SARNIA, Ont. - Lambton College plays host to the 2020 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Men's Basketball Championship beginning Friday.
The reigning champion Sheridan Bruins return to the provincial stage, but with five different OCAA champions the last five years, defending their crown is not a given. Eager to prove their merits in 2020 are the East Division regular season champion George Brown Huskies, West Division champion Humber Hawks, Georgian Grizzlies, host Lambton Lions, Redeemer Royals, St. Clair Saints and Seneca Sting.
Four OCAA quarter-final games take place on Friday, leading to Saturday's semi-finals. The semi-final winners advance to Sunday's gold medal game, while the losing teams play for bronze. There will not be a consolation round unlike past championships.
The OCAA champion and host Humber Hawks advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Basketball National Championship in Etobicoke, Ont., from Mar. 18-21. In the event Humber wins the OCAA championship, the runner-up will also advance.
Georgian (12-8, 4th East) vs. Humber (15-5, 1st West)
Friday, Feb. 6 - 1 p.m.
A quarter-final rematch tips off this year's OCAA provincials against last season's host and the reigning silver medalists.
The Humber Hawks started the season slow, but won 16 of their last 17 games including the post-season. Fifth-year forward Jaylan Morgan (Brampton, Ont.) was the leading scorer on the Hawks during the regular season averaging 18.8 points per game.
Georgian was one of the most improved teams in 2019-20, jumping from seventh to fourth in the East Division standings. Fifth-year forward Tyler Vanessen (Whitby, Ont.) led the Grizzlies in scoring this season averaging 18.4 points per game.
Humber won last year's meeting 88-61 en route to a silver medal. Georgian has never medalled at provincials.
St. Clair (14-6, 3rd West) vs. Seneca (17-3, 2nd East)
Friday, Feb. 6 - 3 p.m.
Arguably the most battle-tested team entering provincials is the Seneca Sting, who outlasted the Fanshawe Falcons 94-90 in overtime to earn their spot at the championship.
One year removed from both a provincial and national title, Seneca features the OCAA's top three-point shooter in second-year guard Dakoda Lewis (Toronto, Ont.), who shot 80-of-192 from beyond the arch, a success rate of 41.7 per cent.
St. Clair third-year forward Glynn Willis-Paris (Detroit, Mich.) was one of the top blockers in the OCAA during the regular season, averaging 1.5 blocks per game. Fourth-year guard David Gomez Jr. (Pontiac, Mich.) led the Saints averaging 19.6 points per game.
St. Clair's last OCAA medal was bronze back in 2006.
Sheridan (13-7, 5th West) vs. Redeemer (15-5, 2nd West)
Friday, Feb. 6 - 6 p.m.
Two West Division foes play the ultimate rubber match after splitting their regular season series at a game each. Both games were decided by four points or less.
Redeemer fifth-year forward Spencer Kerssies (Jerseyville, Ont.) was one of five OCAA players to average a double-double during the regular season scoring 16.7 points and grabbing 10.6 rebounds per game.
Sheridan features the West Division's top scorer in fifth-year player Nick Campbell (Brampton, Ont.) and his 24.6 points per game. The Bruins averaged a regular season best 97.2 points per game.
Sheridan has medalled provincially each of the last three seasons. Redeemer has never finished atop the OCAA podium.
Lambton (12-8, 6th West) vs. George Brown (17-3, 1st East)
Friday, Feb. 6 - 8 p.m.
The quarter-final finale features the home-town Lambton Lions and the East Division champion George Brown Huskies.
Lambton fifth-year forward Jason Watts (Detroit, Mich.) was one of five players in the OCAA to average a double-double during the regular season averaging a team-best 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. Freshman teammate Kam David (Brampton, Ont.) was second in the OCAA averaging 5.1 assists per game.
George Brown's duo of fourth-year guard Chris Fields (Montreal, Que.) and third-year guard Haany Ahmed (Richmond Hill, Ont.) were the top two in the OCAA in steals averaging 3.2 and 3.0, respectively.
The Lions were 7-4 on their home court during the regular season. Lambton last won an OCAA medal in 2016 in the form of bronze. George Brown's last medal came in 2017 as OCAA runner-up.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/mbb
Live Webcast: www.ocaa.com/ocaalive
Friday, March 6
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Georgian vs. Humber - 1 p.m.
Game #2: St. Clair vs. Seneca - 3 p.m.
Game #3: Sheridan vs. Redeemer - 6 p.m.
Game #4: Lambton vs. George Brown - 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Semi-Finals
Game #5: Winner Game #1 vs. Winner Game #2 - 4 p.m.
Game #6: Winner Game #3 vs. Winner Game #4 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 8
Bronze Medal Game
Game #7: Loser Game #5 vs. Loser Game #6 - 12 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of game
Gold Medal Game
Game #8: Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 3 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of game
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is the recognized leader in intercollegiate athletics in the province, dedicated to student-athlete and sport development. The OCAA has 27 members sponsoring 12 varsity sports.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com