Hawks capture CCAA title on home court

National Championship Game: Humber Hawks 101, St. Clair Saints 94

The Humber Hawks are the 2022 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Champions after defeating provincial rivals St. Clair Saints in front of a sold-out North Campus crowd.

Humber had a strong opening quarter, using a 14-0 run in the first to build a double-digit lead after one. The Hawks shot an impressive 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) in the frame on the way to 26 points. DeQuon Cascart and Dwayne Lambert-Cadore led the way for Humber combining for 16 points.

CCAA All-Canadians David Gomez Jr of St. Clair and DeQuon Cascart of Humber went back-and-forth throughout the first half, both leading their teams in scoring after two. Gomez Jr put up 14 points in the first half while Cascart had a game-high 17 points through 20 minutes.

Gomez Jr continued to lead the way for the Saints out the half, putting up 13 points in the third helping his team chip away at the deficit. St. Clair outscored the Hawks in the quarter putting up 27 points but still trailed heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

The Saints battled back, making it a two-possession game with just one minute left to go. That would prove to be as St. Clair would get as Humber closed it out down the stretch to win the championship.

DeQuon Cascart was named player of the game and Championship MVP. Cascart finished with 28 points, five rebounds and five assists. David Gomez Jr was annnounced a tournament all-star and was named player of the game for St. Clair. Gomez Jr put up a game-high 37 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Player of the Game: DeQuon Cascart, Humber and David Gomez Jr, St. Clair

Bronze Medal Game: Dawson Blues 99, VIU Mariners 74

The battle for CCAA bronze came down to the VIU Mariners and the Dawson Blues both earning their places in the match only hours earlier. It would be the Dawson Blues coming out victorious.

Dawson struck fire early leading by as much as 14-2 before the first timeout was called. The quick break didn’t slow down the Blues defensive efforts forcing the Mariners to a first quarter shooting percentage of 10.5 percent.

The Blues continued their tear maintaining an 18-point lead going into the half. Tori Odom of the Mariners would not see his unit be taken down so easily, stuffing the stat sheet with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals at the halfway mark.

The first half deficit proved too much for the VIU Mariners to overcome, as the Blues never let up on way to capturing the 2022 CCAA National Bronze Medal.

Schumel Shepherd was named player of the game for Dawson finishing with 22 points and five rebounds. Tori Odom received the honours for VIU recording 19 points and six rebounds.

Player of the Game: Schumel Shepherd, Dawson and Tori Odom, VIU