OCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL QUALIFIER PREVIEW
TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's basketball regular season is now in the books. For the dozen teams that have advanced to the post-season, there is no margin for error as a single loss will mean elimination from gold medal contention.
TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's
basketball regular season is now in the books. For the dozen teams
that have advanced to the post-season, there is no margin for error
as a single loss will mean elimination from gold medal
contention.
The top two teams in each region get a well-deserved break as they
have earned automatic entry into the OCAA Men's Basketball
Championship, being hosted by Algonquin College from March 1-3.
East regional champion Centennial (18-2), West champion Humber
(15-3) along with Algonquin (16-4) and Sheridan (14-4) all await
their quarter-final opponents.
For the rest of the teams, a sudden death qualifier is all that
stands in the way of a berth to the OCAA championship tournament,
and the off-season. The third and fourth place teams in each region
host the sixth and fifth place teams from the opposite region,
respectively.
Durham (12-8, 5th East) at Mohawk (13-5, 4th
West)
Saturday, Feb. 25 - 2 p.m.
Both the Mohawk Mountaineers and Durham Lords bring three-game win
streaks into their qualifier.
Mohawk fifth-year guard Aminu Bello (Hamilton,
Ont.) was the scoring champion in the OCAA West this season,
averaging 24.4 points per game. He has scored over 30 points in
each of his last two games. Mohawk was 8-1 at home during the
regular season.
Durham look to second-year guard Christoff Pierre
(Brampton, Ont.) to be a catalyst on offence. Pierre has hit double
figures in scoring in each of his last six games. The Lords have
identical 6-4 records on the home and away.
The winner of this qualifier faces Centennial in the OCAA
quarter-finals.
Fanshawe (12-6, 5th West) at St. Lawrence-Kingston (12-8,
4th East)
Saturday, Feb. 25 - 3 p.m.
Both the Fanshawe Falcons and St. Lawrence Vikings earned a dozen
wins each during the regular season. A baker's dozen will get one
of these clubs into the OCAA tournament.
Fanshawe brings a three-game win streak into the qualifying round.
Second-year guard Boyd Vassell (Kitchener, Ont.)
has scored 24 or more points in each of these wins. The Falcons
have a 4-5 record away from Fanshawe.
Third-year guard Terence Thomas (Ottawa) leads St.
Lawrence in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. The Vikings
have won three out of their last four games, and have a 7-3 home
record.
St. Lawrence and Fanshawe have earned OCAA bronze medals in each of
the last two seasons.
The winner of this qualifier faces Humber in the OCAA
quarter-finals.
George Brown (11-9, 6th East) at Algoma (13-5, 3rd
West)
Saturday, Feb. 25 - 4 p.m.
Algoma puts its 8-1 home record on the line against George
Brown.
The Thunderbirds have one of the top scorers in OCAA in fourth-year
guard Jovain Wilson. The Pickering, Ont., native
is averaging 22.4 points per game, while contributing an average of
six rebounds.
George Brown has flipped around its 9-11 record from a year ago.
Second-year guard Nana Ntim (Bradford, Ont.) is
the top scorer on the Huskies averaging 13.5 points per game.
George Brown was an even 5-5 on the road this season.
The winner of this qualifier faces Algonquin in the OCAA
quarter-finals.
Niagara (11-7, 6th West) at Georgian (12-8, 3rd
East)
Sunday, Feb. 26 - 1 p.m.
The Georgian Grizzlies improved on is 2010-11 regular season record
of 9-11, and will host Niagara in a bid to advance to the OCAA
tournament.
Second-year forward Shane Rowe (Barrie, Ont.) has
been an impressive pick up for the Grizzlies, averaging 22.6 points
and 14.6 rebounds for the seasonal double-double. Georgian has won
six of its past eight games, and is 7-3 at home.
Niagara has won three of its last four games. The Knights are led
offensively by first-year guard Alex Campbell
(Brampton, Ont.) and his 18.1 points per game average. Niagara's
road record stands as 5-6.
The winner of this qualifier faces Sheridan in the OCAA
quarter-finals.
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is a recognized
leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to
student athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 31 members
sponsoring 16 league and tournament championships.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com
