and built up a solid 13 point lead through the second part of the first frame, thanks largely in part third-year guard Warren Ward, London, Ont., who contributed more than half, in 14 of the Gee-Gees first quarter points. Laurentian stormed out to own the second quarter, cracking the Gee-Gees defense and stealing the lead by the half time break.
The third quarter saw the return of Gee-Gees starters, fifth-year forward Louis Gauthier, Ottawa, Ont., and Ward, and also the return of the lead. Gauthier was unstoppable under the net, first-year guard Johnny Berhanemeskel, Ottawa, Ont., was deadly accurate at the free throw line, and Ward continued to produce steals and baskets as the Gee-Gees jumped back to a twelve point lead.
Unlike the first half, this time the Gee-Gees maintained their momentum and lead, and despite a late push by the Voyageurs, ensured their continued presence in the OUA playoffs with the six point win.
“Credit to Laurentian,” said head coach James Derouin, “After that first period, we came out real strong; I thought that we had them down, and they just kept fighting and fighting and they played a great second quarter. We adjusted at half time and had a great third quarter and that was the difference in the game, how we were able to bounce back from the second quarter.”
Five Gee-Gees cracked the double digits in a well-rounded scoring summary tonight, Ward finished with 24 points, Gauthier followed with 21, Berhanemeskel and first-year rookie forward Chris Anderson, Ottawa, Ont., each snagged 12 and third-year point guard Jacob Gibson-Bascombe, Toronto, Ont., also finished with 10.
“That’s become out team a little bit; we always have a mental lapse,” noted Ward on the second quarter, “And if we can play four quarters, we’ll win every single game.”
“Overall, we played a really good game, a really good defensive game. We stuck to the game plan - in spurts. That’s what I’m most happy about,” continued Ward, “We do it in spurts, but if we can do it for forty minutes, we’ll be that much better.”
The Gee-Gees will now travel to OUA East No. 2 Toronto (14-8 OUA, 0-0 playoffs) on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. for an OUA quarter-final match-up.
Source: Ottawa Sports Info
