Men's Basketball rolls Canadore Saturday afternoon
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Canadore (0-15, 0-15) | 10 | 27 | 17 | 13 | 67 |
|
Humber (9-6, 9-6) | 17 | 31 | 15 | 34 | 97 |
By: Stefan Gerardi
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE – Humber men's basketball (9-6, 5th West) is back in the win column after defeating the Canadore Panthers (0-15, 10th West), 97-67. After a red-hot start from Humber that made fans think a blowout was in store, Canadore flipped the script and put on a three-point clinic. Although the Panthers kept the game close, the Hawks weren't going to let Canadore secure their first win of the season at North Campus Gym. Humber secured their ninth win of the season to stay in the running for third place in the West.
Mississauga native Raheem Dennis was lights out as he posted 25 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists to record his third double-double of the season and lead his team in all three areas. Romeo Osas Joshua and Dwayne Lambert-Cadore also posted double-digit point totals with 14 and 13, respectively.
Match Recap
After coming off a heartbreaking home loss to the Niagara Knights, the Hawks knew they needed a win to solidify a good position in the OCAA western conference with playoffs on the horizon. Their opponents, the Canadore Panthers, were looking for their first win of the season as they were riding a 14-game losing streak heading into the matchup against Humber. The Hawks were aware they needed to take advantage of this and secure a much-needed victory.
As the matinee clash tipped off, the Hawks started strong in front of a loud Hawks' Nest. The squad hurdled ahead to an early double-digit after a 12-2 run led by Raheem Dennis. Humber's offence cooled off after a hot start, and Canadore managed to pull to with four points of tying the game. Romeo Osas Joshua reignited the Hawks after a deep three, and the Hawks took a seven-point advantage to the second frame.
The Hawks picked up where they left off as they went on a dominating 11-3 run to start the second quarter. Humber found their tempo and put on a show with impressive ball movement and effortless shooting. The Panthers showed resilience as they drilled multiple three-balls and drained buckets on back-to-back possessions, but Humber had an answer to everything thrown their way. Although the Hawks had a big lead, their defence was exposed by Canadore's sharp three-point shooting. The Hawks knew they needed to tighten up on the defensive end to safeguard their 11-point lead in the second half.
Taujh Motiki-Stephens had himself a first half as he was perfect from the floor, while Dwayne Lambert-Cadore had yet another impressive start to his season. Raheem Dennis led the Hawks in points with 15 by halftime. As a unit, the Hawks went 19-of-33 from the floor (57.6 per cent) and 5-of-13 (38.5 per cent) from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Panthers started their second half on a high note as three quick lasers from downtown brought them to within five points of the struggling Hawks. Humber knew they needed to take advantage of their edge on offence to compensate for their defensive struggles. The Hawks slowly grew their lead to nine as Canadore went cold from beyond the arc; however, the Panthers' three-point woes did not last long. Humber's opponents hit five threes in the third quarter but still trailed by three possessions going into the final frame.
Romeo Osas Joshua opened the fourth quarter with a corner three that again put the Hawks up by double-digits. After the teams traded points, the Hawks ran away with the game as a 10-1 run that saw them take their first 20-point cushion of the contest. The Panthers looked defeated, and the Hawks cruised to the final buzzer supported by an all-around team effort and better defence. Humber's big fourth quarter earned them their ninth win of the campaign after overpowering the Panthers by 30 points.
The Hawks finished the game shooting 38-of-69 (55.1 per cent) from the floor and 8-of-24 (33.3 per cent) from three-point territory. The Hawks will add to their OCAA-leading rebound total as the squad recorded 52 boards. Humber also posted 18 assists, 15 steals and four blocks.
Humber Highlights
- Humber's all-time record against Canadore now stands at 19-0.
- Raheem Dennis has recorded his third double-double of the season and the fifth of his career.
- Raheem Dennis has also posted a season-high in points with 25.
- Head coach Omar Miles has posted his 25th career victory as bench boss and is currently 25-6 all-time.
- The Hawks have tied their season high in points with 97. They also drained 97 points on Nov. 26, 2022, against the Redeemer Royals at home.
What's Next?
Humber men's basketball will begin a tough two-game road trip that will see them face the Lambton Lions (7-7, 7th West) and Ontario's third-ranked team, the St. Clair Saints (11-3, 2nd West). The Hawks will return home on Feb. 18 to conclude the 2022-23 season against their rival, the Sheridan Bruins. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.
