The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE midseason winter break is over for Bahamian basketball players and their respective colleges in Canada and as play resumed they look to hold on to their national rankings in the second half. 

The Holland College Hurricanes, the No.1 ranked team in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, survived their toughest test of the season with a shorthanded bench, but remain undefeated on the season at 9-0.

The Hurricanes had been particularly dominant in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA), scoring an average of 97 points per game and outscoring their opponents by nearly 25 points per game, however, they dressed just eight players in their latest outings.

Roosevelt Whylly was the only member of Holland’s Bahamian trio (that includes Abel Joseph and Angelo Lockhart) who was in the lineup for the Hurricanes’ 104-98 win over the Crandall Chargers and 101-97 win over the Mount Saint Vincent University Mystics.

Whylly finished with eight points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists in just 18 minutes in the win over Crandall. They trailed 27-22 after the first quarter but would rally and take a 54-40 lead into the locker room. The ‘Canes would build up an 18-point lead after three quarters.

In the second game of the weekend, with just seven players suited up for the ‘Canes, Whylly stuffed the stat sheet en route to the win.

He finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, two assists and one blocked shot.

He nearly posted a double double in the first quarter alone with six points and seven rebounds as Holland raced out to a 34-9 lead.

Holland led by 24 at the half before losing the third quarter 32-18 and would enter the final quarter with a 75-65 lead.

Whylly is averaging 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game on 52 per cent shooting from the field, 32 per cent from three and adding three assists per game.

Holland looks to stay undefeated and University of New Brunswick Saint Join Seawolves.

The Niagara College Knights have moved up to No.5 in the poll bolstered by the stellar play of Van Jutchinson Jr out of the break.

Hutchinson was named the Knights’ Athlete of the Week in a dominant win over the Mohawk Mountaineers. He finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and four steals, helping lead the Knights to the 128-109 victory over the reigning Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Western Conference (OCAA) silver medallists.

“Van played an outstanding, full, and well-rounded game against Mohawk,” said third year men’s basketball head coach Keith Vassell. “Today was the most efficient we have been all season we shot the ball extremely well. It was a total team performance.

All three Bahamians on the Knights roster scored in double figures.

It was easily the best performance of the season for first year forward Kevin Cooper who finished with a season high 17 points.

Cooper got out to a quick start with four dunks in the first quarter alone. “I was pleased to see Kevin finish with such a strong showing,” Vassell said.

Jordan Wilson also added 12 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks.

After dropping their season opener, the Knights have won seven games in a row to bring the semester to a close. It is the first time since the 2001-02 season that a Niagara team has put together as much as a six-game winning streak. 

Hutchinson is averaging team highs in both points 14.5 and rebounds 8.6 this season.

Wilson, the versatile forward, is averaging 7.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

Cooper is averaging 4.6 points and 2.1 rebounds per game on 70 percent shooting from the field.

The Knights, 7-1 and second in the OCAA will face the Redeemer Royals on January 18.

Jackson Jacob and his Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Ooks continued a second half free fall and have lost three of their last four since the calendar flipped to 2017.

Two of the losses were in exhibition play, and the Ooks record currently stands at 12-2 in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) North division.

Jacob continues to be one of the top scorers in the league, but the team previously ranked No.1 in the poll has struggled this season.

He posted 27 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in an 85-73 loss to Keyano College.

Jacob is among the CCAA leaders in several offensive categories. 

He is currently the fourth leading scorer at 26 points per game and leads in total points scored with 364. He leads all players in field goals made (144), is fifth in free throws made (47).