SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - The 2010-11 Ontario Colleges Athletic
Association (OCAA) men’s basketball season will come to a
dramatic conclusion this weekend as Algoma University plays host to
the OCAA men’s basketball championship at Essar Centre in
Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
With a crowd of over 4,000 people expected to be in attendance to
see the tournament tip-off between Algoma and Sheridan, it should
be an exciting beginning to three days of championship hoops in the
Soo. Both teams split their 2010-11 regular season series 1-1.
OCAA West champion Humber is looking for a three-peat, having won
the last two OCAA championships. With only one loss all season,
both Humber and OCAA East champion Algonquin have spent time as the
No. 1-ranked team in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association
(CCAA), but only one can advance to the national tournament, hosted
by Durham College. Durham is also playing for a provincial title
this weekend, as it looks to gain momentum heading into the
nationals.
Algoma, Niagara, Seneca and Fanshawe all won OCAA playoff
qualifiers this past weekend, and will also participate in the OCAA
championship. Fanshawe was a silver medalist last season, losing
59-48 to Humber in the final.
Teams that lose in the quarter-finals on Thursday are eliminated
from the tournament. Winners of Friday’s semifinal games
compete for the OCAA championship on Saturday, while the losing
teams battle for bronze.
Durham and the OCAA champion will participate at the CCAA
men’s basketball championship tournament March 17-19. If
Durham wins the OCAA championship, the silver medalist will advance
to nationals.
Here is a look at the quarter-final match-ups to be played
Thursday.
MEN’S QUARTER-FINALS
Algoma (12-7, 6th West) vs. Sheridan (13-5, 2nd West)
Thursday, March 3, 1 p.m.
| Sheridan Bruins | Algoma Thunderbirds |
| Current Streak: Won 1 | Current Streak: Won 2 |
| Team Leaders (Regular Season) | Team Leaders (Regular Season) |
| Pts/G: Khalid Abdel-Gabar (17.2) | Pts/G: D.J. Wright (15.3) |
| Rebounds: Khalid Abdel-Gabar (92) | Rebounds: Dele Oworu (176) |
| Blocks: Michael Selkridge (12) | Blocks: Dele Oworu (16) |
| Steals: Greg Osawe (33) | Steals: Patrick Murray (24) |
| Assists: Bode Olagundoye (44) | Assists: Jacinto Marques (43) |
Niagara (12-7, 4th West) vs. Algonquin (19-1, 1st
East)
Thursday, March 3, 3 p.m.
| Algonquin Thunder | Niagara Knights |
| Current Streak: Won 2 | Current Streak: Won 2 |
| Team Leaders (Regular Season) | Team Leaders (Regular Season) |
| Pts/G: Njuguna Waiganjo (18.0) | Pts/G: C.J. Smith (14.2) |
| Rebounds: Garnet Blais (93) | Rebounds: C.J. Smith (72) |
| Blocks: Garnet Blais (6) | Blocks: Rashad Morley (7) |
| Steals: Njuguna Waiganjo (42) | Steals: Jimmy Bilenga (23) |
| Assists: Njuguna Waiganjo (83) | Assists: Elvis Momat (39) |
Seneca (12-9, 4th East) vs. Humber (17-1, 1st
West)
Thursday, March 3, 5 p.m.
| Humber Hawks | Seneca Sting |
| Current Streak: Won 5 | Current Streak: Won 2 |
| Team Leaders (Regular Season) | Team Leaders (Regular Season) |
| Pts/G: Michael Acheampong (14.5) | Pts/G: Vadim Halimov (16.3) |
| Rebounds: Michael Acheampong (103) | Rebounds: Jermaine Lightbody (141) |
| Blocks: Ron Gabay (8) | Blocks: Norman Hamilton (18) |
| Steals: Kern Lewis (31) | Steals: Jermaine Lightbody (34) |
| Assists: Kern Lewis (63) | Assists: Dean de Jesus (83) |
Fanshawe (13-6, 3rd West) vs. Durham (15-5, 2nd
East)
Thursday, March 3, 7 p.m.
| Durham Lords | Fanshawe Falcons |
| Current Streak: Won 5 | Current Streak: Won 1 |
| Team Leaders (Regular Season) | Team Leaders (Regular Season) |
| Pts/G: Eric Smith (21.6) | Pts/G: Matthew Tkaczyk (14.9) |
| Rebounds: Eric Smith (206) | Rebounds: Gareth Edwards (144) |
| Blocks: Courtney Small (15) | Blocks: Darcy Young (9) |
| Steals: Courtney Small (50) | Steals: Gareth Edwards (29) |
| Assists: Eric Smith (56) | Assists: Jordan Dixon (52) |
Friday, March 4
OCAA Semifinals
Algoma or Sheridan vs. Niagara or Algonquin 6 p.m.
Seneca or Humber vs. Fanshawe or Durham 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 5
OCAA Bronze Medal Game 3 p.m.
OCAA Gold Medal Game 5 p.m.
Championship Website: thunderbirds.algomau.ca
Championship Webcast: www.sportslive.ca
- 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 30 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