Day 3 of the 2017 belairdirect OCAA Men's Basketball Championships continued. This time, a medal was at stake as it was a battle of OCAA West Division foes between the third seeded Humber Hawks and the second seeded Niagara Knights to determine who takes the bronze medal.
Humber held off a furious rally by Niagara to claim bronze with a 82-79 victory. Despite being ahead for the entire game and leading by as many as 15 midway through the fourth quarter (75-60), the Hawks had to hold onto the lead for dear life as the Knights stormed back, using a 19-7 run, to nearly earn a medal, despite losing star guard Van Hutchinson Jr. (#11) early in the tournament due to injury.
It marks the fourth straight year that Humber has earned a medal at the provincial championships. Niagara, meanwhile, capped off a fantastic season by finishing fourth in this tournament.
Humber was led by forward Tyrone Dickson (#10), who had 22 points and three blocks, both of which were game highs. He also had a game high 12 rebounds along with guard Gibson Eduful (#3), who had a team high five assists. Forward CJ Bennett (#8) was the other Hawk in double figures with 13 points and also had a team high three steals.
Niagara had five players who scored in double figures, stepping up in Hutchinson Jr's absence. Guard Alex Elliott (#12) led the Knights with 15 points while forward Jordan Wilson (#8) had a double double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, along with two blocks. Guard Lequan Hylton (#7) and forward Levi Makuna (#14) had 12 apiece while forward Payam Saboni (#4) had 11.
Hylton also had three steals and a game high six assists in the loss.
Although Humber was outscored 21-3 from behind the arc, free throws and rebounding played huge roles in the Hawks winning this game. Humber outrebounded Niagara, 66-55, and hit five more free throws (23-18).
Both teams protected the ball well with the Knights only committing nine turnovers and the Hawks turning over the ball 12 times.
The Hawks were off to a fast start on the defensive end, forcing the Knights to shoot just 17.4 per cent (4-23) from the field in the first quarter. Behind Dickson's solid start with six points and three rebounds, Humber took a ten point lead (20-10) after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Niagara started to get their offense flowing, scoring 21 points in total. Humber kept the lead steady at 11 for much of the quarter. However, Niagara went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 31-28. Humber then extended its lead to eight (39-31) at halftime, closing on an 8-3 run.
Saboni and Elliott scored seven points each in the quarter for Niagara.
Dickson was the only player in double figures at the half with 10 points.
The third quarter saw Niagara slowly chip away at Humber's lead, cutting it to two (62-60) late, eventually trailing by just three points (63-60) heading into the quarter. It was an offensive showcase in the third as the Knights almost outscored their entire score at halftime with 29 points while Humber had 24.
Humber was led in the quarter by Bennett and guard Trevon Mollison (#24), both of whom had five points each. Elliott and Hylton led Niagara with six points each in the third quarter.
The Hawks then put the clamps on the Knights' offense in the final frame, reeling off 13 straight points (with one point from the third quarter) and eventually forced Niagara into a timeout with six minutes remaining. Things got chippy with Hylton being called for a flagrant foul.
Niagara then went on a 19-7 run and had a chance to tie the game with 9.9 seconds remaining in the game. Hylton had the ball and got a good look from deep but missed and Dickson grabbed the board, ending the game.
Dickson was named Player of the Game for the Hawks and was a Tournament All Star while Wilson was named Player of the Game for the Knights.