Men’s Basketball: Badgers split two games at home vs Thunderwolves

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Tomas Morgan
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Toronto Maple Leafs: Big 4 return to form after forgettable California road trip Tomas Morgan November 14, 2022 After a brutal end to the month of October where the Maple Leafs lost all four games of their yearly California road trip, it looked like they could be in some trouble. The Maple Leafs’ big four — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander — combined for just six goals in the four games and looked disinterested at most times. Two of the four losses came in overtime, the first to the San Jose Sharks, in which Nylander tried to send a pass rink wide to John Tavares, leading to a breakaway for Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson. The other was the Ducks, where a missed opportunity by Mitch Marner led to an odd man rush and goal just seconds later. A two game homestand could not have come at a better time for the boys in blue as they looked to bounce back against the pesky Philadelphia Flyers and first place Boston Bruins. The Flyers — under new head coach John Tortorella — have looked like a reinvigorated team this season as they were just over .500 going into the game against Toronto on Nov. 2. The Leafs had a battle ahead of them as the Flyers play a tight system and throw the body every time they get a chance. But the Maple Leafs came out flying, looking like a completely new team than the one who had just played a couple nights prior in Anaheim. The Flyers scored late in the first but it was answered with two quick goals to end the period by Toronto superstar Auston Matthews and Captain John Tavares. Bottom six forward Zach-Aston Reese — who earned his spot on Toronto through a PTO — scored his first of the season early in the third to give the blue and white a two goal cushion. Philadelphia got a chance on the powerplay midway through the third bringing the score back within one. But Tavares stepped up and scored two more securing his first hat-trick of the season and leading his team to a much needed 5-2 victory against the Broad Street Bullies. Their next matchup would be the toughest of the season. The Boston Bruins off to the best start in franchise history — 10 wins and one loss — going into Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 5. Bruins Captain Patrice Bergeron has yet to lose a step despite being on the back nine of his career at 37 years old. Bergeron has four goals and six assists in 11 games heading into the game against the Leafs and with the return of Brad Marchand to the “perfection line” Bergeron was looking to add to those all star like totals. Unfortunately for Bergeron, he would have to wait for their next meeting, as Toronto played their best 60 minutes of the season winning the game 2-1. For the second game in a row the Big Four came to play. Auston Matthews scored both Toronto goals with Mitch Marner assisting on both. Sadly, Toronto netminder Ilya Samsonov suffered a knee injury on the one Bruins goal scored by Brad Marchand. Back-up Erik Källgren took over playing the last period of the game making seven saves on seven shots. Despite the Leafs big victory against the first place Bruins, they now had a few questions looming around the team. How long is Samsonov out for, who will back up Källgren in their next game and is Matt Murray close to returning? Well Toronto answered the back up question quickly, signing Toronto Marlies goaltender Keith Petruzzelli to a two-year, two-way NHL contract. Pettruzzelli has just six pro hockey games under his belt with a .922 save percentage and 2.31 goals against average. In terms of Murray and Samsonov, they were both on the ice taking part in individual drills on Nov. 7 before practice. Murray is expected to return within the next week while Samsonov does not have a timeline for his return. Källgren got the nod on Nov. 6 in Carolina where Toronto won 3-1 and played another fantastic 60 minutes against a top team in the league. But they weren’t done with the top end matchups as they looked to win four in a row hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at home on Nov. 8. Unlike the previous two games the Leafs came out flat allowing a goal in the first minute of the game. But a goal just four minutes later from Timothy Liljegren — making his season debut after recovering from a herniated disc — tied the game 1-1. The Golden Knights scored one more before the end of the period and took the 2-1 lead to the dressing room after 20 minutes. Toronto came out in full force in the second scoring two — Mitch Marner with his first in six games and Liljegren’s second of the night — only allowing five shots in the period. Unfortunately, the Leafs could not hold the lead in the third giving up a goal with just over eight minutes left in the third. They would hang on until overtime but Golden Knight Rielly Smith ended it just 23 seconds into the extra frame as Toronto failed to win four straight. These four games — three at home and one on the road — after a tough California road trip is what the Leafs needed, nabbing seven of a possible eight points against tough opponents. The Leafs next matchup is against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 15 and can be watched on TSN4 or streamed on Sportsnet now Premium.

The Brock Men’s Basketball team hosted the Lakehead Thunderwolves on Nov. 11 and 12 in what amounted to a matchup between two of the top 10 Canadian university basketball teams. 

Brock was ranked third in the country heading into the Nov. 11 matchup while Lakehead was ranked eighth.

The Badgers won the tip off to start the game but came up empty on the first possession of the game. Brock’s Isiah Bujdoso netted the first point of the game shooting one for two at the line.

Lakehead answered back on the next possession, shooting one for two at the line for an odd 1-1 start to the game.

Brock would take over on the next several possessions. Godsman Kwakwah contributed nine points on a 11-0 scoring run for the Badgers. An early double digit lead as Brock went up 16-3 just over halfway through the quarter.

Lakehead ended the 11-0 run with a pull up jumper at the top of the key, making the 16-5.

However, Brock dominated the next two minutes scoring five more points, one being a three pointer from Jevonnie Scott. Followed by a three pointer by Lakeheads Javier Fernandez to answer right back and a steal on the following Brock possession to bring it back to single digits, for the first time in six minutes.

The last two minutes of the quarter was back-and-forth as Lakehead’s Fernandez piled on to his prior five points, sinking two more three’s while Brock continued to move the ball around taking high percentage looks and shooting 62.5 per cent in the quarter. Brock led 30-20 after quarter number one.

The Thunderwolves came out flying to start the second quarter hitting back to back threes and Javier Fernandez increased his point totals to 15 before the two minute mark of the quarter.

At the 7:50 mark, a foul was called against Brock sending Lakehead to the line. The next three minutes would be more of the same as the refs made their mark on the game sending each team to the line four times before the halfway mark of the quarter.

The rest of the quarter was competitive as Brock forward Michael Matas and Lakeheads Eric Gonzalez both scored nine points in the quarter. Brock led at the half 54-46 shooting 19 for 32 from the field and 13 for 15 from the free throw line.

Brock was not able to carry that consistency into the second half. They started off the quarter 0-3 from the field and failed to score a basket for the first two minutes of the half. Lakehead scored first at 8:48, reducing the Brock lead to just six points.

The Thunderwolves guards had a hot quarter, scoring three three-pointers, while the Badgers managed zero throughout the quarter. Brock’s meager shooting in the quarter would allow Lakehead to get within three just before the end of quarter. That being said, Matas had a timely offensive rebound leading to a layup as the Badgers headed to the fourth up five.

Badgers Isiah Bujdoso scored the first basket of the fourth quarter increasing their lead once again, but got a technical foul on the play, allowing Lakehead to shoot one.

Lakehead used the technical foul to change momentum bringing the game within one score on a layup by Nathan Bilamu. They then proceeded to take advantage of Brock’s aggressive defence, finding the open man Tyler Sagl for three, as the Thunderwolves took their first lead of the game with a score of 68-67 at the 5:19 mark.

The next four minutes featured tightly played basketball as both teams traded points. With the score tied and under a minute left, Brock’s Jevon Brown nailed a three to go up 78-75 but Lakehead’s Nathan Bilamu answered right back with a three of his own, tying the game at 78-78.

Lakehead got possession and with a chance to win the game Laoui Msambya missed an uncontested three sending the game to overtime.

Brock came out flat in the overtime as Lakehead took an early five point lead and never looked back. Despite a late three from Jevonnie Scott and the Badgers having last possession, they were unable to tie the game and fell 92-90 in the first of back to back to the Thunderwolves.

The Badgers would redeem themselves on Nov. 12 as they beat the Thunderwolves 81-58. Guard Small-Martin scored a season high 21 points and Jordan Tcheunte had 17 points of his own. The Badgers next game is Nov. 18 against the University of Waterloo at home. Tickets can be bought here or the game can be streamed on OUAtv.