Niagara drops decision to Fanshawe
Three players whose names are not usually next to the biggest numbers on the stat sheet scored in double digits as Niagara dropped a 77-71 decision to the Fanshawe Falcons to wrap up league play in men’s college basketball.
With the Knights already guaranteed a spot at the OCAA championships March 4-6 in Toronto, head coach Keith Vassell opted to give the majority of his starters a well-deserved rest in the road game in London, Ont.
Femi Akindele, Payam Saboni and Vicrum Kailey made the most of getting significant minutes on the court by scoring 15, 12 and 10 points, respectively, in a loss that dropped Niagara’s regular-season record to 13-3.
Starter Jordon McDonald scored 12 points and led the Knights in rebounding with five.
“Today was a tough loss versus a peaking Fanshawe team,” Vassell said. “We were never able to take control of the game.”
“Fanshawe hit tough shots in the paint throughout the game.”
Niagara, which finished second to the 16-0 Sheridan Bruins in the west division, tips off provincials next Thursday against the Centennial Colts, 14-5, third in the east. a heaping helping of home cooking topped off by, what else, turnovers will send them to the Ontario championships in women’s college basketball.
Only thing standing between the Knights 12-6, fourth in the west; and provincials March 2-4 in Toronto are the Centennial Colts, 7-9, fifth in the east; their opponents in a cross-over qualifier Sunday in Welland.
Confederation graduate Courtney McPherson scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Knights closed out league play with a 73-59 loss to the Fanshawe Falcons in London, Ont.
“Give Fanshawe credit, they beat us in every phase of the game for the better part of three quarters of basketball,” head coach Mike Beccaria said. “It’s really the only way to describe the evening.”
It was the fifth consecutive double-double for the Welland native this season.
A.N. Myer alum Alyssa McCabe had 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Knights.
Tipoff for Sunday’s qualifyinground game at the Athletic Centre is 1:30 p.m.