15U Men’s Recap – Day 5

In the first semi-final match, the undefeated Quebec took on Saskatchewan.  While Saskatchewan tried to hang tight trailing by only 2 points after the first quarter, Quebec utilized their size to dominate Saskatchewan, scoring 60% of their points inside the paint and out-rebounding them 54-32.  Led by game high scorer Joseph Alexander Malachi (24 points) and with contributions from Trenton Dias Maxwell, 15 rebounds, Quebec held Saskatchewan to just 29% field goal shooting and zero 2nd chance points.  Quebec punched their way to the championship finals with a convincing 66-43 victory over Saskatchewan.  Saskatchewan team high scorer was Riley Rathwell with 12 points.

In the final game of the day on the 15U side, Ontario took on Nova Scotia in a game that featured 11 different lead changes.  With both teams gunning for the chance to play for the championship, the game was a see-saw battle to the very end.  Shooting 50% in the first half, Ontario jumped out to a 53-35 lead with a big 25-6 run to close out the 2nd quarter.  Ontario looked poised to defend their title, led by Justice Prentice with 12 points and 3 steals at the half.  Nova Scotia turned it on in the 3rd quarter, led by Kellen Tynes with 13 of his game high 25 points in the 3rd.  Nova Scotia closed the gap trailing just 10 points at the end of three quarters.  Nova Scotia continued to pressure in the 4th, completing their comeback going on a 14-5 run to close out the game, upsetting team Ontario by a final score of 93-89.  Ontario’s top scorer was Justice Prentice with 18 points.

In the first consolation matchup between New Brunswick and Alberta, both teams turned up their defensive intensity in what turned out to be a low scoring first half.  Both teams struggled to find their rhythm offensively as the score was 21-17 in favor of Alberta at the half.  Coming out of the break, a resurgence of energy got Alberta back on track as they went on a 9-0 run in the third to stretch their lead by 17 at the end of the 3rd quarter.  With a few timely three point shots from Alonzo Tan (15 points), Alberta managed to keep their distance as they went on to defeat New Brunswick by a score of 61-43.  New Brunswick’s top scorer was Ryan Scott with 14 points.

In the other consolation matchup, Manitoba took on Newfoundland.  Coming out of a tough loss the night before, Manitoba came out looking to set the tone early in front of an energetic home crowd.  Led by big man Kyler Filewich (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Matthew Medrano (15 points, 9 rebounds), Manitoba controlled the inside outscoring Newfoundland 40-18 in the paint.  While Newfoundland kept up in the middle frames, led by Caleb d’Entremont (16 points), the spirited Manitoba squad eventually pulled away in the fourth and won the game by a final score of 85-67.  Manitoba will play Alberta in the 5th place game on Day 6 at 1:30pm.

In the non-medal game, BC cruised past the Territories 83-29.  Led by BC’s Giovanni Manu (22 points, 5 rebounds), BC had a strong first half and essentially put Team Territories away with a few runs in the final two quarters.  

In the final non-medal game of the day, PEI defeated the Territories 66-42.  Led by Will Vidito’s 20 point effort, PEI utilized their size to limit the Territories scoring within the paint, while forcing them to shoot just 33% from the field.  Territories team scoring was led by Jesse Tobac with 15 points.

17U Men’s Recap – Day 5

In the first 17U semi-finals match, 2015 national champion Nova Scotia took on British Columbia.  Nova Scotia came out firing on all cylinders with Nova Scotia’s Alex Muise setting the tone early hitting a few three’s to get Nova Scotia on top 22-11 after the first quarter.  British Columbia came back in the 2nd quarter with their attack led by Cameron Morris (16 points) and Mason Bourcier (15 points) to narrow the gap to 38-32 at the half in favour of Nova Scotia.  In the 3rd quarter, Nova Scotia came out with a 13-4 run, only to have British Columbia answer back with a 15-5 run of their own to close out the third frame.  In the last quarter, Nova Scotia pulled away in the final minutes of the game led by Alex Muise (29 points, 14 rebounds) and Chase Tynes (17 points, 8 rebounds).  Nova Scotia defeated British Columbia by a final score of 80-72 to earn a berth in the Championship finals for the 2nd year in a row.

In the much anticipated second semi-finals, the game between Ontario and Manitoba was played in front of a packed crowd at the Duckworth Centre.  With the home crowd bringing the energy, Manitoba came out fired up, matching Ontario’s offensive attack.  With six different lead changes in the first half, Manitoba took a 3 point lead going into the half, led by Daniel Sackey’s 16 points.  Ontario kept the pressure on in the 3rd quarter with timely 3 point shooting from Khaleem Bennett who finished the game with 28 points.  In the final quarter, Manitoba’s Emmanuel Akot (32 points, 10 rebounds) and Daniel Sackey (27 points, 8 assists) gave it everything they got, but came out short losing to Ontario by a final score of 101-97.

In the first consolation round matchup, Saskatchewan took on Newfoundland.  Playing with the lead the entire game, Saskatchewan controlled the tempo and never allowed Newfoundland to come within striking distance.  Led by game high scorer Ja’Shon Henry (24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals), Saskatchewan attacked the paint with ease scoring 60% of their points in the paint, while outscoring Newfoundland in 2nd chance points 24-11.  Saskatchewan went on to win the game by a final score of 79-58.  Newfoundland’s team high scorer was Nicholas Fowler with 23 points.

The second consolation round game featured Quebec taking on Alberta.  Alberta controlled most of the first half limiting the bigger Quebec team to just 27 points at halftime.  The break was just what Quebec needed to regroup as they came out of the half with a 15-4 run to take the lead.  Quebec’s size was too much for Alberta to handle as they outscored them in the paint 56-28.  Led by Quebec’s Ngala Nginyu (22 points, 6 assists), Quebec shot 48% to power through Alberta by a final score of 85-53.  Alberta’s top scorer was Adong Makuoi with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

In the non-medal game, PEI were in full control the entire game outscoring the Territories in all four quarters to comfortably defeat them by a score of 91-50.  PEI’s top scorer was Alexander Campbell with 22 points, 7 rebounds.  Territories top scorer was Liam Larocque with 13 points and 2 blocks in a losing effort.

In the other non-medal game, New Brunswick took on the Territories.  While the Territories hung tough trailing by only 3 points at the half and 8 points after three quarters, New Brunswick eventually went on a 13-5 run at the start of the 4th quarter to pull away with a 79-64 victory.  New Brunswick’s top scorer was Daemen Hemphill with 16 points.  Territories top scorer was Ryan Hindson with 20 points.  

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