#5 Trinity Western Spartans 59 – #2 Carleton Ravens 82
Trinity Western Spartans haven’t played many games against the Carleton Ravens, and their lack of familiarity certainly showed. Carleton knocked down a total of 16-of-38 three-pointers (10 in the first half) to defeat #5 seeded Trinity Western Spartans 82-59 and win the 2011 CIS Basketball Final 8 Championship.
The victory marks the 7th time in the last 9 years that the Ravens have claimed the W. P. McGee Trophy and further stamped their name on the CIS Basketball record books.
Kyle Coston started the game where he left off against the UBC Thundebirds by knocking down the first two points of the game. Unfortunately for Coston and the Spartans that was their largest lead of the game. The Ravens forced Coston to the bench with two early fouls and Willy Manigat connected on his second three-pointer with .2 seconds to give Ravens a 26-17 lead after one. Tyson Hinz (2), Cole Hobin and Philip Scrubb all connected from the outside as Carleton hit six three pointers.
Carleton connected on four additional three-points in the second quarter and got 9 points from Elliot Thompson, including a personal 8-0 run to take an 18-point lead – their largest of the first half and went to the locker room comfortably ahead at 49-31.
Jacob Doerksen scored the first four points of the second half to cut down the Ravens lead to 14 at 49-35 before Will Manigat and Rookie of the Year Philip Scrubb dropped two more from deep to restore order.
The Spartans closed the lead to 12 points mid-way through the final quarter but never threaten to close the Ravens lead that swell to a game-high 23 points with 1:10 remaining in the championship game.
Tyson Hinz was named the 2011 Final 8 MVP and caped off a banner season where he was named CIS Player of the Year, 1st Team BasketballBuzz & CIS All-Canadian to along with his first championship ring. All of this in just two solid years of CIS Basketball.
Elliott Thompson was named MVP of the Finals and joined Hinz, Doerksen, Coston and Jamelle Barrett on the Final 8 Tournament All-Stars list.
For Doerksen this marks the end of a stellar five-year career in which he was named 2006 CIS Rookie of the Year, 2009 League MVP and multiple All-Canadians accolades. Doerksen will not have very fond memories of Halifax, The Metro Centre and the Ravens. As a Rookie member of the Victoria Vikes, Doerksen also tasted defeat against the same brand of basketball as Osvaldo Jeanty led the Carleton Ravens to 73-67 championship victory.
Mike Kenny is the only graduating player for the Ravens and like many other former players goes out in championship glory.
Dave Smart has an impressive 20 game winning streak at the Metro Centre which dates back to 2001.
This goes down as one of the finest season in the Dave Smart era. After losing to the Saskatchewan Huskies at the 2010 National semi-final the Ravens put together a perfect season, well almost. The Lakehead Thunderwolves who claimed a fifth place finish at this year’s Final 8 tournament is the only Canadian University team to beat the Ravens at the 2011 Wilson Cup.
The Ravens other losses game against mid-major NCAA D1 competition, twice to the Cincinnati Bearcats, New Mexico State and Maine University.
Top Performers
Carleton Ravens
E.Thompson 19 Pts, 3 Reb 3 Ast, 1 Stl
P. Scrubb 16 Pts, 2 Reb, 1Ast
W. Manigat 14 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast
T Hinz 11 Pts, 6 Reb, 3 Ast, 1 Blk
Trinity Western Spartans
J. Doerksen 16 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast
K. Coston 15 Pts, 9 Reb, 1 Ast
C. Westbrook 9 Pts, 2 Reb
T. Jackson 7 Pts, 2 Reb, 1 Ast
Game Notes
Trinity Western was a miserable 3-13 from beyond the arc for only 23%. Carleton was out-rebounded by a large margin as expected, but gave 21 on the offensive glass.
Up Next
How about some Champagne and a parade down Bank Sreet in the National Capital.
