Last Sunday afternoon in Halifax, the number-one ranked OUA East champion Carleton Ravens faced the seventh ranked OUA West champion Guelph Gryphons in a crucial CIS basketball championship game.
Early in the season, Carleton defeated Guelph 75-66 and then beat the Gryphons again 64-56 in the OUA title game. The result stayed true to form, as Carleton used tough team defense and a “smart” inbound play in the final minute to overcome shooting woes and defeat Guelph 57-54.
Carleton’s shooting was downright hideous to open the game, as they connected on only 4 of their first 18 attempts (22 per cent). Guelph guard Kyle “Orange” Julius was the story of the first half. The former OFSAA champion at Hamilton’s provincial powerhouse Cathedral High School went five for five from the field and scored 11 of Guelph’s first 13 points. With 12:02 remaining in the first half, Julius drove the lane and scored. Although Steeltown referee Guy Cipriani counted the bucket, he was showing no hometown bias, as he also assessed Julius a charging foul on the play.
With seven minutes left, Guelph jumped out to a 25-15 lead on a beautiful baseline spin move and lay-in by OUA west MVP Michael Ayanbadejo who played an Anthony Mason-type game at point guard and power forward. The All-Canadian finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
With 6:10 left in the half, Kyle Julius went to the bench with three fouls and Carleton went on a run. Osvaldo Jeanty nailed a three-pointer and two free throws to cut the Guelph lead to 29-28 at half time. Jeanty led all scorers at the half with 12 points and finished with 17 points and seven boards.
Early in the second half, Michael Ayanbadejo chased down a rebound and nailed Jeanty below the right eye with an inadvertent elbow. As Jeanty crashed to the court he was inexplicably whistled for a holding foul. After receiving some medical attention on the bench, Jeanty returned to the game and nailed a jumper to give Carleton a 45-43 lead.
The Ravens extended the lead to 54-47 with 2:15 left on a beautiful drive and dish from Jeanty to Paul Larmand for a lay-up. After an Ayanbadejo put back, Guelph point guard John Scott Esposito hit a three-pointer to close the gap to 54-52 with 0:54 remaining.
With 30 seconds left and still leading 54-52, Carleton had the ball out of bounds on Guelph’s side of half-court. With only three seconds on the shot clock, All-Canadian Rob Smart caught the inbound pass, dribbled left, and fired the biggest shot of his career, a rainbow jumper over Kyle Julius that drew nothing but twine.
After a quick Mike Ayanbadejo jump hook cut the lead to 56-54, Guelph fouled Jeanty and despite bandages under his left eye, he had enough vision to hit one of two free throws to make it a 57-54 game. With 16.2 seconds on the game clock, Orange Julius missed a bank three and Esposito’s three-point attempt caromed off the iron. Time expired and Carleton seized its first national men’s basketball championship.
CIS coach of the year Dave Smart and his Carleton Ravens should have an excellent chance to repeat as champions next year if fourth year players Paul Larmand and Josh Poirier return for a fifth year of eligibility. Jeanty, a freshman and all rookie team member who shot an incredible 49 per cent from three point range this year, also demonstrated the rare ability to create his own shot off the dribble. If he continues to improve, he will undoubtedly become part of the CIS elite.
