HAWKS DROP 75-74 THRILLER IN FRONT OF SOLD OUT CROWD
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheridan | 15 | 20 | 29 | 11 | 75 |
|
Humber | 13 | 22 | 22 | 17 | 74 |
By Eugenio Garro
ETOBICOKE, ON: C.J. Bennett put up an impressive 21 points but it was not enough as the Humber Hawks 10 game winning streak was snapped in a 75-74 loss to the Sheridan Bruins.
Two of the biggest rivals in the CCAA went toe-to-toe on Thursday night when the Hawks hosted the Bruins in a battle for first place.
Coming into this matchup the Hawks were the hottest team in the OCAA, winners of 10 straight games, and were no.2 ranked team in Canada.
In the first matchup this season the Hawks defeated the Bruins at the buzzer. That win for the Hawks was the first of the 10 game winning streak.
The two sides were tied for first place in the West with the winner set to take over sole possession of first heading into their final games next week.
In the latest CCAA rankings the Bruins were named no.4 in Canada. They went 7-2 since the Hawks defeated them on home court and came into this game on a six game winning streak.
The first half of the game was back and forth with both teams hitting shots and moving the ball around effectively.
Sheridan F Adam Elhereich, who had 11 points and three rebounds, led the Bruins to a first quarter lead of 15-13.
The second quarter featured more of the same from both teams. The fast paced game featured clutch shots for either side.
However nobody was as clutch as Hawks SF C.J. Bennett who caught fire and put up a team leading 13 points in the quarter.
Going into halftime the game was tied at 35.
Both teams came out with a sense of urgency in the third quarter and the packed house at the Hawks Nest got quite the show in the final two quarters.
The Bruins got the better of the two sides in the third. Their defence did a good job at clogging up the lanes and make some timely shots to put them in a good spot heading into the fourth.
At the end of the third it was 64-57 in favour of the Bruins.
Sheridans tight defence forced the Hawks into taking some tough shots and offensively found a way to crack the Hawks no.1 ranked defence.
The Hawks found themselves down by double digits in the fourth quarter but still had some fight in them. With five minutes remaining in the fourth they chipped away at the lead.
Finally with 1:18 remaining in the fourth the Hawks took the lead on two free throws made by Bennett.
After getting the ball back on defence the Hawks turned it over and Sheridan's Dylan Periana recaptured the lead on the fast break.
The Bruins would get the ball back and then on an inbounds turned the ball over with a five second violation. It setup a storybook ending much like the first time the two teams met.
On the inbounds Humber got the pass off but once again failed to hang onto the ball turning it over with 3.8 seconds remaining.
That would do it as the Hawks 10 game winning streak was ended against the team it all started with as they were defeated 75-74.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game," said Hawks head coach Shawn Collins. "Sheridan was just hungrier than we were,"
Tyrone Dickson continued his great play for the Hawks putting up 10 points and grabbing 13 rebounds for his fifth double double of the season.
Bennett led the Hawks offensively with 21 points.
The Hawks now turn their focus to next week when they travel to Niagara to end the regular season. Just a few weeks from now the Hawks will host the OCAA provincial championships where it is possible these two sides meet again.
