TRURO, N.S. - Mohawk College has won its first Canadian
Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball championship.
The Mountaineers, led by Aminu Bello's 32-point,
player of the game performance, downed the Mount Royal University
Cougars of Calgary 88-73 in the gold medal final in Truro, N.S. on
Saturday. Alex Reis scored 22 points and
Tanner Lane added 12, on four 3-point shots.
Andrew Cicuttini, who was named Most Valuable
Player of the Championship, had 15 rebounds for the
Mountaineers.
Mohawk fell behind 12-4 but thanks to consecutive three pointers
by Bello, Lane and Bello again, took the lead and were in front
21-18 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Mohawk went on a 15-1 run and led by 17
(36-19). Mount Royal got back to within seven points (44-37) but
Lane's late three pointer gave the Mountaineers their 10 point
margin at the half.
In the third quarter, the teams basically traded points and Mohawk
led 64-55.
It was much the same story in the final quarter. Whatever Mount
Royal did, Mohawk responded.
Mohawk had a field goal percentage of 40.26 for the game, while
Mount Royal shot 34.15 percent.
Turnovers were very key in the championship match. The
Mountaineers scored 14 points off turnovers, while the Cougars
could manage only two.
Mohawk head coach Brian Jonker called the
championship "Absolutely unbelievable." Jonker, so impressed by the
team's play the last eight weeks, which included winning the OCAA
title, said "I didn't even consider what I would say to the team if
they lost, because losing wasn't even an option."
As far as Bello's career-ending effort was concerned, the coach
said "Our best player played his best game, in his final game. He
pulled us out of the doldrums and led us to the national
championship."
Mohawk's Manny Campbell was named to the
championship's First All-Star Team. Taylor
Dowhaniuk was named to the Second Team.
Source: Mohawk College
Photo Credit: Kirk Saint