After finishing 4th in the OCAA East with a 12-6 record, it was playoff time for the Wolves men's basketball team. They hosted the Niagara Knights On Saturday February 15th. Niagara finished 5th in the West at 10-8. This was the 1st men's basketball home playoff game since 2022 when the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre first opened. The Wolves earned a 65-59 win over Seneca in the 1st round that season in front of an electric crowd. Wolves fans showed up for their team once again this time around with the largest crowd of the men's basketball season filling the bleachers at the ARC.
With 4 players in their 5th year of eligibility and many veterans on the roster, the Wolves were determined to make sure that this would not be their final game. The Wolves had a different energy and focus, easily playing their best game of the season. After Niagara opened the scoring on a back door lob on the 1st possession, Algonquin responded with a 10-0 run to open up an early 8 point lead. Tesloch Luk, who finished 2nd in the OCAA in scoring, was in a different gear early on, scoring 8 points in the opening quarter. With the Wolves up 7 halfway through the frame, Simon Desta checked into the game. Desta is in his final season of a 5 year career with Algonquin. The veteran has accepted a different role this season coming off the bench to provide an offensive spark. Desta played that role perfectly in this one knocking down his 1st 3 shots from deep to score 9 points in the opening frame. The Wolves opened up a 25-14 lead going into the 2nd quarter.
The Knights were determined to get back in this game and cut the Algonquin lead to 6 with 7:54 to go in the quarter but the Wolves weathered the storm and answered with a run of their own to push the lead back up to 13. The quarter went back and forth from there. Niagara managed to get it back down to 5 with 3:24 to go but the Wolves would once again answer with a 10-0 run capped off by a Simon Desta buzzer beater 3 from the edge of the Wolves logo to improve their lead to 51-36 going into the half. Jansen Balmaceda was the Wolves leading scorer in the quarter with 8 points, going 2 for 2 from deep. A sign of things to come, Ted Braden began to impose his will inside, scoring 6 points in the frame.
After shooting an impressive 58.3% from 3 and 56.3% from the field, the Wolves cooled down a bit offensively in the 3rd quarter. Thankfully, Ted Braden continued to have his best offensive game of the season, going 4/4 in the 3rd and scoring 8 points. After putting up 51 in the 1st half, the Wolves were held to 15 in the 3rd. Thankfully they also had their best defensive quarter holding the Knights to just 11 points on 25% from the field.
With a 19 point lead going into the final quarter, the Wolves looked poised to come away with the victory. 2nd year forward Haven Holder put his stamp on the game early in the 4th. The big man got the crowd going by throwing down the dump off from Ted braden for the and 1 dunk. Holder has had a tough season, injuring himself in pre-season forcing him to miss most of the year. It has been good to see him back the last few weekends as he is starting to find a rhythm and contribute more and more. After a poor shooting quarter in the 3rd, the Wolves got back to their offensive ways in the 4th thanks in large part to Albert Opena. Opena was scoreless through 3 quarters but it would not stay that way. The 2nd year guard went 4 for 5 from deep including an and 1 from the wing. Tesloch Luk also added 7 points in the frame.
The Wolves came away with a convincing 93-69 win. They had an extremely efficient game offensively shooting 53% from the floor, 52% from deep and 83% from the line. Tesloch Luk led the way with 22 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Ted Braden had his best game of the season with 16 points going 7 for 7 from the floor and adding 6 rebounds. Jansen Balmaceda had 15 points, 6 boards and 5 assists. Simon Desta had 14 points and 5 assists. Albert Opena was the last Wolf in double figures with 12 points. As impressive as the offense was, the Wolves also had a strong defensive game holding Niagara to 38.7% from the floor.
It was a strong start to the playoffs for the Wolves. The win punches their ticket to the OCAA ΒΌ finals. They will need to carry the momentum of the win and have a strong week of practice. Next up is a date with the #1 team in the country, the Humber Hawks on Sunday February 23rd in Toronto.
