Feb. 3 Niagara College Sports Report
The Niagara College Knights men’s basketball squad (8-8) split a pair of games last week, dumping Lambton 86-62 and falling 80-65 to St. Clair.
Top performers for Niagara against Lambton were: Khayden Stewart with 14 points; Raheem Dennis with 13 points; Coltin Elwell with 11 points; Mark Taylor with 10 points; Adrian Pajor with eight points; Skylar Samuel with seven points and five rebounds; and, Isiah Panom with seven points.
“Very good overall win for us, especially after our loss last game,” Niagara head coach Lequan Hylton said. “We came out with the right mindset and tenacity and we were able to control the game by getting stops and executing on offence.”
Leading the way for the Knights versus St. Clair were: Dennis with 22 points; Riley Bleich with 18 points; Kadin Moore with nine points and 11 rebounds; Stewart with eight points; and, Pajor with five points.
“I thought we play a decent first half. There were some mental lapses that unfortunately cost us, especially when you are playing one of the top teams in the country,” Hylton said. “This was a good test for us to see where we are at and really lock in on what we need to improve on to also be a top team in the country.”
Dennis was named Niagara College’s Male Athlete of the Week.
Niagara hosts Redeemer (3-13) Wednesday at 8 p.m. and is at Canadore (2-14) Saturday to conclude the regular season.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Niagara’s women’s basketball team (13-2) had a perfect week, defeating Lambton 54-47 and St. Clair 59-50.
“I’m proud of the group for finding a way to win in two hard-fought games,” Niagara head coach Kimbal Mackenzie said. “We continue to try and get better day by day preparing for the playoffs.”
Playing well for the Knights against Lambton were: Taryn Mitchell with 15 points and five rebounds; Janee Harrison with 11 points and five boards; Eremwon Destiny with nine points and seven rebounds; Destiny Pacquin with nine points; and, Aisja Strachan with six points and seven rebounds.
Topping the stat sheet for Niagara against St. Clair were: Harrison with 18 points and seven rebounds; Strachan with 15 points; Lexxus Bell with eight points and eight boards; Mitchell with eight points; and, Pacquin with six points.
Niagara hosts Redeemer (4-10) Wednesday at 6 p.m. to conclude the regular season.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s women’s volleyball team won both its games last weekend to finish third in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association West Division with a 12-6 record.
Niagara defeated the Boreal Vipers 3-1 (18-25, 25-10, 25-12 and 25-12) and the Cambrian Shield 3-2 (30-32, 26-24, 25-21, 23-25 and 16-14).
“The ladies are playing high level ball and are super confident right now. Nice to be rolling into playoffs with some wins,” Niagara College head coach Steve Stone said. “Really happy with the composure of the team in a tight battle with Cambrian. Shows we’re battle tested and ready.”
Playing well for Niagara against Boreal were: Hannah Cowie with 13 points on six kills, four service aces and three blocks; Aja Zambiasi with 11 points on nine kills, two service aces and two digs; and, Tia Kelly with 26 assists and two points on two kills and one dig.
Leading the way for Niagara against Cambrian were: Sam Cormier with 25 points on 21 kills, five digs, four blocks and two assists; Montanna Taylor with 17 points on seven kills, 58 assists, eight digs, five blocks and five service aces; and, Kyleigh Baxter with 18 points on 13 kills, 11 digs, two blocks, three service aces and an assist.
Cormier was named Niagara College’s Female Athlete of the Week. She finished the OCAA regular season as the overall leader in blocks (60) and blocks/set (1.11) as well as 25th overall in total points (167).
Niagara hosts Canadore Sunday at 1 p.m. in a playoff qualifying game.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Niagara’s men finished the OCAA West regular season in fifth place with a 9-9 record after splitting a pair of matches last week.
The Knights defeated Boreal 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-21 and 27-25) and lost 3-0 (17-25, 15-25 and 28-30) to the Cambrian Shield.
“The men need to get back to playing simple, mistake-free ball. Right now, we’re not adjusting well in game and keeping to our system,” Stone said. “We’ve got a nice week ahead to prep for Saturday and I’m sure the boys will be dialled and ready.”
Playing well for Niagara against Boreal were: Matthew Takacs with 21 points on 19 kills, three digs and two blocks; Leiland Parenteau with 46 assists, two points, two digs and two blocks; and, Nathan Gibbons with nine points on eight kills, four digs and a service ace.
Topping the stat sheet versus Cambrian were: Wizdom Smith with 14 points on 12 kills, three digs and two service aces; Matthew Perron with 19 assists, six digs, four points, a block and a service ace; and, Rowan Redekop with eight points on four kills and four blocks.
Niagara plays a playoff qualifying game Saturday at Durham.
CURLING
Niagara’s men’s and men’s curling teams began preparations for the upcoming OCAA championships by hosting the Rose City Invitational.
The men went 3-0, defeating Fanshawe College, Fleming College and a high school all-star rink.
The women’s team went 2-1, defeating Fleming College and Mohawk College and losing to Fanshawe.
Niagara’s two mixed doubles teams combined to finish 1-3.
