MOHAWK HOLDS OFF LATE PUSH FROM LIONS TO CAPTURE BRONZE MEDAL

WINDSOR, Ont. - The final day of the 2023 OCAA Men's Basketball Championship kicked off at 1 p.m. in the SportsPlex with a bronze medal matchup between the No. 11 nationally-ranked Mohawk Mountaineers (16-5) and the reigning OCAA bronze medalist Lambton Lions (11-10). These two teams squared off twice in the regular season as West Division foes with the Mountaineers claiming both victories in blowout fashion.

All signs pointed towards a third Mohawk rout over Lambton this season. With both teams playing their third game in less than 72 hours, the players seemed to have dead legs on the offensive end of the floor as both teams shot an identical 7-of-21 overall from the field (33 per cent) in the first quarter. Two very capable three-point shooting teams went a combined 2-of-15 from downtown as Lambton took a narrow 20-19 lead into the second quarter.

The top-seeded Mountaineers found their sea legs in the second quarter, converting on six triples and took advantage of more cold shooting from the Lions to take a 50-35 lead into the half. Mohawk was paced by Jerry Jr. Mercury (Scarborough, Ont.) who topped the scoresheet for both teams with 18 points and 10 rebounds through the first two quarters. Lambton's Tyrelle Miller (Brampton, Ont.) continued his stellar play, tallying 16 points at the break.

The third quarter opened up offensively as Lambton found their shooting touch, netting 25 points in the frame. OCAA leading scorer Journee Joseph converted on three triples in the quarter, but the Lions were unable to put a dent into the Mohawk lead as they continued to trail 77-60.

With the Lions facing leaving St. Clair empty handed, they did what they have done all tournament long, which was rain down threes from beyond the arc. The Lions made six triples in the first five minutes of the quarter and took their first lead of the game at 86-85 with 4:26 remaining on a Joseph midrange jumper.

Lambton, who had shot the ball incredibly well at the tournament thus far, found their shooting stroke from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter and stormed back to take a 90-89 lead with three minutes to go. That is when Championship All-Star Mercury made his fourth triple of the game to push Mohawk ahead for good 92-90 on their way to a 99-92 final.

The Mountaineers captured the victory 99-92 and earned themselves the title of 2023 OCAA men's basketball bronze medalists, their first medal since the 2015-16 season.

Mercury topped the scoresheet for the winning side with his third double-double of the championship as he recorded 30 points and 16 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by fifth-year senior Rommel Calura (Hamilton, Ont.) who netted 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in his final game as a Mountaineer. Cale Calura (Hamilton, Ont.) scored 19 points and Stefan Anisko (Haldimand County, Ont.) chipped in with 18 to round out the double figure scorers for the bronze medalists.

Lambton was paced by fifth-year senior Joseph, scoring 29 points in his final game in the double blue. Tournament standout Miller had a near triple-double posting a 27 point, 10 assist, seven rebound stat line for his squad in a losing cause. Jerry Wilson (Detroit, Mich.) added 22 points for Lambton.

Joseph was named Player of the Game for Lambton. Rommel Calura was named Player of the Game for the Mohawk Mountaineers.

Source: St. Clair Saints