OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College in Oshawa, Ont. plays host to the 2015 belairdirect Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Basketball Championship, beginning Friday and running through Sunday.
Eight teams will compete for the OCAA title, including the host Durham Lords. With both of last year's finalists Sheridan College and Algonquin College not advancing to the post-season this year, there will be a new champion crowned on Sunday evening.
A total of 12 games will be played in a span of three days. The OCAA quarter-finals will take place on Friday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. Losing teams will compete in the bronze medal quarter-finals on Saturday, followed by the OCAA semi-final matches. The bronze medal semi-finals and final will take place on Sunday leading into the OCAA gold medal match.
The OCAA champion advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men's Basketball National Championship, taking place in Hamilton, Ont. later this month. The host Mohawk Mountaineers automatically qualify; if Mohawk wins the OCAA championship, the runner-up will also advance.
Here is a look at the OCAA quarter-finalists:
Durham Lords (17-3, 1st East)
The Durham Lords knew they would be competing in provincials 10 months ago. That didn't stop the team from finishing the regular season with the top record in the east region.
A pair of Lords averaged better than 20 points per game, more than any other team at the championship. Fourth-year guard Ajahmo Clarke (Ajax, Ont.) averaged 22.3 points per game, while former OCAA athlete of the year Eric Smith (Ajax, Ont.) averaged 20.3. The fifth-year forward will be making his final appearance at provincials.
The Lords have not finished on the OCAA podium this century. Durham's last medal came in 1997, when it won the championship.
Durham enters provincials having won 10 of its last 11 games. Durham's only loss came against St. Lawrence-Kingston. Fittingly, these teams will meet in the quarter-finals.
Fanshawe Falcons (13-5, 3rd West)
The Fanshawe Falcons earned a ticket to the OCAA championship by way of an 81-71 win over George Brown in the qualifying round. Third-year forward Adam Jespersen (London, Ont.) almost earned a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds in the victory.
Third-year guard Chris Stanhope (Markham, Ont.) led the Falcons in scoring during the regular season averaging 17.3 points per game.
Fanshawe has now won two straight after suffering back-to-back losses for the first time in 2014-15.
The Falcons have been shut out of medals the past two championships after claiming bronze in 2012. Fanshawe takes on Georgian to open the 2015 tournament.
Georgian Grizzlies (14-6, 2nd East)
A strong regular season by the Georgian Grizzlies secured the team a bye into provincials.
Second-year forward Tequilan Zwarych (Whitby, Ont.) loved double-doubles more than the average coffee drinker. He achieved the feat 17 times this season. Zwarych averaged 20.0 points and a league-best 13.9 rebounds per game.
After dropping three of four, Georgian has won three straight, gaining some momentum heading into its post-season debut.
The Grizzlies has never won a medal at provincials. Georgian's quarter-final opponent is Fanshawe.
Humber Hawks (17-1, 1st West)
The Humber Hawks are the only 2014 OCAA medalist returning to provincials this year. The Hawks claimed bronze last season.
Humber has won nine straight, its only loss during the regular season coming against Fanshawe. The Hawks won the west regional crown for the first time in three seasons.
Third-year power forward Tyrone Dickson (Scarborough, Ont.) led Humber in three key statistical categories, including 219 points, 217 rebounds and 46 blocks.
Humber faces Lambton in the quarter-finals, a team it beat twice during the regular season.
Lambton Lions (10-8, 5th West)
If there is a Cinderella in this year's playoffs, that role will be played by the Lambton Lions.
Lambton finished above .500 for the first time since the 2003-04 season, and earned the golden ticket into the OCAA championship by way of a convincing 97-70 win at Centennial in the qualifying round.
Third-year guard Brandon Padgett (China Township, Mich.) led the Lions in scoring averaging 20.5 points per game. Fourth-year teammate Mike Lucier (Forest, Ont.) averaged a double-double for the season at 17.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
Lambton's only OCAA medals have come in Division II, with its last coming in 1992. The Lions tangle with Humber in the quarter-finals, having lost to the Hawks twice by double digits during the regular season.
Mohawk Mountaineers (15-3, 2nd West)
The Mohawk Mountaineers have nothing to lose this provincials, knowing their season will continue when they host nationals in two week's time.
But they have an opportunity to win a provincial crown for the first time since 2012. That season, Mohawk one-upped itself by winning a national title as well.
The Mountaineers had an eight-game win streak snapped in their regular season finale against Humber, the second time they lost to the Hawks in 2014-15. Only destiny will determine whether these teams meet again in the month of March.
Mohawk is led by the OCAA west region's top scorer, fifth-year guard Matt Fennell (London, Ont.) and his 28.4 points per game average. Defensively, fifth-year teammate Taylor Dowhaniuk (Dundas, Ont.) topped all OCAA players with 59 blocks.
Mohawk takes on Seneca in the quarter-finals.
St. Lawrence Vikings (12-8, 5th East)
The St. Lawrence Vikings sailed into the OCAA championship by virtue of a 90-83 win at Redeemer in the OCAA qualifying round.
A pair of Vikings averaged around 20 points per game. Fourth-year guard Andrew Dawkins (Brampton, Ont.) led the team with a 20.2 points per game average, slightly ahead of first-year teammate Jaz Bains (United Kingdom) and his 19.9 rate.
St. Lawrence won 10 straight before losing its last three games of the regular season. But it is 1-0 in the post-season, the most important stat this time of year.
St. Lawrence faces Durham in the quarter-finals. These teams split their regular season series 1-1.
Seneca Sting (13-7, 3rd East)
The Seneca Sting have won seven of its last eight games, including a 99-84 home victory over Niagara in the qualifying round.
Seneca is led by former OCAA player of the year Felix Adjei (Toronto) who averaged 22.4 points per game. The fifth-year player also led the Sting with 135 rebounds, 56 assists 41 steals and nine blocks. He will be competing at his final provincials.
The Sting are currently in a lengthy OCAA medal drought, last finishing on the podium in 1993 as silver medalists.
Seneca takes on Mohawk in the quarter-finals.
Championship Website: www.dchosts.com
Championship Webcast: durhamlords.com/sports/2015/3/3/MBB_0303152337.aspx
Friday, March 6
Quarter-Finals
Game 1 - Lambton vs. Humber - 1 p.m.
Game 2 - Fanshawe vs. Georgian - 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Seneca vs. Mohawk - 6 p.m.
Game 4 - St. Lawrence-Kingston vs. Durham - 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Bronze Quarter-Finals
Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 - 1 p.m.
Game 6 - Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 - 3 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game 7 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Game 8 - Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Bronze Semi-Finals
Game 9 - Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6 - 10 a.m.
Game 10 - Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5 - 12 p.m.
Bronze Medal Game
Game 11 - Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 5 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of game
Gold Medal Game
Game 12 - Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 7:30 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of game
- OCAA -
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