The Scrubb brothers both poured in 31 points to help the #1 Carleton Ravens squeeze past their rivals Ottawa Gee-Gees 111-107 in a classic triple overtime OUA regular season finale.
Thomas Scrubb finished with 31 points and a game-high 18 rebounds while brother Phillip Scrubb added seven assists and four steals.
The Gee-Gees got 27 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists from their captain Warren Ward and Johnny Berhanemeskel finished with 22 and seven rebounds.
Ottawa jumped out to an early lead, 21-13 after the first quarter and went into the break feeling positive with a 42-37 lead at break, largely thanks to seven three-pointers in the first 20 minutes.
Carleton hoping to keep their 18-game winning streak alive slowly but methodically took the lead at 46-43 in the third quarter – behind back-to-back three’s by the Scrubb brothers but still trailed 57-54 as both teams entered the final 10 minutes.
The Ravens seemed to have the game wrapped up as they led 77-71 with 32 seconds left, but Ottawa never game up as Johnny Berhanemeskel buried a timely three to cut the deficit to 77-74
The next possession Gee-Gees guard Tihani Mehdi picked Phil Scrubb’s pocket who was called for a clear path foul sending the Gee-Gees to the line for two shots and possession of the ball.
Mehdi connected on 1-of-2 free-throws to cut it to 77-75 and then found himself wide open on the offensive glass to stick back a Warren Ward miss and send the game into the 1st overtime.
The action continued in the first of extra five minutes as both showed no signs of slowing down. Ottawa missed the first golden opportunity to end the game when Gab Dubue-Gonhier missed fired on two fouls shots moments after Berhaneskel swung the momentum in the Gee-Gees favor with a huge three to put Ottawa up 86-85 with 28 seconds.
The Ravens got the ball in the hands of Phill Scrubb who tied the game but uncharacteristically failed to seal the deal with a missed second free-throw.
Warren Ward who shot 2-of-17 in the Gee-Gees 68-53 loss to Carleton in late January refused to let his career end without a victory over the Ravens by drilling five points in the second overtime.
Ottawa held the Ravens scoreless for the last 3:12 minutes and got a late Michael L’African to force a third overtime.
Carleton scored the first five points in the third and final overtime including eight from Thomas Scrubb to preserve their 19-game winning streak, the longest in the nation and yet another OUA East Title.
The two teams finished the regular season as the two top teams in the OUA East (Car;eton 19-1, Gee-Gees 15-5) and as a result will host playoff games in the comfort of their own homes.
