Tigers win Shoveller tournament opener over Stingers

Game recap by Kirk Jessome

(Halifax, NS) – In the primetime game of the Rod and Joan Shoveller Memorial Basketball Tournament, the Dalhousie Tigers hosted the Concordia Stingers at the Dalplex. It came down to the wire, but the Tigers were able to secure the 75-69 win.

The Stingers defensive help-rotations were frustrating the Tigers early, clogging up the paint and not allowing their usual slashing attacks from their guards.

It was a gritty defensive first quarter, both teams shooting below 25% from the field and as a result, the Tigers held the slight advantage at 11-10 heading into the second quarter.

The lane opened up for Cedrick Coriolan (Laval, QC) in the second quarter, slashing from the top and getting quick looks at the rim.

The Tigers were able to keep the score close by earning trips to the line, but Alex Carson (Lower Sackville, NS) finishing a tough and-one play on a jump-stop down low gave the Tigers a momentum swing in the final minutes of the half.

After getting fouled on a deep shot, Carson knocked down all three free-throws before Jordan Brathwaite (Milton, ON) grabbed a big steal on the inbound and dished it back to Carson for another lay-in and a quick five-point swing for the Tigers with just a minute to go in the half.

Heading into the half, the Tigers held a 35-24 lead.

The Tigers lead opened up in the third quarter, highlighted by a two-handed dunk from Sascha Kappos (Miami, FL) and a fantastic no-look pass from Keevan Veinot (Port Williams, NS) to Xavier Ochu (Milton, ON) cutting through the paint for an easy layup.

The Stingers were playing tough in the offensive paint with Olivier Simon (Terrebonne, QC) taking over the scoring late in the quarter and earning trips to the line to try and bring his team back in it.

Once again it was up to Carson to stop the Stingers run with a shot from deep, followed up by an old-school three-point play.

At the end of the third quarter, the Stingers were able to gain ground as the Tigers led 56-44 going into the final frame.

The Stingers made a strong run to start the fourth quarter with Adrian Armstrong (London, ON) knocking down a shot from long-range, followed by a great slip-screen from Simon to get a wide open look at the rim. Another shot nearly from the bottom of the half-court circle from Simon forced a Tigers timeout as the lead was cut to just five.

The Tigers offense went cold as the lanes were clogged and the outside shots weren't falling, but the Stingers were taking advantage with transition buckets from Simon and with three minutes to go the game was tied at 64-64.

With 30 seconds remaining in a two-point game, Carson once again shut down the Stingers run with a big three to force Concordia to foul, allowing the Tigers to seal the 75-69 victory.

Olivier Simon led the Stingers with a game-high 26 points and 9 rebounds while Alex Carson led the Tigers to the win with his 17 points.

Concordia will take on Acadia at 6:00pm tomorrow while the Tigers will face the Memorial Sea-Hawks at 8:00pm.