BEWLEY, DOMINANT DEFENSE SEND HAWKS TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Humber Hawks Men's Basketball Team is headed to the National Championship thanks to an 81-70 win over the previously undefeated ACAA Champion Holland Hurricanes.
In what was as complete a forty minute performance as you will see, the Hawks never trailed and leaned on a combination of dominance on the interior and a lights out performance from Chad Bewley. Humber held the Hurricanes to just 36.8% shooting from the field and were plus fourteen on the boards, keeping a potent Holland front-line silent. All-Canadian DJ Wright scored just eight points on 2-for-10 shooting largely thanks to the fact that OCAA Defensive Player of the Year Tyrone Dickson controlled the paint all night, and fellow big Chase Bowden had just one made field goal on ten attempts.
The Hawks raced off to a quick start as Dickson finished with an emphatic dunk off a nice find from Brayden Gohn on the game's first possession. Minutes later, Gohn threw down what may have been the biggest dunk of the year in Orlando Palmer's face to go along with the foul. A mini-run from the Hurricanes was halted by a nice reverse lay-in from Bewley, and the offense was flowing beautifully. After one the Hawks held an 18-13 advantage.
Both teams were having trouble finding the basket early in the second but Humber remedied that by attacking the paint. First Vule Grujic finished strong inside with the foul, followed shortly by Gohn getting hacked on a drive down the right wing. Bewley continued to heat up from the perimeter and his second long jumper of the quarter forced Holland to call for time trailing by eleven. It was an incredible final sequence for Humber to end the half, as a great swat from Dickson was followed by a three ball on the run from Eduful at the buzzer. With twenty minutes to go, Humber led 42-24.
Holland came out swinging to open the third as three quick buckets sliced the lead to eleven. Continuing his strong play from yesterday, Eduful split the defense for a deuce to stem the tide and Ejim nailed a jumper shortly thereafter. As it seemed Holland was grabbing the momentum, Bewley made a great steal on a potential Hurricanes fast break that resulted in an easy bucket for Grujic in the paint. Grujic continued his domination down low, grabbing a missed free throw and finishing at the rim. An acrobatic finish at the rim from Curwin Elvis extended the lead yet again, and headed to the fourth Humber led 61-49.
Brayden Gohn's third big jam of the night opened the fourth, and Bewley came away with a nice steal on Holland's next possession. With just under five minutes to go and Humber up thirteen, Ancil Martin hit a massive three from the corner that looked to be the fatal blow. Dickson continued to work the offensive glass, and his pair of boards kept the clock ticking in Humber's favor. Just as the Hurricanes cut the lead to ten, Chad Bewley was found for a wide open lay-in to seal the deal. At the final buzzer the score read 81-70 and the Hawks were off to the National Championship where they will be looking to be crowned best in Canada.
Chad Bewley was named Player of the Game after his 23 point, 6 rebound performance on 10-for-20 shooting. Humber will take on Vancouver Island University tonight at 8:30pm.
For full Tournament schedule, information and more please visit http://www.ccaa.ca/national-championship-s15104.
To watch live, please visit http://www.ccaa.ca/watch-live-s15170.
