As we embark on the 2007 Men’s Basketball season the OCAA looks solid to contend for a National title this year with four OCAA teams appearing in the top fifteen National Ranking and the Fanshawe Falcons topping the list in the number one spot. With the 2006 edition of the season wrapping up last week the undefeated Fanshawe Falcons out of the West and the Centennial Colts in the Central Region have established themselves as the early frontrunners entering the New Year. With the exemption of Falcons and Colts the rest of the regions remain a logjam of teams fighting to stay in the hunt for that playoff spot that is only a few short months away.

CENTRAL REGION

Coming off a disappointing season last year the Centennial Colts have made some noise in the Central Region going 5-0, defeating each of the other Central teams once to lead the competitive region. If the Colts maintain their winning ways they have a chance at achieving the colleges first-ever undefeated season and winning their third championship title since 1983-1984. First year Head Coach Jamie Lewis has done an excellent job integrating a couple key rookies with experienced veterans this year. Featuring a balanced scoring attack the Colts are one of only two teams in the league with five players averaging double digits. Leading the list of Colts scorers is Lewis’s top recruit, first-year small forward Raseed McKenley averaging 18.2 PPG.

Posting a 4-1 record the always-tough Humber Hawks enter the break second in the Central Region, with the only defeat coming at the hands of a disappointing one-point loss to the Colts early in the season. The defending champions picked up from where they left off last year with 12-second year players returning from the championship squad. The Hawks are a defensive standout this year holding their competition to the fewest points in the Region with only 279 points scored against this year.

Centennial and Humber will open their 2007 edition of the season against each other as they square off on January 9th in Scarborough at 8 p.m.

The other Central teams of note are the Seneca Sting (3-3) and Sheridan Bruins (2-2).

In the Central Region scoring race, Raseed McKenley of Centennial is leading the way with 18.2 PPG followed by JP Amaral of Georgian with 15.4 PPG.


EAST REGION

The East Region has a slew of teams fighting for the divisional title with three teams sharing the lead with six wins apiece – St. Lawrence K (6-2), Algonquin (6-1) and Cambrian (6-2).

The Algonquin Thunder rolled into the season with an impressive 4-0 record until the Loyalist Lancers handed them their first loss. The Cambrian Golden Shield are enjoying one of their best seasons to date and hope they can cap it off with they’re first-ever regional title. Meanwhile the St. Lawrence Vikings opened the season strutting their offensive skills as they lead the East with the most points scored (656) on the year.

Over 50% of the players in the top fifteen of OCAA scoring hail from the East Region. Leading the list is fourth-year guard from Ottawa Ahmed Eman of Algonquin who is on pace to win the overall league and East scoring title with 22.7 PPG. Other key players in the running are Milton Holness of St. Lawrence (22.7 PPG) and Anthony Batchelor of Durham (21.3 PPG).

A look into the past will show the Algonquin Thunder winning the East Region last year, the Loyalist Lancers in 2004-2005 and the Thunder again in 2003-2004.

WEST REGION

The Fanshawe Falcons got off to a quick start with a 7-0 record as they look to repeat as West Region champions. This year’s Falcon squad is enjoying much success as they hold the number one spot in the provincial and national rankings. Third-year Pat Sewell is the leading scorer for Fanshawe averaging 16.3 PPG and sits second for most three-pointers with 20 made this season.

The Niagara Knights have also found some success this season with a 4-1 record the team sits second entering the holiday break. Niagara’s only loss of the year came at the hands of the undefeated Fanshawe Falcons. The Knights are in search of their first-ever championship title and are counting on a young team with nine rookies to take them into the post season. New recruit, but no stranger to the OCAA Anthony McAleese, a former Fanshawe Falcon is leading the team on and off the court averaging 17.6 PPG.

The Fanshawe Falcons won the West Region title last year while the Sault Cougars were on top in 2004-2005 and the St. Clair Saints won in 2003-2004.

In the West Region scoring race, Leng Yeang of St. Clair is leading with 24.5 PPG in only two games followed closely by Redeemers Mike Soluk with 18.6 PPG and Niagara’s Anthony McAleese with 17.6 PPG.


WATCH OUT FOR

The Seneca Sting got off to a slow start to their 2006-2007 campaign as they kicked the season off with a loss to the now undefeated region leaders, Centennial Colts. Now the Sting enter the break playing .500-ball with a 3-3 record. Seneca is paced by a deep bench and balanced scoring attack that make the team a viable championship contender. The team is lead by a trio of scorers in Ryan Carrafiello 10.8 PPG, Jay Oliver 10.3 PPG and Sola Kolawole 10 PPG. Look for the Seneca Sting to maintain their momentum and secure a playoff spot in the post season.

CHECKING THE RECORD BOOK………on the road to winning

- Five players are battling for the overall league scoring title including Ahmed Eman of Algonquin (28.1 PPG), Leng Yeang of St. Clair (24.5 PPG), Milton Holness of St. Lawrence (22.7 PPG) Anthony Batchelor of Durham (21.3 PPG) and Mathieu Riendeau of St. Lawrence (20.3 PPG).

- Fourth-year guard Ahmed Eman of Algonquin registered 37-points in an 86-75 Thunder victory on including Saturday December 2 in Ottawa. Eman had eleven three-pointers to break the all time OCAA record of 10 three-pointers in a game previously held by Duane Elder of Centennial in 1998 and Brad MacLeod of Redeemer in 1999.

- Ahmed Eman of Algonquin is on pace to break the OCAA Record for most three-pointers in a season. The fourth year veteran is currently averaging five treys a game and is on pace to score 85 on the year. The current record was set last year by Neil O’Sullivan of Fleming Peterborough at 63.

- Trace Simpson of George Brown has been solid from the charity stripe hitting 12 of 13 free throws for an average of 92%. The OCAA record is 97% set in 1985-86.


UPCOMING EVENTS

- The 20th Annual OCAA Basketball All-Star game will be taking place on Saturday Janaury 20, 2007 at the Durham College Campus Athletic Centre in Oshawa, ON. The Men’s Game will tip off at 8 p.m. and include the 3-Point Shoot Out Final at halftime.

- The OCAA Championships will be taking place on March 1-3 at Durham College in Oshawa, ON.