No. 9 Men's Basketball rolls Sheridan in quarter-final

By: William Shoukri
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE - No. 9 Humber men's basketball (15-5, 2^nd West) handed the Sheridan Bruins (11-9, 6^th West) a crushing defeat on Saturday, knocking the Bruins out of the 2024 postseason. With a final score of 104-76, the Hawks sent the Bruins home with their heads hung, as the home team put on a masterful performance for its fans. Humber showed its depth in the win, with 11 Hawks getting on the board. Jalen Menzies had a game-high 22 points, and freshman Kwabena Antwi had a complete performance, scoring 16 and adding six assists.   

Game Recap

It was a systematic start for Humber in its quarter-final matchup. With the Hawks' biggest rival in the building for a do-or-die game, the temperature was cranked at the Hawks's Nest. Humber stayed true to its systems through the opening five minutes, playing the same game that had bested the Bruins twice already this season. Both teams got a good start, with the Bruins leading 12-11 at the midway point of the quarter. A Jalen Menzies three would give the Hawks a two-point lead, and they would only build from there. Humber went on a 12-0 run over the next three minutes, showing complete dominance over Sheridan. With the Bruins floundering, Humber would double down on its efforts, closing out the quarter leading 33-16. 

It was a slower start to the second for both teams. Sheridan knew it had to play for dignity or the game would get out of control quickly. The Hawks let the game slow, allowing Sheridan to control the pace of play. The slower pace favoured Sheridan's system, and the Bruins began to claw their way back into the game, once again, playing for dignity. With the score 49-25, Humber decided it had had enough of watching Sheridan score. The Hawks put their foot down, pushing the pace of play and forcing Sheridan to get its feet moving. Humber went on an 8-0 run in less than a minute, with Jalen Menzies adding the exclamation mark at the end of the run by stealing the ball in his end, going cross-court and cutting his way through the paint to finish with the left hand off the glass. Humber finished the half confidently and went into halftime leading 61-32. 

With a 29-point lead, Humber didn't have to do much to close out this one. With fantastic performances from all throughout the lineup, the Hawks had earned their lead. Humber dominated the transition game, the Hawks were faster, more explosive, and more poised than the Bruins. Coach Miles' system was in full effect with Humber controlling the floor. The Hawks are always at their best when their feet are moving and that's exactly what they did all game long. Sheridan had no response for the pace of Humber's' offence and the score reflected it, with Humber leading 82-51. 

Humber slowed down considerably in the fourth quarter. Now looking ahead to the semi-final matchup, Humber had the luxury of sitting back on its haunches and sitting the starters. The Hawks didn't blow away the Bruins in the fourth, they sat back and played out the clock. The quarter would pass quicky and the Hawks send the Bruins home unsatisfied, beating them to 104-76. Kwabena Antwi was the player of the game. After receiving OCAA all-rookie honours during the pregame ceremony, the guard hailing from Rexdale showed why he is one of the most exciting young talents in the OCAA. 

Humber Highlights

• Humber improves to 4-0 at home and 12-6 all-time against Sheridan in the OCAA postseason.
• Humber's 28-point win was its largest victory over Sheridan since 2004.
• The Hawks improve to 98-0 when scoring 100-plus points in regulation.
• Humber beat Sheridan thrice in the season for the first time since the 2010-11 season.
• The Hawks improve to 30-3 all-time in the OCAA quarter-final round.

What's Next?

No. 9 Humber will now face No. 1 Durham (19-1, 1^st East) in the OCAA semifinal round on Mar. 2. Tip-off is set for 5 pm and you can catch the action on OCAA Live.