CIS MEN'S BASKETBALL FINAL 8: Gee-Gees force an all-OUA title game by downing UVic
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CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE:Â http://english.cis-sic.ca/
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In a battle between the top offence versus the top defence in CIS, offence prevailed as the top-ranked Gee-Gees defeated the No.4 Victoria Vikes 78-70 in semifinal action Saturday night at the Canadian Tire Centre.
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The result sets up a rematch of last weekend’s OUA Wilson Cup final when the Gee-Gees upset the Ravens 78-77, handing their cross-town rivals their only loss of the season.
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The Ravens held the top seed in the country with the Gee-Gees in second through the entire regular season, but last week’s victory flipped those seedings and Ottawa earned No. 1 status heading into the Final 8 the first time in the program’s history.
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The Gee-Gees and Ravens will tip off Sunday at 2 p.m., live on Sportsnet
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The Vikes will play the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the bronze medal game at 10:30 a.m. Alberta beat Victoria 82-77 last Saturday in the Canada West final.
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The Gee-Gee’s offence exploded in the first quarter with Terry Thomas opening and finishing the quarter with three pointers. The Gee-Gees shot an impressive five three pointers in the frame, shooting 55.6 per cent from beyond the arc.
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Ottawa led by as much as 16 points and had a 23-11 lead at the break.
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The Vikes offence heated up in the second quarter led by their player of the game Chris McLaughlin, who led the game with 11 points at halftime and finished with a team high 19 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
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“I thought as the game went and Chris got his feet under him, he got better,” said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp.
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Both teams scored 18 points in the second stanza to go to halftime with Ottawa leading 41-29.
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The Vikes climbed their way back to bring the game within reach in the third quarter. Third year point guard Marcus Tibbs sank a big three pointer to bring Victoria within three points part way through the quarter.
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Vikas Gill had his buzzer beater attempt blocked and Ottawa led 55-50 going into the final frame.
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Tibbs opened the fourth quarter with a huge three pointer to cut Ottawa’s lead to just two. That was as close as the Vikes were able to get as the Gee-Gees offence answered by taking a ten-point lead.
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“They’re fantastic defensively,” said Gee-Gees head coach James Derouin, whose troops suffered a heartbreaking loss to Lakehead in last year’s CIS semifinals but went on to capture a program-best bronze medal. “We weren’t getting any open looks. They lulled us to sleep with their defence and it worked great, we fell for it.”
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Gee-Gees fourth year guard Johnny Berhanemeskel was named his team’s player of the game with a game-high 24 points. Caleb Agada had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 12 points for Ottawa.
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“Everyone sacrificed so much for this season and we want to make it count and we eventually made it happen in the fourth,” said Berhanemeskel, who picked up a technical foul in the third quarter. “We wish it could’ve happened sooner (in the game), but that’s national basketball for you.”
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Terrell Evans also picked up 19 points for the Vikes in the losing cause and Marcus Tibbs led the team with five assists.
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“(Ottawa has) a lot of different weapons,” Beaucamp said. “The biggest thing is they shoot the ball so well, so you’re spread out all over the floor.”
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STAT LEADERS
ÂBoxscore:Â STATS
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VIC 11-18-21-20: 70
OTT 23-18-14-23: 78
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Ottawa
Points: Johnny Berhanemeskel (24), Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue (15), Caleb Agada (12)
Rebounds: Caleb Agada (10), Johnny Berhanemeskel (8)
Assists: Mike L’Africain (6), Johnny Berhanemeskel (4)
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Player of the game:Â Gabriel Gonthier-Dubue
Victoria
Points: Chris McLaughlin (19), Terrell Evans (19), Marcus Tibbs (15)
Rebounds: Chris McLaughlin (10), Terrell Evans (7)
Assists: Marcus Tibbs (5)
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Player of the game:Â Chris McLaughlin
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CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times EASTERN TIME)
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Friday, March 7
12:30 Quarter-final 1: Alberta 72, Saint Mary’s 6214:30 Quarter-final 2: Carleton 82, McMaster 64
17:30Â Quarter-final 3: Victoria 63, McGill 54
20:00Â Quarter-final 4: Ottawa 94, Saskatchewan 73
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Saturday, March 8
12:30 Consolation 1: McMaster 98, Saint Mary’s 7114:30 Consolation 2: Saskatchewan 75, McGill 59
18:00Â Semifinal 1: Carleton 79, Alberta 55
20:00Â Semifinal 2: Ottawa 78, Victoria 70
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Sunday, March 9
10:30 Bronze: No. 3 Alberta vs. No. 4 Victoria (www.CIS-SIC.tv)Â14:00 Final: No. 2 Carleton vs. No. 1 Ottawa (Sportsnet / www.CIS-SIC.tv *)Â
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* The webcast of all 3 televised games (semifinals & final) will be on pay-per-view basis.