SHERIDAN WINS OCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THRILLING FASHION OVER GEORGE BROWN

SCARBOROUGH, ONT., - Sheridan guard Dylan Periana (#7) was speechless after his team pulled out a dramatic win over the George Brown Huskies.

The veteran Bruin has won two provincial championships before but never like this.

"It's amazing," Periana said. "I wouldn't have it end any other way."

A fitting way to end what was an exciting and jam packed tournament.

Forward Brian Owusu's (#33) jumper with 0.1 seconds left was the difference as Sheridan snuck by George Brown, 76-74, in a battle that decided the provincial title.

With the win, the Bruins secured a provincial title for the first time since 2014 and the twelfth in program history. It also continues a 14 year long streak in which a team from the OCAA West has won the OCAA Championships.

The last time a team from the OCAA East won a provincial title was the Alqonquin Thunder back in 2003.  

Despite the result of this game, both teams earned a berth at nationals from winning their semi-final games.

Periana (Sheridan Player of the Game) was named the OCAA Championship's MVP (Most Valuable Player) as he led Sheridan with 28 points and hit a ridiculous seven three pointers. Guard Ostap Choliy (#17) was the only other Bruin who scored in double figures with 13 points, and also had 13 rebounds.

The hero of the game, Owusu, had nine points and a team high four steals while centre Paul Williams (#42) had a game high 16 rebounds and a team high four assists.

Owusu's heroics spoiled a magnificent performance from Huskies guard Kevon Mascoe (George Brown Player of the Game) (#8). With CCAA All-Canadian Ajahmo Clarke (#22) struggling with his shot the entire game, Mascoe stepped up, scoring a game high 32 points. Guard Dejazmatch (DJ) James was the only other Husky in double figures with 15 points while forward Jordan James (#9) had a team high 10 rebounds.

Clarke, meanwhile, finished with only eight points but had a game high nine assists and a game high five steals in the loss.

Both Owusu and Periana expected what was going to occur on the last possession, despite all of the chaos.

"I knew that (Owusu) can get off a good shot no matter who was guarding him," Periana said. "I got the rebound and passed it back."

"I wanted to get a good look and it was going to go," Owusu said, thinking about his game winner. "I've worked on my game a lot over the summer so I believe in everything I put up."

Interim coach Nick Davis, filling in for Bruins head coach Jim Flack, who was on medical leave, said this game against the Huskies proved that George Brown and the OCAA East is to be respected.

"They play hard," Davis said. "I have a lot of respect for Coach Jonathan Smith and what he's done with the program."

Owusu agreed, saying, "The East has really earned a lot of respect from us this season."

Davis also praised Mascoe's performance.

"He (Kevon) was amazing the whole game," Davis said in awe. "I felt bad for him because I thought he deserved a better fate." 

The championship game was so tight between both teams that the largest margin of lead was just six points, when Sheridan was up 57-51 after three quarters.

The deciding factor in this game, though, was on the glass, as the Bruins outrebounded the Huskies, 68-47, and outscored them in second chance points, 31-9.

Sheridan also hit three more triples (12-9) than George Brown while the Huskies had 10 more assists (24-14).

The Bruins went up 7-3 early before the Huskies reeled off seven straight points to go up three. Both teams went back and forth and Sheridan were up 18-16 after one.

Mascoe heated up in the second quarter, as he scored 10 of his 13 points in the frame. The Huskies went up 26-23 before the Bruins went on a 7-0 run to go up 30-26. A dunk from Huskies forward Matthew Bukovec (#6) at the buzzer put George Brown up 37-35 at the half.

Both teams, once again, went back and forth, with Choliy and Mascoe exchanging baskets in a flurry to begin the third quarter. After the score was tied at 47, Sheridan went on a 10-4 run to close the quarter and went up 57-51. Choliy had eight points while Periana had seven in the quarter.

The final quarter saw the Huskies respond right back, going on a 7-0 run, capped off by a three from DJ James. Consecutive three pointers from Choliy and Periana put the Bruins back up five (63-58). Both teams then exchanged baskets until Periana was fouled with 18.1 seconds left, with Sheridan up 73-71.

To everyone's shock, Periana, who shot 94.1 per cent from the line in the tournament, split a pair of free throws, giving the Huskies a chance to tie the game.

George Brown had Clarke isolated at the top of the key before he dished to a wide open Mascoe, who sank the corner three to tie the game at 74, setting up one last shot for Sheridan.

Owusu missed a shot from the corner but Periana pulled down an incredible offensive rebound and passed in midair back to Owusu, who hit a ridiculously contested jumper to go up 76-74, sending the Sheridan crowd in a frenzy and leaving Huskies fans stunned.

George Brown had one last chance to score, but the inbound lob was denied, sealing the win for Sheridan.

Periana, Choliy, and Owusu were named Tournament All Stars for the Bruins while Clarke and Mascoe were named Tournament All Stars for the Huskies.