CIS Hoops.ca

The Waterloo Warriors put together 40 minutes of consistent basketball in upsetting the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees 79-68 on Friday night at the PAC.


The Warriors Band was on hand to get the crowd in the game from the opening tip and Waterloo responded with an early 11-4 lead. Ottawa responded with an 8-0 run to take what would be their only lead of the game at 12-11. Waterloo hot shooting from three (7 of 14 in first half) built the lead to 16 midway through the second quarter. At half time Waterloo led 37-29.

In the second half Ottawa would reduce the lead a number of times, once to just 3 points. But each time they got close, Waterloo would come back and get the margin back to 8-10 points. At the 3/4 mark, Waterloo held just a four point lead at 52-48. On the first play of the final quarter, Cam McIntyre was fouled while shooting a three and he made all three free throws. Waterloo was then able to keep the margin at 5+ for the remainder of the game. In the last 95 seconds Waterloo would shoot 16 free throws. The start of the free throw parade was shaky at just 3 for 9, but by game end they were hitting more consistently.

Ottawa had a strong rebounding edge over Waterloo, but Waterloo was hitting from long range, finishing with 40% from three point line to just 17% for Ottawa from long range. The game ending parade to the charity stripe gave Waterloo 20 points from the line.

Cam McIntyre led the Warriors with 19 points. Luke Kieswetter added 18 points. Wayne Bridge added a career high 13 points for the Warriors. For Ottawa, first year guard Johnny Berhanemeskel had 18 points to lead the team. Louis Gauthier added 13 points and 9 rebounds. Warren Ward played only two minutes early in the game and then appeared to be injured and did not play again.

With the win the Warriors are 2-1 early in the OUA season. Ottawa drops to 1-2. Waterloo plays Carleton on Saturday night at the PAC, while Ottawa will visit Wilfrid Laurier.

The weekend games are part of Think Pink Weekend, a fund raising promotion for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Ontario Chapter. This is the third year of Waterloo participation. The donation goal for the weekend is $10,000.
...by Martin Timmerman