WINDSOR, Ont. - The second quarter-final showcased the only team from the East Division to qualify for the 2023 OCAA men's basketball provincial championship in the No. 3 nationally-ranked George Brown Huskies (18-1) taking on the fourth seed from the West Division, the Niagara Knights (12-7).

In a battle of defensive stalwarts, the George Brown Huskies came away with a hard-nosed 74-61 victory. Both teams struggled from the field, but George Brown relied on 17 offensive rebounds that generated 16 second chance points to pull away from the Knights and keep their championship aspirations alive. The Huskies will now take on the Mohawk Mountaineers on Saturday, March 4th at 4 p.m. in a marquee matchup featuring two nationally ranked squads.

Niagara showed up ready to play in the first quarter and was unafraid of the top ranked Huskies, taking a 21-14 lead to close out the first frame. The Huskies trimmed the lead in the second quarter, but the underdog Knights took a 39-35 lead into the half in a low scoring affair.

The third quarter showcased much of the same as the first half with both teams unable to find any flow offensively in this grind it out game. George Brown held Niagara to 13 points in the third quarter and took the lead heading in the final stanza 55-52. The Knights were unable to remove the lid on the rim, mustering nine fourth quarter points as the Huskies expanded their lead. The Huskies leaned on their defence and balanced shot creation to advance to Saturday's semifinal No. 1 with a 74-61 victory.

George Brown relied on balanced scoring all season and today was no different with four players in double figures, lead by Naseem Barry (Toronto, Ont.) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Derrick Taylor (Ajax, Ont.) controlled both ends of the floor, registering a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Andre Barrow (Markham, Ont.) and Robert Ocampo (Toronto, Ont.) both tallied 13 points to help the Huskies advance to the medal round.

The Knights had only two players crack double digits as OCAA West Division Second-Team All-Star Delroy Grandison (Nassau, Bahamas) lead the way with a 16-point, 10 rebound double-double. Reggie Williams (Toronto, Ont.) chipped in with 13 points as the Knights end their season.

Delroy Grandison was named Player of the Game for Niagara in a losing effort. Derrick Taylor was named Player of the Game for the advancing George Brown Huskies.

Source: St. Clair Saints