Feb. 28 basketball roundup: OUA, OCAA
On the bus ride to Waterloo Saturday, members of the Brock women’s basketball team serenaded head coach Mike Rao with Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds.
The lyrics ‘Don’t worry about a thing cause every little thing gonna be all right’ were meant to alleviate Rao’s concerns about his team’s poor play in a home win over Waterloo last Wednesday.
Hours after singing the song, the top-ranked Badgers delivered on their musical promise by improving to 12-0 in Ontario University Athletics play Saturday with a 70-47 road victory over the Waterloo Warriors.
“It was much, much better, we played better together and the outcome showed,” Rao said. “We were up by 20 in the third and we get everybody in. We shared the ball a lot more.”
He is confident last Wednesday’s poor performance was just a blip.
“I didn’t think it was but it must have been. That day, no one was playing together and there was no urgency but this game they really wanted to put it together. And they did.”
Leading 29-22 at the half, the Badgers took control of the game by outscoring Waterloo 25-10 in the third quarter.
Top producers for Brock were: Mackenzie Robinson, 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists; Sam Keltos, 13 points and six rebounds; Madalyn Weinert, 11 points and seven rebounds; Victoria Lawrence, 10 points; and, Ivana Twumasi, nine points and four rebounds.
Vanessa Hughes topped Waterloo with nine points.
Brock hosts Western (11-1) Wednesday at 6 p.m.
“It is a huge test,” Rao said. “Hopefully we can keep the team play going, both offensively and defensively. If we play together on both ends of the court, we are going to be fine.”
In other OUA women’s games Saturday: Julia Colavecchia (Myer/Niagara Prep) had six points and seven rebounds as Guelph defeated Algoma 83-41; Madalyn Picton (Notre Dame/Niagara Prep) had 12 points in Western’s 59-57 victory over Laurier 57; and, Tori Rigas-Didomenico (Myer) scored 16 points to help McMaster knock off Windsor 72-58.
BROCK MEN
The fourth-ranked Brock men’s basketball team pushed its OUA record to 11-1 following a 87-72 victory over Waterloo (4-6) Saturday.
Leading the way for Brock were: Tajinder Lall, 34 points, nine boards and four blocked shots; Kascius Small-Martin, 17 points; Jesse Barnes, 10 points and six rebounds; and, Daniel Caldwell, nine points and six rebounds.
Justin Malnerich topped Waterloo with 26 points.
Brock hosts Western (6-6) Wednesday at 8 p.m.
In other OUA men’s games, Sefa Otchere (Saint Paul) scored six points to help McMaster defeat Windsor 92-68.
NIAGARA COLLEGE MEN
Niagara College’s men’s basketball team pushed its record to 4-3 in Ontario Colleges Athletic Association play with a 77-69 victory Sunday over Lambton.
Performing well for Niagara were: Rahim Bardi (Governor Simcoe), 24 points and nine rebounds; Reginald Williams, 15 points; and, Delroy Grandison, 13 points and 17 rebounds.
On Saturday, Niagara lost 98-70 to St. Clair. Leading the way for Niagara were: Grandison, 15 points and 10 rebounds; Reese Radobenko (Centennial), 12 points; Williams, 12 points; and, Igor M’Baya (Saint Francis), 11 points.
Niagara hosts Humber Friday at 8 p.m..
NIAGARA COLLEGE WOMEN
Niagara College’s women’s basketball team defeated Lambton 60-51 Sunday to improve to 6-1 in OCAA action.
Leading the way for Niagara were: Lexxus Bell (Denis Morris), 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists; Terin Hultink (Smithville Christian), 10 points and nine rebounds; and, Janee Harrison (Sir Winston Churchill), Jessyka Maliksi and Jamira Rousseau (Notre Dame), with eight points apiece.
Playing well for Niagara Saturday in a 55-45 loss to St. Clair were: Harrison, 15 points and eight rebounds; Taryn Mitchell (Crossley), 10 points and five rebounds; Bell, eight points and five rebounds; and, Hultink, six points and 19 rebounds.
Niagara hosts Fanshawe Friday at 6 p.m.
