FANSHAWE BEAT CENTENNIAL IN OCAA MEN'S CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS

SCARBOROUGH, ONT. - Day 2 of the 2017 Belairdirect OCAA Men's Basketball Championships continued as the second consolation match featured the Fanshawe Falcons from the West Division and the Centennial Colts from the East Division.

If a few breaks bounced their way, this could be a battle to decide a berth in nationals for both Centennial and Fanshawe. Sadly, that is not the case.

For Fanshawe, after beating the Durham Lords, 68-65, on a last second three pointer by guard Chris Parker (#3) in their crossover match, they were in another close battle against the top seeded George Brown Huskies from the OCAA East.

Unfortunately, the Falcons were on the wrong side of a nailbiter as they fell, 76-74, against the Huskies, on two free throws with 3.1 seconds left in the game.

Centennial, due to being the hosts, automatically earned a berth in the OCAA Championships but also earned their way into the tournament by going 15-5 this season and finishing third in the OCAA East, a nine game improvement from last season.

The Colts played the second seeded Niagara Knights from the OCAA West. In a game that was filled with tension and played in a raucous crowd, missed opportunities in regulation and overtime proved costly for Centennial as they lost a heartbreaker, 70-66, to the Knights in overtime.

Once again, the crowd cheered on the host Colts this afternoon. Fanshawe, however, had other ideas as they pulled away from Centennial, 92-85, to earn a berth in the consolation final.

Throughout the entire game, the Falcons were on fire as they shot 53.7 per cent and 66.7 per cent from behind the arc. A back and forth game, for three quarters, was decided in the fourth quarter as Fanshawe outscored Centennial, 34-26.

The Colts and Falcons went back and forth in the first quarter as Fanshawe had an early three point lead (10-7) before back to back threes from second year guard Alex (AC) Hagoriles (#11) put Centennial back up three (13-10). A buzzer beating three pointer from second year forward Paul (LC) Walwyn (#20) put the Colts up five (22-17) heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was a struggle offensively for Centennial as they shot 1-7 from behind the arc after going 4-9 in the first. Meanwhile, the Falcons got their offense going as they shot 66.7 per cent from the field in the quarter, using a 7-0 run. The Falcons were up seven (38-31) before the Colts cut the lead to three (42-39) at intermission.

Three players scored in double figures for Fanshawe as Parker, forward Alfred Johnson (#22), and centre Lex Van Iperen (#33) each had 10 points at the half. Walwyn was the only Colt in double figures at the break with 10 points while guard Josh Mcfarlene had all eight of his points in the second quarter.

Determined to be better on the defensive end to start the second half, the Colts scored the first eight points and eventually went on a 14-3 run to go up by eight (53-45), which was the largest lead for Centennial. However, a three point play on a dunk by Fanshawe's Johnson turned the quarter in the Falcons' favour as they went on a 10-0 run near the end of the quarter. Eventually, the score was tied at 59 heading into the fourth quarter.

Parker had 10 points in the third for the Falcons. Curic, meanwhile, came alive with 11 in the quarter after only scoring two points in the first half.

The final frame was all Fanshawe as they went on a 14-5 run to start the quarter. After Centennial scored five straight points, the Falcons went on a 9-0 run to take the biggest lead of the game at 13 (82-69). Despite the Colts cutting it to six (91-85) with 15.9 seconds left, the double digit deficit was too much to overcome as Fanshawe sealed the win.   

The fourth quarter turned into the Chris Parker show as it seemed like the Falcons guard could not miss, scoring 21 points in the quarter alone. Parker hit seven of his nine shots attempted in the quarter, including hitting all four of his three point attempts.

Altogether, Parker had a career high 41 points, with 31 of them coming in the second half. He also had help, as Johnson had 20 points and a team high nine rebounds, while Iperen and guard Deandre Austin (#8) had 10 apiece. Parker and Austin also led Fanshawe with five assists each.

In what is their final game as Colts, co-captains Walwyn, Curic, and Hagoriles went out with a bang. Walwyn led Centennial with 26 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter, while Curic had 20 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. Hagoriles had eight points and two steals while Mcfarlene nearly had a triple double with 13 points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists.

Parker was named the Player of the Game for the Falcons while Curic was named Player of the Game for the Colts.

The consolation final is tomorrow at 1:00 pm between the Redeemer Royals and the Fanshawe Falcons.