GEORGE BROWN 76, CENTENNIAL 56

NORTH YORK, Ont. – The Centennial Colts were the first casualty of the 2013 belairdirect OCAA Men's Basketball Championship Friday afternoon. The Colts ran into George Brown Huskies team which played more like the OCAA East Division's second seed rather than the one who fell flat against Fanshawe yesterday.

The Huskies played a strong defensive game, limiting the Colts to just 36 points in the first three quarters before pulling away in the fourth quarter with hot shooting to win 76-56.

George Brown opened the game on a 9-0 run. The run was highlighted by an alley-oop, two-handed slam by Dwayne Harrison. Centennial had a number of opportunities to get on the board early, but failed to hit shots. Jameel Williamson had two wide open looks from beyond the arc, but could not get the Colts on the board. Centennial was finally able to find the basket after six and a half minutes when Terence Nelson grabbed a rebound and put back.

With the two Toronto schools battling for bragging rights in the community, action often heated up on the floor. Offsetting fouls were issued to Fidel Benjamin (George Brown) and Steven Downer (Centennial) when the two engaged in actions deemed outside the rules of the game with 35 seconds left in the quarter. The Huskies led 15-5 at the end of one.

Looking to get back into the game, Centennial's chances decreased when guard Natiel McKenzie left the floor with an apparent arm injury. He would return just before halftime, show no ill-effects. A three-pointer by Cedric Pelayo narrowed the Huskies lead to 10, but George Brown's Bruno Silvestrin made sure the lead did not get any closer. The Huskies led at the half 32-22.

The third and fourth quarters were complete opposites as defence ruled the third. Centennial would outscore the Huskies 14-13 to pull within nine heading into the fourth quarter thanks to a two at the buzzer by Tristan Stern.

A wide-open fourth quarter saw George Brown shoot 72.2 percent from the floor as a team, extending their lead to 20 points late. The Colts could on watch as seven Huskies made at least one basket in the quarter, scoring 31 points overall.

Silverstrin led the Huskies with 22 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists. Ricardo Brown and Salissou Abdoulkader each added 12 points. Silverstrin was named the Huskies' Player of the Game.

The Colts were led by team Player of the Game Stern who had 18 points and six rebounds. Pelayo added nine points. The Colts were outrebounded 46-35 for the game.

The Huskies advance to play Seneca on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the bronze medal semi-final while Centennial's season comes to an end.

Source: Seneca College