GEE-GEES ADVANCE TO FIRST WILSON CUP FINAL IN 20 YEARS
March 1, 2013
TORONTO – The Ottawa Gee-Gees advanced to their first Wilson Cup championship game in 20 years with a 78-58 victory over the Windsor Lancers in OUA men's basketball Final Four action at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, presented by Recharge with Milk.
Porter Airlines Player of the Game Warren Ward posted a team-high 26 points for the Gee-Gees, connecting on 11 of 14 field goals, including four of five three-point attempts.
"It's the one year anniversary of my knee surgery, so this win is even more special to me," said Ward. "I'm so happy and proud of my team and our coaches. I feel like we're very underrated, I don't think our team gets enough respect. We've come a very long way, if you watch us play you see the way we share the basketball and we'll be ready to compete tomorrow. It's going to be fun."
Johnny Berhanemeskel also broke the 20-point plateau for the Gee-Gees, posting 21 points. Vikas Gill added 11 points to the winning cause.
For Windsor, Lien Phillip posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Enrico Diloreto was the only other Lancer in double-digit scoring, amassing 16 points.
The two teams matched scores nearly point-for-point through much of the first half, trading the lead back and forth, before Ottawa tallied eight unanswered points in the final 95 seconds of the half, entering the intermission with a 37-27 lead. Windsor spent much of the third quarter trying to chip away at the Gee-Gees lead, once closing to within four points, but never regained the upper hand and entered the final quarter trailing 55-46. Ottawa added to its lead through the fourth quarter, holding a 20-point lead at the final horn.
Missed opportunities proved costly for the Lancers, who made good on just 22 of 75 field goal attempts (29.3%), sinking just 5 of 27 (18.5%) from three-point territory.
Ottawa capitalized much better on its scoring opportunities, making good on 28 of 60 field goal opportunities (46.7%), including 14 of 32 (43.8%) from outside the arc.
Rebounds were practically even, with Windsor enjoying a slim 39-35 advantage.
The Gee-Gees will play in the Wilson Cup final at 6 p.m. tomorrow, facing the defending-champion Carleton Ravens, who dispatched the Lakehead Thunderwolves 72-51 in the first semi-final contest.
Ottawa last appeared in a Wilson Cup championship game on March 13, 1993, defeating the Western Mustangs 88-48 for the lone Wilson Cup banner in school history. Ottawa has a 1-2 record in OUA championship games, having fallen to Waterloo in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 finals.
Carleton advances to its seventh consecutive Wilson Cup final, and 11th in 13 years. The Ravens have a 7-4 overall record in the Wilson Cup final.
Ottawa and Carleton have never previously met in a Wilson Cup championship game.
The Wilson Cup final will be televised live on The Score Television Network, as will the bronze medal game at 4 p.m.
Source: Ian Speers
Porter Airlines Player of the Game Warren Ward posted a team-high 26 points for the Gee-Gees, connecting on 11 of 14 field goals, including four of five three-point attempts.
"It's the one year anniversary of my knee surgery, so this win is even more special to me," said Ward. "I'm so happy and proud of my team and our coaches. I feel like we're very underrated, I don't think our team gets enough respect. We've come a very long way, if you watch us play you see the way we share the basketball and we'll be ready to compete tomorrow. It's going to be fun."
Johnny Berhanemeskel also broke the 20-point plateau for the Gee-Gees, posting 21 points. Vikas Gill added 11 points to the winning cause.
For Windsor, Lien Phillip posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Enrico Diloreto was the only other Lancer in double-digit scoring, amassing 16 points.
The two teams matched scores nearly point-for-point through much of the first half, trading the lead back and forth, before Ottawa tallied eight unanswered points in the final 95 seconds of the half, entering the intermission with a 37-27 lead. Windsor spent much of the third quarter trying to chip away at the Gee-Gees lead, once closing to within four points, but never regained the upper hand and entered the final quarter trailing 55-46. Ottawa added to its lead through the fourth quarter, holding a 20-point lead at the final horn.
Missed opportunities proved costly for the Lancers, who made good on just 22 of 75 field goal attempts (29.3%), sinking just 5 of 27 (18.5%) from three-point territory.
Ottawa capitalized much better on its scoring opportunities, making good on 28 of 60 field goal opportunities (46.7%), including 14 of 32 (43.8%) from outside the arc.
Rebounds were practically even, with Windsor enjoying a slim 39-35 advantage.
The Gee-Gees will play in the Wilson Cup final at 6 p.m. tomorrow, facing the defending-champion Carleton Ravens, who dispatched the Lakehead Thunderwolves 72-51 in the first semi-final contest.
Ottawa last appeared in a Wilson Cup championship game on March 13, 1993, defeating the Western Mustangs 88-48 for the lone Wilson Cup banner in school history. Ottawa has a 1-2 record in OUA championship games, having fallen to Waterloo in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 finals.
Carleton advances to its seventh consecutive Wilson Cup final, and 11th in 13 years. The Ravens have a 7-4 overall record in the Wilson Cup final.
Ottawa and Carleton have never previously met in a Wilson Cup championship game.
The Wilson Cup final will be televised live on The Score Television Network, as will the bronze medal game at 4 p.m.
Source: Ian Speers