Damey leads Tigers to win over Capers

Written by Sam Goldstein

The Dalhousie Tigers stunned the streaking Cape Breton Capers with an electrifying performance from Gabe Damey, lifted the Tigers to an 88-83 victory.

Both teams struggled offensively in the opening quarter. The Tigers shot just 5-for-19 from the field, while the Capers managed 7-for-19. Dalhousie forward Jayden Parker provided a crucial early spark, scoring seven first-quarter points, including an and-one layup and a pair of free throws. The back-and-forth action kept the game close, with neither team leading by more than five points. The Capers held a slim 20-15 advantage at the end of the quarter.

Gabe Damey (Ypsilanti, MI) ignited the Tigers early in the second quarter with a pull-up three-pointer that set the tone for what would become a historic performance. Midway through the period, Tigers guard Dimitrios Marcotullio (London, ON) broke his defender's ankles with a slick in-and-out dribble before dishing to Damey for another three. Damey followed that with a heat-check triple and a contested fadeaway jumper, showcasing his complete offensive arsenal.

Damey's brilliance peaked in the second quarter as he drilled seven threes, energizing the Tigers and their home crowd. By halftime, Damey had poured in 23 points, leading Dalhousie to a 50-39 advantage after a 35-point team effort in the second frame.

Cape Breton shifted their defensive focus after halftime, prioritizing perimeter defence to contest Dalhousie's shooters. However, the Tigers adjusted seamlessly. Damey's gravity created opportunities for teammates, with Lydell Husbands-Browne (Halifax, NS) and Spencer Riar (Montreal, PQ) stepping up offensively. Ball movement and discipline became key as the Tigers limited turnovers to just five entering the fourth quarter. Damey closed the third with a step-back three—his ninth of the night—to tie Dalhousie's school record and push the Tigers' lead to 72-55.

The Capers came out aggressive in the fourth, employing a full-court press that disrupted the Tigers and sparked a 14-6 run in the first five minutes. Cape Breton guard Shakael Pryce (Pickering, ON) was relentless, hitting a 30-foot three-pointer and orchestrating a pick-and-roll with Tafarian Black (Scarborough, ON) to tie the game at 83 with 26 seconds remaining.

With the game on the line, Damey delivered once more. Isolated at the top of the key, he drove left and drained a clutch floater to put Dalhousie ahead 85-83 with 10 seconds left. The Capers fumbled their final possession with an errant lob on the inbounds play, sealing the Tigers' thrilling 88-83 win.

Dalhousie's sharp shooting was critical, as the Tigers shot 48.6% from beyond the arc (17-for-35), compared to just 12 points in the paint. The Capers dominated inside, scoring 34 points in the paint but couldn't match the Tigers' perimeter firepower.

Damey was named the player of the game for his 33-point performance.

The Tigers aim to build on this momentum as they travel to Newfoundland to face Memorial University on Friday at 7:30 PM AST. Meanwhile, the Capers look to rebound against UPEI on the same evening at 8:00 PM AST.