LAKEHEAD KNOCKS OFF GEE-GEES TO ADVANCE TO WILSON CUP FINAL
HAMILTON, Ont. (OUA) - A field goal by Ontario University Athletics (OUA) second-team all-star Venzal Russell with 0.9 second remaining in regulation gave the Lakehead Thunderwolves their first trip to a Wilson Cup championship game in team history, defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gees 71-69 Friday night in semifinal action at of the OUA men's basketball Final Four, hosted by McMaster University.
Wilson Cup Final Four web site: www.oua.ca/wilsoncup.
Lakehead had held a comfortable 42-29 lead at halftime, but saw their advantage evaporate in the fourth quarter as the Gee-Gees tied the game, then claimed a two-point lead in the final two minutes of play. A pair of three throws by OUA first-team all-star Jamie Searle with 12 seconds remaining, followed by Russell's basket, secured the Lakehead victory.
The Thunderwolves finished the 2010-11 OUA regular season atop the conference's west division with a 17-5 record, and currently stand sixth in the CIS Top Ten weekly ranking.
Russell, from Detroit, Michigan, led Lakehead with 17 points, connecting on eight of 20 field goal attempts. Third-year forward Yoosrie Salhia, of Toronto, banked 13 points and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds. Third-year guard Ben Johnson, of Pictou, N.S., was also in double digits with 12 points, connecting on four of eight three-point shots. The Lakehead defence dominated on rebounds, grabbing 21 defensive boards against just two offensive rebounds for the Gee-Gees.
For the Gee-Gees, fifth-year centre and Ottawa native Louis Gauthier led the scoring with 18 points, followed by a 14 point performance by Nemanja Baletic. Christopher Anderson and Warren Ward each tallied 10 points apiece. Ottawa struggled somewhat on free throws, missing five of 12 attempts.
The Wilson Cup, first presented in 1908-09 and in its 94th season of competition, is emblematic of the Ontario university men's basketball championship.
Lakehead jumped out to an early 22-12 lead by the end of the first quarter, helped along by six three-pointers, including three from Johnson. The Thunderwolves' early success from outside of the arc was contrasted by Ottawa's struggle from the free throw line, sinking just one of six attempts.
The Thunderwolves continued to add to its lead in the second frame, outscoring the Gee-Gees 20-17 to take a 42-29 lead into halftime.
Ottawa chipped away at the Lakehead lead in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to single digits in the final minutes of the period. Lakehead's third-year guard Greg Carter closed out the third frame with a buzzer-beating field goal, giving the Thunderwolves a 63-53 advantage entering the final frame.
The Gee-Gees pressure rapidly intensified in the final quarter, tying the score at 67 apiece from a three-pointer by Baletic with 1:39 remaining. Gauthier gave the Gee-Gees a 69-67 lead with 35.6 seconds left in regulation, shooting a two-pointer from a multi-player scramble, before Searle's free throws and Russell's game-winner.
The winner of the Laurier-Carleton semifinal will face Lakehead for the Wilson Cup championship game Saturday, March 5 at 8.00 pm at McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium. The game will be telecast live by The Score network. The game will be webcast live at www.thescore.com.
WILSON CUP FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE
All games at Burridge Gymnasium, McMaster University
Friday March 4
Semifinal 1: Lakehead Thunderwolves 71, Ottawa Gee-Gees 69
Semifinal 2: Carleton Ravens vs. Laurier Golden Hawks - 8.00 pm
Saturday March 5
Wilson Cup final: Lakehead vs winner of semifinal 2 - 8.00 pm
