You cannot discuss OCAA basketball without talking about the Sheridan/Humber rivalry.  Over the years, these two program's - separated by mere kilometres - have played some of the best, most dramatic basketball ever seen on the college circuit.

During the 2000-01 season, a film crew from the CBC followed the men's basketball program, recording the up's and down's in the life of a student-athlete. The documentary detailed Humber's perseverance after Sheridan hit a halfcourt shot to claim the provincial title that season.

With a chance for redemption at the national championship, the Hawks did not disappoint.

NETTING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 17, 2001
By Luc Hebert

Never again.

Those were the words Hawks team captain Marcel Lawrence inked onto the base of his basketball shoe, after losing to the Sheridan Bruins on a half-court buzzer beater in the OCAA gold medal game two weeks ago.

Although the Hawks were guaranteed a spot at the Nationals because they were hosting the tournament, their 24-2 record against CCAA teams would have been more than enough to ensure a wild-card spot any other year.

Lawrence and the Hawks did not let it happen again as they avenged their double overtime loss to the Bruins with a 55-51 win in the CCAA National Championship game, ending the latest chapter in their 20-year rivalry with the Bruins.

“I waited four years for this,” said Lawrence. “I waited four years to get my name on that banner. I waited four years to get a national championship to this school, and now we got.”

In a tournament that featured the top eight men’s collegiate basketball teams from across the country, a 15-minute drive is all that separated the two Toronto based teams that battled for the gold medal.

The Hawks and Bruins have faced nine times in the OCAA gold medal game, but this was the first time they had come face to face for a national championship. The two teams, who both play in the OCAA central division and split the season series 2-2, played the rubber match, but this times the bragging rights were bigger than ever.

For Coach Mike Katz and Humber College, the win marked the fifth national title for the school. In the 26-year history of the CCAA championship, only twice had the hosting school come out on top - the last team the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Nooks when they won the 1989 championship in Edmonton, Alberta. Katz said winning the national crown on home floor made this championship a little more special.

“Winning it here… It's just tremendous,” said Katz. “This team gutted it out all season, and for them to finish the season like this at home is just great. We were 31-6 this season for crying out loud, but these guys didn't care. All they cared about was winning the National Championship...That's it.”

Hawks win national bragging rights

Humber pulls of thrilling 55-51 win against cross-town rival the Sheridan Bruins to capture the gold medal at CCAA finals

OCAA all star, and all Canadian guard Cornell, “Junior” Brown picked up the tournament MVP award.

“I can’t even believe I went out like this,” said Brown.

The six-foot guard, usually extremely out going, was elated to the point of speechlessness.

“It didn't really even hit me yet, but as a whole, it was just a great accomplishment for our team.”

The Hawks are losing seven players from this year’s squad, including their entire starting five. One of those starters is shooting guard, Dexter Miller.

“I couldn’t  think of a better way to finish my career. I’m going out on top.”

The 55 point-total marked Humber’s lowest offensive output for the season, but Lawrence says he wasn’t surprised

“I don’t really care about the points,” said Lawrence.” I don't care if it’s 55 or 2-1, as long as its Humber with the 2, and the other team with the 1.”

“With these two teams, we knew it would be a tough battle,” said Katz. “They’re an excellent defensive club. I didn’t say much at the end. I turned around and said to my assistance that we were in a good position. Now that these kids knew what to do, so let’s see if they can. They did it.”

For Sheridan coach Jim Flack, and his Sheridan Bruins, the loss was devastating.  Flack was also driven to speechlessness after the game, but his silence came with a much different feeling.

“You don’t lose a gold medal, you win silver,” said Flack who tried his best to remain positive. “From where we came, to where we are now is a tremendous tribute to these kids.”

Flack stood silently, trying to compose himself, fending off tears as his eyes began to water.

“I just feel terrible I couldn’t figure out … figure out, some way to get it done for them. I told my guys to hold their heads up, but it’s hard to even to do it myself. There’s no shame in what we did this year.”

The contest itself was as heated as the capacity crowd of 1,750 expected. Although the game was played on Humber’s home floor, the Bruins contingent was just as strong as the Hawks’.

With 2:06 remaining in the game, Sheridan’s Ricardo Edwards missed a lay-in, but Hugh Bent grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled by Humber’s Jeremy Walters. Edwards converted both of his free-throws and cut the lead to 49-44, ending a scoring drought that lasted nearly three minutes.

On the ensuing inbound play, Flack put on the full court press and forced Humber into a turnover.

Hugh Bent capitalized on the Hawk miscue, and stroked an 8eight-foot jump shot to cut the lead to three, 49-46 with 1:59 left on the clock.

The teams exchanged baskets, and the Bruins point guard Kevin Passley netted a three. Brown hit a high arcing tear dropper over the long outstretched arms of Edwards, who stands at six-foot-six.

With the score at 53-49 and 0:15 left in the game, Sheridan was forced to foul Hawks players, and hope that they would not convert at the charity stripe. Despite the defensive pressure featured in the game, Sheridan had only committed four fouls in the second half and lost valuable time picking up their fifth, sixth, and seventh fouls to put Humber at the line.

Cornell Brown was appropriately the one who put the game out of reach. With 0:03 remaining, Brown hit both of his free throws to increase the Hawks lead to 55-51, and make it a two possession game.

Brown led the charge with 12 points. Lawrence had 11 points, while Dexter Miller rounded out the Hawks in double figures with his 10 points.

In semi-final action, the Hawks defeated the top-seeded Cariboo Sun Demons, from Kamloops, BC, 78-70. Miller paced the Hawks attack with 18 points.

Only eight hours before Humber College’s opening game in the CCAA national championships, Humber Assistant Coach Nantali Indongo said of the Lennoxville Cougars: “Their offence is weak, and I think we should kill them.”

She was right. As it turns out, the Cougars had no defence either. The Hawks took their first matchup in the 2001 nationals with a 70-49 drubbing of Quebec’s provincial champions. Brown once again led the Hawks with 12 points while Chris Bennett was a menace on the boards, collecting 11 rebounds.