BRUINS BASHED IN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

By: Ryan Kelly                                                                                         Posted October 31, 2009

BRAMPTON, Ont. (October 31) -- The problem with talent is that if it isn't harnessed properly - that is, if it isn't paired with experience - it can let you down when you need it most. In the case of the Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (6-5) they had enough talent, grit and determination to post a 3-0 record in the Bruins Bash - reaching the championship game in the process - but after staking themselves to a 16-point half-time lead over St. Lawrence Kingston, they lacked the wherewithal to close out their opponents and ultimately fell 90-80.

"We've seen that we're capable of playing very good basketball. We played three and a half really good games this weekend and learning how to close out when you're winning is part of the learning curve," head coach Jim Flack said. "We did it well for three games this weekend - well, maybe not so well [against Champlain St. Lambert] but we got the win - and then tonight we just didn't have the maturity or the strength to finish properly. When we could have made some layups and made some shots to extend the lead we didn't and St. Lawrence can really shoot the ball and they came back and just took it away from us."

Trailing 49-33 and powered by some lethal deep shooting, St. Lawrence quickly chipped away at the Bruin advantage, opening the second half on a 12-6 to trim their deficit to 10. They then took command of the game with a 14-0 run to give them a 59-55 edge. The Bruins struggled to mount any sort of attack after that to pull level.

The Bruin path to the championship was paved with three consecutive victories - 97-76 over Edouard Montpetit, 76-74 over Champlain St. Lambert in overtime and 78-65 over Ahuntsic. Kareem Malcolm (who averaged 19.5 points per game during the tournament) and Matt Cosby (14.5 points per game) were named tournament all-stars.

The club will now travel south of the border on November 6,7 and 8 for games against three NCAA Division III clubs (Fredonia State, Westminster and Penn St. Behrend). Flack is hoping his players can take the opportunity to enjoy themselves more in an effort to find more relaxation on the floor.

"I think we just need to talk a little bit about relaxing and having fun while you're playing," he said. "I think in a championship game like that - and I do think they were having fun - but I think if they would act like they were having more fun and enjoy the process rather than trying to find a cure for the swine flu, they would enjoy it more and probably play better. If you're having fun you're not putting as much stress on every little shot and every little mistake and you tend to have more of the momentum swings in your favour."

 

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