Friday 13 January 2012

OUA / Quebec Tonight

Thanks to Bill McLean and Wayne Thomas, readers have full insights into AUS and Canada West action this evening (see previous posts).  Here is a quick overview of the other games tonight, including the first of a two game series that could easily decide the OUA West pennant winner with #3 Lakehead at #10 ? Laurier.


Lakehead (9-1) at Laurier (9-1) 8 PM ET    One of the potentially best matchups in the entire OUA season could take place with 6'0" Greg Carter and 6'6" Maxwell Allin who both usually bring the ball up and start the offense at big times.  Carter is arguably the top defensive ball-hawk in the nation while Allin is big, strong and very skilled.  Another high-end matchup is 6'6" Kale Harrison with 6'6" Ryan Thomson - upon closer thought, these guys have very similar games although right now Harrison can score in more ways.  6'5" Matt Buckley, enjoying a consistently strong season will have his hands full with 6'6" Yoosrie Salhia, when he is in there.  Both teams are deep, love to push the ball and have All-Canadian-type talent.  Difference could be the athletic stable of guards the T-Wolves have and what that does wearing down the Hawks less-athletic backcourt.  6'2" Jamar Forde returns to offset some of that but this will be Forde's first action since October.  Both games on Hawkcast.

Undefeated Carleton visits Ryerson in a rematch of last season's OUA East semi-final which the Ravens took handily after pulling away mid-way through the second quarter.  Ryerson is as healthy as they've been all season with prized 6'4" freshman Aaron Best and 6'8" sophomore Bjorn Michaelson back in the lineup.  The Ravens should have 6'8" Kevin Churchill back in the lineup.  uOttawa Gee-Gees, without star 6'6" Warren Ward, visit Toronto to face the Varsity Blues who have been very inconsistent despite a lineup laden with fifth-year guys.  While their issues at the point have been well documented here, 6'0" Justin Holmes has competed much better as the lead guard recently.  Holmes will have to work against a deep, athletic backcourt led by freshman 6'1" Mike L'Africain and 6'3" sharpshooter Johnny Berhanemeskel.  Gee-Gees and Blues last met in the OUA East semi-final last season in Toronto for a spot at the OUA Final Four and Ward had arguably his greatest game at the University level with 40+ points on almost perfect shooting (don't recall specifics)...  In Kingston, York visits RMC and Laurentian meets Queen's with a win by the Vees all but assuring themselves a spot in the playoffs.

Quebec
Laval at UQAM The third and fourth place teams in Quebec face off.

SSN Canada will carry Toronto and UQAM games.  Ryerson generally shows their games on webcast also along with live stats.  Check Ryerson's site for more information.

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