By Bobby Mihalik
Humber Athletics Sports Information
ETOBICOKE, Ont – Day Two of the 2018 OCAA women’s basketball championship at Humber College Athletic Centre in Etobicoke, Ont. picked up again this evening with a semi-final matchup between the host Humber Hawks (20-0, 1st West) and the Mohawk Mountaineers (17-3, 3rd West). After running rampant on the scoreboard in the first quarter, the Hawks maintained their lead to defeat the Mountaineers 91-65, advancing to their fourth straight gold medal match.
After the Hawks scored first to open the game, the Mountaineers grabbed a two-point lead before the Hawks took control. Scoring 16 straight points, the Hawks jumped to a commanding early lead, forcing the Mountaineers to play catch-up. The Mountaineers scored again but continued to fall behind, with the Hawks leading 27-6 entering the second.
The Hawks struck first again in the second, though the Mountaineers fought to stay alive in the game. Tripling their output from the first quarter, the Mountaineers nevertheless saw their team fall further behind on the scoreboard as the Hawks did not slow. Scoring another 23 points in the quarter, the Hawks took a 50-24 lead into the second half.
The Mountaineers would score first on two free throws in the third quarter, but the Hawks would take over once again, scoring seven straight points. Pushing back, the Mountaineers cranked up their offence and outscored the Hawks in the third, lessening their points deficit by two. The Hawks remained in control, however, ahead by a score of 67-43.
Countering the Mountaineers’ efforts, the Hawks opened the fourth outscoring Mohawk 15-9 in the first five minutes, adding on to their lead. The Hawks continued rolling from there as the Mountaineers could not regain any significant ground, and the Hawks sealed their victory by a score of 91-65 to advance to the finals.
The Hawks shot 44.6 percent (37-of-83) from the field and made 72.7 percent (8-of-11) of their free throws during the game. The Mountaineers made 32.1 percent (25-of-78) of their field goal attempts and 31.3 percent (5-of-16) of their three-point shots.
Ceejay Nofuente, with 15 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, was named the Player of the Game for Humber. Jahnae Gyles led the Hawks in scoring with 19 points, Aleena Domingo had 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Leading the Mountaineers in scoring was Jasmina Kucic, who had 15 points and six rebounds and was named the Player of the Game for Mohawk. Shaylee Doxtator and Stef Hrymak had 14 and 13 points each for the Mountaineers, and Hunter Johns had nine rebounds.
The Hawks move on to the gold medal match and will play the winner of Game #8. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday. The Mountaineers will play for the bronze medal against the loser of Game #8, with start time scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
