AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

The quest for a perfect Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men's basketball season will have to wait for at least another year.

La Cité was the last of the unbeaten teams, but fell to St. Lawrence-Kingston 76-67 in the second of back-to-back games. The Coyotes began the season with 12 straight wins, and has a three-game advantage atop of the east standings.

Defending OCAA champion Mohawk won all of its first-half contests, but lost 82-75 at Humber to begin the second half of its regular season. The Mountaineers still have a two-game advantage in the loss column to lead the west standings.

The longest win streak now belongs to reigning national champion Humber. The Hawks have won five straight, and sport an unbeaten record at home at 6-0.

VIKINGDOM

St. Lawrence is looking for a return trip to provincials after losing in the OCAA bronze medal game to Durham last March.

The Vikings pulled off the rare sweep of Ottawa teams, defeating Algonquin 93-74 before their victory over previously unbeaten La Cité. Second-year guard Jaz Bains (United Kingdom) scored 54 points in the two games for the Vikings. Bains currently leads the east region averaging 23.8 points per game.

St. Lawrence is currently tied with Algonquin for second place in the east region at 9-4. Two other teams are nipping at the heels, however, with George Brown (8-4) and Seneca (6-4) possessing all-important games in hand.

It will be a key race the rest of the way as the top two teams in the east earn byes into provincials. Algonquin hosts Seneca and visits George Brown before the end of January, while St. Lawrence hosts Seneca on Jan. 30. The top of the east standings should come into clearer focus when the calendar flips to February.

ROUTE TO REDEMPTION

The Redeemer Royals started 2016 like they ended 2015, with a home loss to Niagara. The Royals dropped to 2-8, with their post-season ambitions on life support.

What a difference two road games make. The Royals clipped Sheridan 88-85, then departed St. Clair with a 93-86 victory for Redeemer's first multi-game winning streak of the regular season.

The Royals still need some help, but the sixth and final playoff berth in the west region is still within reach. With three of its final six games against teams below .500, Redeemer can still salvage a post-season berth. Another upset or two will be an added bonus.

COLTS BUCK TREND

The Centennial Colts had a first half of the 2015-16 regular season to forget, dropping all 10 of their games. But the new year presented a clean start for the Colts, something the team took to heart with a 100-89 win at Fleming on Jan. 15.

Third-year guard Kendell Wilson (Ajax) scored a game-high 28 points, while fourth-year guard Javier Marquez (Pickering) added 25 for the Colts.

Centennial will need a lengthy La Cité-type winning streak to climb back into contention, but don't count the Colts out just yet. Centennial is just four games behind sixth-place Loyalist, holders of the final playoff spot in the east region.

RECENT RESULTS

UPCOMING GAMES

Source: OCAA Communications