SARNIA, Ontario — Teams across Canada are looking for one last boost of momentum before the holiday break rolls around to end the first semester.
Out in the PacWest BC Conference, the holiday break has already come for the eight teams in the league. Some programs have scheduled exhibition games over the break to stay in game shape ahead of the New Year, while others are using the time to get some rest in before the second half begins. It was an eventful first half of the season out West, one that will provide an exciting race towards the CCAA Championships.
Elsewhere in Canada, the four remaining conferences were all in action over the past seven days as teams continued jostling for position in the standings before their break rolls around. In the ACAC, the divisional races only tightened with the week’s results, while the SAIT Trojans and CUE Thunder remain atop their respective divisions to this point in the season.
Races in the OCAA, ACAA, and RSEQ got more exciting with the week’s results. The usual suspects picked up victories to keep pace in the standings, while fans were also treated to their fair share of close contests that could have caused a shift in the standings if results went the other way.
While several teams put together impressive performances as cohesive units, there were several players who put forth strong stat lines over the week. In fact, five players from each conference stood out above their fellow competitors, and those players make up this week’s edition of the Starting Five.
Starting Five – Nov. 19-25, 2018
OCAA
Brandon Halliburton – Durham Lords
27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 67-55 win vs. Fleming
27 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal in 66-53 win vs. Canadore
DeQuon Cascart – Humber Hawks
29 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks in 91-77 win at U of T Mississauga
Harouna Diop – La Cite Coyotes
30 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block in 100-87 win vs. Georgian
Efosa Agbonze – Conestoga Condors
19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 6 steals, 4 blocks in 98-85 loss at Redeemer
Zamam Khan – U of T Mississauga Eagles
23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block in 91-77 loss vs. Humber
21 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block in 88-74 loss at Humber
ACAC
Payton Tirrell – GPRC Wolves
22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block in 89-80 win at CUE
12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block in 80-74 win at CUE
Chris Oppong – Keyano College Huskies
16 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists in 76-71 win at NAIT
20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals in 87-85 OT loss at NAIT
CJ Greer – Briercrest College Clippers
22 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists in 79-73 win at Ambrose
17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals in 82-77 win at Ambrose
Samson Cleare – NAIT Ooks
10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks in 76-71 loss vs. Keyano
32 points, 15 rebounds, 1 steal in 87-85 OT win vs. Keyano
Ronald Bacon Jr. – CUE Thunder
23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal in 89-80 loss vs. GPRC
30 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks in 80-74 loss vs. GPRC
ACAA
Drew Jacklin – Mount Saint Vincent Mystics
22 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, in 119-43 win vs. Dalhousie AC
11 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals in 78-66 win at Mount Allison
Ace Reece – St. Thomas Tommies
24 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block in 86-81 loss vs. UKC
8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal in 102-99 OT loss vs. Crandall
Kendal Brown – Crandall Chargers
46 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks in 102-99 OT win at St. Thomas
Jacob Vickers – UNBSJ Seawolves
17 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals in 88-66 win vs. UKC
Campbell Colpitts – UKC Blue Devils
27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 86-81 win at St. Thomas
22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals in 88-66 loss at UNBSJ
RSEQ
Banaide Haidara – Dawson Blues
30 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals in 81-69 loss at Ch. – St. Lambert
Tyrell L. Williams – John Abbott Islanders
13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steal, 1 block in 94-63 loss at Vanier
22 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block in 81-71 loss at Edouard-Montpetit
Steeve Joseph – Vanier Cheetahs
21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in 94-63 win vs. John Abbott
17 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals in 90-76 win vs. Outaouais
Corey Nzigamasabo – Champlain – St. Lambert Cavaliers
21 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 1 block in 81-69 win vs. Dawson
Jonathan Noel-Jeune – Edouard-Montpetit Lynx
26 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 block in 78-60 win vs. Sainte-Foy
34 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 9 steals, 1 block in 81-71 win vs. John Abbott
– T. Bennett
