#CISFinal8: Carleton nets 101, highest championship game total in 44 years

VANCOUVER — Pun time: Carleton gave a master class in Basketball 101.

The Carleton Ravens had their own Sweet 16, as in the number of three-point baskets they sank during their 101-79 CIS Final 8 championship-game win against the Calgary Dinos. It was a far cry off from the score in the previous championship game in Vancouver in 1972, when UBC defeated Windsor 117-84 without benefit of a shot clock or three-point line. Still, it's notable when a team does something that hasn't happened in the national final in 44 years.

It was a classic example of Carleton getting their players dialed in for the final challenge. Graduating guard Gavin Resch hit the first and was afforded open look after open look, making 6-of-12 triple tries for 18 points.

"I shot so poorly in the first two games that i figured my luck would have to even out eventually," said Resch, who was 4-of-15 on threes against Thompson Rivers and Dalhousie. "Once I hit the first I felt good and kept shooting."

With the Ravens setting tight ball screens, that Calgary never seemed to adjust to, the looks were wide-open. Four players tripled in the first 10 minutes. Tournament MVP Connor Wood (22, 5-of-12 from deep), centre and B.C. native Cam Smythe (2-of-4) and rookie T.J. Lall (2-of-2) all had multiple triples.

"They shot the ball well, and we didn't provide a whole lot of resistance," Calgary coach Dan Vanhooren said. "The game was going up and down, the style we played all year, We couldn't keep it in front of us, and they hit a lot of three-balls."

Calgary was 20-of-25 at the free-throw line to Carleton's 5-of-10. It still lost by 22. The Dinos shot an effective 45 per cent (19-of-38 twos, 7-of-28 threes). Carleton was an effective 59.3% (24-of-45, 16-of-36).

"We haven't had 16 threes shot against us all year," said Dinos star Thomas Cooper, who had a game-high 25 points but also was charged with nine turnovers.

The century points came when forward Ryan Ejim (12 points) tapped in a miss in the final minute. In past finals, Carleton has eased off the throttle in a semiconscious effort not hit triple digits.

The point was made to Smart that he can point out to Dave Smart that breaking 100 in a championship game occurred on his watch.

"That's a pretty good jab, I'll have to use that," the interim coach said.







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1 comment:

  1. The UBC / Windsor game was a championship round SEMI-FINAL. I think no team had ever scored 100+ points in a FINAL until yesterday.

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