Friday 14 March 2008

Brock 83, UBC 78

6'7" Owen White had 13 of his game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Badgers held off a couple of late T-Bird charges to become the second Ontario team to advance to the Final 4 tomorrow with a win over the T-Birds, who again fail to get out of the first round of the championship tournament. White continually got great position in the blocks and when he was left alone outside, he made several face up jumpers. Brock also got their usual steady game from 5'10" All-Canadian Brad Rootes (16 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 1 turnover), who helped clinch the game with a pretty scoop shot splitting into the lane. Later, 6'3" Rohan Steen (9 points) hit a clutch 3 from the left corner to restore Brock's 7 point lead and the Badgers were not threatened thereafter. UBC made one final push late in the game as 6'3" Blaine Labranche knocked down a 3 and then 6'7" Matt Rachar (10 points, 8 rebounds) stripped Rootes and went in for a three point play to bring UBC back to within 2 with under 2 minutes to play. But then Rootes and Steen made their big plays and Brock was on their way to the semi-finals. Brock took control early in the fourth after an 8-1 run with as White scored the last 4 points in the run. Badgers 6'0" Scott Murray (18 points including 3-6 from 3) was very instrumental in the win, knocking down 3 clutch 3's and getting to the rim down the stretch. Earlier, Murray and T-Birds 6'1" Alex Murphy traded conventional 3 point plays at the end of the quarter as Brock took a 52-50 lead heading into the final frame. A 13-3 UBC run early in the third quarter keyed by a steal off an inbounds pass has brought the game back to even after Brock led by 10. With Brock up 40-30, 6'6" Brent Malish (18 points, 9 rebounds) intercepted an inbounds pass and fed 6'3" Chris Dyck for a throw down which energized the T-Birds and when Malish completed an old fashioned three point play, UBC led for the first time but Murray answered with a three. 6'8" Bryson Kool (13 points, 8 rebounds) had a strong first half but 6 points after halftime while 6'3' Chris Dyck (16 points on 7-18 from the floor) fought a 1-6 shooting afternoon from downtown part of a 3 for 17 effort by the Birds overall, which ultimately led to their undoing.


Brock finished the half on an 8-4 run culminated in a three by 6'3" Mike Kemp (12 points) to lead going into halftime. Brock fell back into a 3/2 zone midway through the second quarter and this partially negated 6'8" Bryson Kool (7 points, 4 rebounds) who was having his way inside including a nasty dunk in traffic. 6'6" Brent Malish (team-high 9 points) hit a three from the left corner and then on the next possession Kool, who was the best player on the floor early, threw down his slam on 6'7" Michael Muir to give UBC what turned out to be a short-lived lead. 5'10" Brad Rootes fed 6'3" Rohan Steen for a transition 3 and Rootes later hit 3 free throws, part of a 6-0 run that extended Brock's lead late. Brock is generally being stimied in the quarter court but is taking advantage of transition opportunities. UBC finished the first quarter on an 8-0 run highlighted by a pair of transition layups by 6'1" Alex Murphy to come to within a point of the Badgers. Brock had burst out to a 19-10 lead behind 6 points including a long 3 by 6'0" Scott Murray but he is on the bench with 2 fouls. 6'7" Owen White (7 points, 3-4 shooting) knocked in a 15' in transition and a tough finish inside to give Brock the early lead but has found the going tough against UBC's interior "d". UBC has clamped down defensively, holding Brock scoreless for the final 4 minutes of the quarter. 6'3" Chris Dyck was only 2 for 8 in the first half with 4 points.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for keeping us up to date, Hard to get the game on SSNCanada. We miss the games here in Halifax and wish all well in Ottawa.
Gordon Hamlin