By: Severn Zieman
When a 14-point lead vanished, the No. 8 nationally ranked Mohawk Mountaineers didn't panic and were able to hold on for a 104-101 overtime win over the Sheridan Bruins.
Mohawk and Sheridan, two of the top four offenses in the OCAA, played a back and forth first half but the Mountaineers would close out the second quarter on a 14-0 run, capped off by a Rommel Calura (Hamilton, ON) three at the buzzer.
The Bruins began to chip away early in the third as the Mountaineers lead would be down to four heading into the final 10 minutes.
Both teams would go back to trading leads in the final frame, and with 1:10 left Mountaineers guard Daniel Graham (Hamilton, ON) – who finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists – would foul out and be replaced by Raivone Young (Halifax, NS).
Young would turnout to be a hero for Mohawk as they trailed 91-89 with 10 seconds remaining in regulation. The second-year guard would take the Mountaineers final possession on his own to tie the game with two seconds left.
In overtime it was much of the same back and forth scoring between the two, but Mohawk would find themselves leading by seven with 1:44 left. Again, the Bruins would not go away knocking down a three with 1:04 remaining and cutting the Mountaineers lead down to four.
Stefan Anisko (Haldimand County, ON) would make two free throws to get the Mohawk lead back up to six. Sheridan would follow with a three to keep the game interesting at 104-101.
After Young missed both free throws, the Bruins would get one finally opportunity to keep the game going with three seconds left but could not get their final shot to fall.
This was Mohawk's second game of the season that went to overtime, coming away with a win each time, as they now lead the OCAA West division with a 13-2 record.
Anisko had a team-high 29 points off the bench and was a perfect seven-of-seven from the free throw line. Calura added 20 points and Jerry Jr. Mercury had his eighth double-double performance with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while also getting six assists and five steals.
With Mercury leading the team in minutes, playing all but one minute of the game, head coach Brian Jonker once again noted the importance of the second-year forward.
"He's a greater scorer when he needs to be, but his biggest asset is his size in the game, we just can't replace that when he's on the bench," said Jonker.
With the win Mohawk is now guaranteed to host an OCAA crossover playoff game on Feb. 25 with three games remaining on the season.
The Mountaineers continue their three-game road trip this weekend when they travel to play the Canadore Panthers on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.
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