Sunday 25 October 2009

Toronto 76, Cape Breton 68

The Blues were able patiently run their precision sets for many open looks and comfortable scoring situations while limiting Cape Breton's explosive transition and spread offenses by converting and playing their efficient zone "d" to capture the tournament championship at the Jack Donohue Memorial tournament at uOttawa. The Blues pounded the ball inside to 6'7" tournament MVP Andrew (don't call me Marek) Wasik, who finished with a 16 point/10 rebound double/double this afternoon while 6'6" Drazen Glizic added 10 points/12 rebounds.

Playing without 6'2" Rob Paris (injured shoulder in last night's OT win over Ottawa but still named to the tournament's all-star team) and 6'8" Nick Snow (ankle injured last weekend vs. Manitoba at Waterloo tournament), the Varsity Blues looked to a new inside source for their offense and the burly, yet-slimmed-down Wasik delivered with a series of inside moves, put backs and short face up jumpers throughout the tournament. As well, 6'3" Patrick Sewell (13 points, 9 rebounds) and veteran reserve Justin Holmes (9 points 2-4 3's), among others, took up the slack from downtown.

Capers star 6'4" wing Paris Carter, also named a tournament all-star, left the game with about 4 minutes remaining in the second quarter with what is suspected to be a broken hand. 6'2" Jimmy Dorsey led Cape Breton with 13 points however his technical foul with about 4 minutes remaining and his team down 6 at 66-60 broke whatever momentum the Capers could generate to mount any come back. 6'4" Phil Nkrumah, who some observers were refering to as "LeBron" given his chizled, man-child like body, added 12 for the Capers, who finish the tournament at 2-1.

Toronto built small leads in the first half on some excellent outside shooting as Holmes has hit threes and 6'3" freshman Dakota Laurin broke down a Caper off the dribble and hammered home a dunk to give the Blues a 26-23 lead with 6 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

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