HAMILTON, Ont. - Over the years, the gym on Mohawk's Fennell Campus has provided more than a few indelible memories for the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (28-10, 18-2 OCAA), with three of their OCAA titles - including their first - having been claimed on that floor.
The memories weren't always as pleasant when facing off against the actual tenants, but as the reigning OCAA and CCAA champions from Mohawk played their final game in that building before opening a new facility next year, the record will show a victory for the visitors, 88-72, as the Double-Blue claimed the 14th regular season division title in team history.
"It was a great way to end the season. I've always put a great deal of value in finishing first [in the division] because it's an indicator of who's playing the best over a four or five month period," Sheridan head coach Jim Flack said. "Now we go into tournament play where we try to see who can be the best over a three-day period. I couldn't be prouder of the guys, but now it's time to get back to work."
The game opened up with both teams trading buckets, but the Bruins closed the first quarter on an 8-2 run to lead 20-15 after 10 minutes.
They pushed their early advantage as high as nine points, but Mohawk responded with an 8-0 run to trim it to one, 24-23, but the Double-Blue would score 17 of the next 27 points to take a 41-33 lead with them into the locker room at halftime.
Throughout the course of the second half, the game was very much a battle of tug-of-war, with Sheridan trying to pull away, only to see Mohawk respond time and again.
The home side was close early in the fourth quarter - pulling to within four, down 64-60 - but in that final period Sheridan out-scored Mohawk 30-21 to slowly make the margin much wider than the game would have dictated.Michael Selkridge scored a team-high 18 points while Jahmal McQueen (16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks), Dylan Periana (16 points), Roshean Keen (13 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and four assists) and Trevor Williams (10 points) all hit double-figures.
The team now advances to the OCAA quarter-final, with the championship tournament hosted by Seneca February 28 to March 2.
Source: Sheridan I.T.