A capacity crowd filled the ARC stands on Friday night for the much anticipated OCAA semi-final matchup between the Humber Hawks and the home Algonquin Wolves. The energy was electric as over 800 Wolves fans filled the seats of the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre.
You could tell early on that this one was going to be a battle. Humber drew 1st blood on the opening possession and would hold a 5-0 lead until Sydney Moore cashed in from 3 at the 6:03 mark of the 1st quarter to get the Wolves on the board. It was a defensive battle the rest of the way with Humber earning a slight 9-7 edge after 10 minutes.
The 2nd quarter was evenly played. Humber would take a 4 point lead with 5:15 to go but the Wolves would answer with a 7-0 run to take a 3 point lead. The run was fueled by Meaghan McNamara who hadn't seen many minutes in the playoffs but stayed ready. Meaghan stepped up and hit a big 3 from the corner to give the Wolves the lead. She would score 5 of the Wolves 11 points in the frame. Algonquin took a slight 18-16 lead into the break.
After a defensive battle in the 1st half, play opened up on both sides in the 2nd. The Wolves punched 1st, opening up on a 6-0 run to take an 8 point lead. The home team seemed to be in the driver's seat but Humber bounced back with a run of their own to tie the game at 26 with 3 minutes to go. Humber gained a slight 2 point edge going into the final period.
The game remained neck and neck until about halfway through the quarter when a few untimely turnovers in a row allowed Humber to make a run to go up 44-38. The Wolves battled down the stretch to try and get back in but unfortunately were unable to get over the hump and ultimately fell 57-43.
Dasia McDonald was named the player of the game for the Wolves. She battled through injury all night and finished with 9 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds. Sydney Moore had 8 points. Libby Hirst had 6 points and 11 rebounds.
The Wolves will play for bronze on Saturday March 1st at 2:30 pm against the Fanshawe Falcons who fell to the Mohawk Mountaineers in the other semi-final.
