No one ever said winning playoff basketball games is easy and it certainly won't be for either Laurentian University basketball squad.
Both teams are going to have to become road warriors if they
want to keep their season alive after today (Wednesday).
Coach Virgil Hill and the men's squad will have to defeat the
University of Toronto Blues in Toronto, while coach Mike Clarke
and the Lady Vees are in Kingston to take on Queen's.
This is sudden-death time in the Ontario University Association
(OUA) and the season will come to a crashing halt for both
squads if they lose.
The Lady Vees enter the playoffs playing very well, capturing
the OUA East title on Saturday night by easily defeating
Carleton Ravens 77-57.
"Overall, we did what we were supposed to do and we are looking
forward to playing Queen's," said Clarke before the squad left
town.
Cassandra Carpenter, who has had another tremendous season and
proven again she's one of the best players to ever wear a Lady
Vees jersey, led the way scoring 19 points, while adding nine
rebounds. Darrah Bumstead added 16 points and six rebounds.
The men's squad backed into the playoffs as they hosted York
and ended up on the losing end of an 80-67 score.
However, the Vees managed to clinch the final playoff spot when
the University of Toronto defeated Ryerson on Saturday
night.
Brody Bishop, who was playing his final home game for the Vees,
had an outstanding game netting 26 points, while Jason Brown
added 19.
Meanwhile, the 2006-07 OUA east division women's basketball
all-stars and major award winners have been announced with a
trio of Lady Vees including Carpenter, Lisa Furchner and Katie
Goggins taking home honours.
For the third consecutive year, Carpenter (from Kanata just
outside Ottawa) was named the OUA East Player of the Year and
an OUA first-team all-star, while Goggins, who is from Sudbury,
took home the division's top rookie honours, joining a long
list of Lady Vees to win the OUA East Rookie of the Year award.
She was joined on the OUA East all-rookie team by fellow Vees
rookie Furchner, who had a standout rookie campaign of her
own.
Carpenter had another impressive year averaging 20.8 points per
game and 8.5 rebounds per game, while tallying 54 assists, 16
blocks and 56 steals. During the first half of the season in a
game against Windsor, the five-foot-eleven Carpenter had her
most impressive showing yet putting up 30 points and pulling
down an OUA single game record of 25 rebounds. She has also
moved into first place on the OUA career scoring list with
1,717 points and the career rebounding list with 811
rebounds.
Carpenter finished the season ranked first in the OUA in
scoring, fourth in rebounding and tied for second in steals,
while finishing third in the country in scoring, ninth in
rebounding and tied for ninth in total steals.
Goggins averaged 9.1 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game
while tallying 54 assists and 56 steals. The five-foot-five
guard has been a force during her rookie campaign breaking
tough presses and using her swift speed to get past defenders
and to the basket.
Goggins finished the season tied for second in the OUA and tied
for ninth in the CIS in total steals.
Furchner averaged 8.4 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per
game, while tallying 11 assists, 14 blocks and 13 steals. The
six-foot-one forward has become a strong presence for the Lady
Vees in the post, and an integral part of the Vees leading the
league in rebounding this season.
Furchner finished the season 18th in rebounding in the OUA.
