Thursday 13 January 2011

Brittain's late steal and dunk lifts Marauders

6'8" Scott Brittain stole an in-bounds pass with 8 seconds remaining and then went in for a game-winning slam as the Marauders edged the visiting Windsor Lancers 83-81 in Hamilton.  The Lancers had the ball with a chance to take the final shot of regulation but there was some confusion on the inbounds and Brittain (team-high 14 points and 8 rebounds) was there, turning it into the game winning play.  In what turned out to be a turnover-filled, foul fest and the first CIS game likely since the pre-season that threatened to be "50/50" (over 50 combined fouls, almost 50 combined turnovers), the teams combined for 48 turnovers and 49 fouls.

Lancers got off to a terrible start, turning it over 5 times in the first 5 minutes and watching 6'3" Isaac Kuon get saddled with 2 fouls before the game was 5 minutes old and then another for his third, limiting him to only 6 minutes in the half.  Fortunately, the Marauders were also sloppy, turning it over 13 times and allowing Windsor to creep to within 1 by halftime after Mac built leads as large as 9 during the half.  With Mac up 22-13 and Kuon on the bench with 2 fouls, Lancer coach Chris Oliver eventually had to go to his All-Canadian candidate and it initially paid off as the slick wing hit consecutive jumpers, culminating an 11-2 run that tied to score at 24.  On the next possession, Kuon missed a shot and was quickly whistled for his third.  Mac then scored the next 8 points and had comfortable leads until a late run brought the Lancers closer.

Kuon reasserted himself early in the second half, scoring 8 consecutive points but then quickly picked up his fourth foul with just over minutes gone in the second.  Promptly, the Marauders again took off on a 6-0 run, aided by a pair of Lancer turnovers.  To that point in the game, Kuon had 14 points in just 10 minutes time (but 4 fouls).

The Marauders welcomed back steady wing/forward Scott Laws (13 points) who is a calming influence for this young group and can defend and rebound.  Monty Hardware led all scorers with 20 points for Windsor while Kuon finished with 18 in just minutes while 6'0" soph point guard Josh Collins had 13 points, 7 assists and only 3 turnovers in 36 minutes.  Box Score

Guelph 98, Waterloo 83 in Guelph  with thanks to Martin Timmermann... The Waterloo Warriors could not find a way to stop either Mike Petrella or Guelph outside shooting and ended up on the short side of a 98-83 score on Wednesday night in Guelph.  The first half had all the makings of a tight game with two different quarters of play ending in a 46-40 lead for Waterloo at half time. The first quarter saw 12 lead changes as neither team was able to exert control and each team had a scoring answer when down. Contrast that with the second quarter where Waterloo had 10-0 and 11-2 runs sandwiched around a 7-0 run by Guelph. At the half it was pretty even in scoring, shooting and rebounding. Mike Petrella had 19 points at half time and Cam McIntyre was on the bench after just six minutes of play, with his shoe off showing a taped foot.  Guelph opened the second half with a 13-0 run and held Waterloo without a field goal for 6:28 of play. Waterloo had no stops as Guelph poured in 35 points in the quarter and take a 13 point lead into the final
quarter. In the final quarter, Waterloo was unable to narrow the gap and went home on the short end of the scoreboard.  For Guelph, Mike Petrella led all scorers with 37 points while dishing 11 assists. His find was often George Mason who hit 7 of 12 from the three point line for 21 points. Waterloo was led by Alan Goodhoofd with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Wayne Bridge added 15 points.  With the loss, Waterloo drops to 5-6 in the OUA West, tied for sixth with Western. Guelph improves to 4-7 and are in eighth spot. Next game for Waterloo is Saturday afternoon as the Warriors return to the PAC to host the OUA West leading Windsor Lancers. Game time is 4:00pm.

Brock 91, Western 72  The hometown Badgers took an 8 point lead into halftime by the 'Stangs to six points for much of the second quarter and then pulled away early in the third to lead by 15 midway through the quarter for a comfortable win.  Brock's largest lead was 21 with 6:40 remaining in the game.  Six Badgers reached double figures, led by senior Mike Cruickshank (Toronto, Ont.) who recorded 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and career high seven steals. Andrew Ferguson (St. Catharines, Ont.) scored 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Jordan Johnson (Greensville, Ont.), Andrew Kraus (Markham, Ont.) and St. Catharines, Ont. natives Joel Whitty and Jay Fleming each chipped in with ten points.  Western's Peter Scholtes led all scorers with 18 points, while Andrew Wedemire added 17 and Garrett Olexiuk had 10 in the loss.  Box Score

OUA West Standings
Windsor 9-2
Lakehead 8-2
Laurier 7-3
Brock 6-5
McMaster 6-5
Waterloo 5-6
Western 5-6
Guelph 4-7

Saturday's Games:
Brock at McMaster 2 PM
Western at Guelph 3 PM
Windsor at Waterloo 4 PM
Laurier at Lakehead 8 PM (Friday and Saturday)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Both teams were careless with the ball. Turnovers were in abundance. Mac met Lancers athleticism and then some with consistancy by center Scott Brittain who was a rebounding beast.
But great defence by Mac kept the explosive Lancers in check and kept a very narrow lead for most of the game. A solid victory.
On the local front, after the teams slow start and dismal record at the break. some loyal to the former coach lament his dismissal. It may appear to be premature as the Marauders are picking it up in the second half.

Anonymous said...

No doubt the Lancers were hampered by Isaac's early fouls...not sure all of them were deserved.
If he got his usual PT, I think Windsor takes it no problem.
Brittain, though, seems to be a difference maker for Mac.
I know their record is way better when he plays which, up until recently, wasn't that much.
If McMaster handles Brock on Saturday, that sets up an interesting scenario for the following week.
Lakehead comes to town and if Mac somehow pulled off off a sweep, that puts them in instant contention for second...and hands Windsor a big favour.