MOHAWK 75, ALGONQUIN 68
ETOBICOKE, Ont. - Someone said 'your best players have to be your best players' in post-season play and the Mohawk men's basketball team proved that theory correct in their quarter-final at the belairdirect Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship at Humber College on Friday.
The reigning OCAA champs had a formidable opponent in Ottawa's Algonquin College Thunder, but in the end, the Mountaineers' all-stars led the team to a 75-68 victory. Lamar Barr had 23 points and nine rebounds. Mohawk player of the game Jeff Hunt scored 17 points and had nine boards as well. Kareem Collins notched 14 points.
Just the day before, this trio was named to the OCAA West Division Second All-Star Team and Collins was also picked the top rookie in the province.
And they had to be at their best. The game was 40-40 at halftime and it stayed tight until very late when Mohawk and their fans got to exhale.
Mountaineers head coach Brian Jonker used three words to describe the night. "Survive and advance."
The coach admitted his team didn't take care of the ball very well, but they found a way to win.
The big guns did their thing, but Jonker wanted to heap some praise on another player as well. "Pat (Iavarone) came on in the second half and had a bunch of steals and really turned the game around," said Jonker.
Now, Mohawk will meet another tough club in the Lambton Lions of Sarnia, Ont., on Saturday night at 8 p.m. at Humber. The Lions outgunned La Cite Coyotes from Ottawa 101-93 in another exciting game.
The other semi-final will see Humber playing Sheridan. The host Hawks trimmed St. Lawrence Vikings of Kingston 80-68, while the Sheridan Bruins topped the Niagara Knights, 79-69 in the other quarter-finals.
Source: Mohawk College