OFFENSIVE OUTBURST PROPELS FIRST PLACE HAWKS PAST ROYALS
A game up on Mohawk with just two regular season games remaining, the Men's Basketball Team hosted playoff bound Redeemer in their home finale searching for their eighth consecutive win.
Before opening tip, three Hawks were recognized for their contributions over a highly successful past couple of seasons. RJ Ramirez, last year's OCAA Rookie of the Year and an integral part of one of Ontario's strongest backcourts, Chad Bewley, a versatile wing who has shot over fifty percent from the floor this season, and Zachary Fox-Tapper, one of the Hawks best shooters over the past two campaigns, were all acknowledged.
True to Hawks form the blue and gold started the game working the offensive glass for four early points. Guard Gibson Eduful entered the game at the seven minute mark with the score knotted at six, and immediately made an impact on the defensive end, forcing a turnover that Humber converted into a basket. The Royals were having some success down low and Redeemer forward Nathan di Loreto pounded the paint to give the visitors a two point advantage. Sloppy play was the story of the final few minutes but a jumper from forward Matthew Bukovec was followed by an Eduful floater to give Humber a five point advantage after ten.
The hot shooting continued into the second with another Bukovec jumper followed by a slash and finish at the net from guard RJ Ramirez. Minutes later Ramirez added to his tally with a pretty and-one finish on the break that extended the lead to thirteen. The Hawks attack transferred over to the perimeter and forward Chad Bewley's three had Redeemer out of sorts defensively. With the Royals unable to keep pace with the home side's ball movement, Vule Grujic's finish in the paint extended the advantage to twenty. Despite a debatable late foul call on a Redeemer three at the buzzer, the Hawks held an eighteen point lead into the half.
Ancil Martin opened the third with a pair of slashes to the basket and the finish. Redeemer responded with a prolonged run that eventually cut the lead to fourteen, but another triple and midrange jumper from Bukovec stemmed the tide. The Royals Taylor de Scheffert picked off a lazy pass and was off to the races for a lay in, but the home side was able to end the frame on an 8-2 run thanks to continued hot shooting from Bukovec. At the end of three, Humber held a 67-53 lead, shooting a scorching hot fifty seven percent from the floor.
Ty Dickson opened the final frame with a pair of baskets down low. Gibson Eduful continued his strong play with his second three of the night to extend the advantage to eighteen yet again. RJ Ramirez and Zachary Fox-Tapper put the exclamation mark on a dominant performance with back to back long balls. At the final buzzer, the Hawks had their eighth straight victory, 98-69; Humber shot 60.3% for the night. Matthew Bukovec was named Player of the Game, going 5-for-6 from the field.
With the win, Humber improves to 16-1 on the season, setting up a showdown with the Mohawk Mountaineers on Friday, February 20th where the Hawks will be looking to lock up the Western Division's top seed.
For full season standings, schedules, stats and more please visit http://ocaa.com/sports/mbkb/2014-15/standings-include.
