'Wolves Win: National Championship Sunday 3:30PM Eastern vs #1 Carleton

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 9, 2013

T-Wolves Win 66-62, Enter Gold Game 36 Years in the Making

KANATA, ON -

The men's basketball team's ship has finally come in. And with any luck, they'll make it a Champion. Following a 66-62 win against Ottawa (and all odds), the Lakehead Thunderwolves find themselves in the Championship game for the W.P. McGee  Trophy, the crowning achievement of CIS Basketball. It will be their first trip to the CIS gold medal game since 1977.

In what was a historic battle for the 'Wolves, sweat poured by the gallon and wits stretched to their absolute limit in the Thunderwolf contingent.

Just as in Friday's game, Lakehead started the game hot, jumping out to an 11-4 lead 4:30 into the game. The Gee-Gees were well armed to answer, with All-Canadian Warren Ward and reserve Caleb Agada providing the drive to even the score at 16 after 10 minutes of play.

Ottawa's first lead of the game came late in the second quarter, 29-28, soon after which Warren Ward made an impressive three-point play to put the Gee-Gees up 32-30 at halftime. It should be noted that Lakehead played even with Ottawa without the services of Yoosrie Salhia, who was pinned with 2 fouls in his singular minute of first half court time. Credit to Brendan King (6 rebs, 2pts 1blk in 12 min) and Anthony McIntosh who stepped up in Salhia's absence to provide an inside presence and some scoring as well.

Lakehead's bench out-scored Ottawa's 37-18.

Although Salhia returned in the second half, it would be Lakehead's guards who stepped up to provide the scoring punch to knock the Gee-Gees out, most notably Joseph Jones, who nailed a (very deep) NBA-range three pointer, and was fouled on the play. It was part of an 11-0 run (and three consecutive 'And 1' plays) that gave Lakehead a 55-53 lead after trailing since late in the 2nd quarter, and erased a 9-point Ottawa lead.

Despite missing the ensuing free throw after the deep three pointer, Jones would make 4 clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the victory. Jones was also the Thunderwolf who dove out of bounds to keep an LU offensive possession alive, after the 'Wolves had already grabbed two offensive rebounds in the sequence. He rose gingerly to his feet and came off the floor, but would return shortly after to hit the game-sealing free throws. Jones would finish with 24 points (3-6 3FG, 9-11 FT) and 6 rebounds, and be named the Player of the Game.

Greg Carter finished with 9 points, 4 assists and 4 steals in 35 minutes of play. Dwayne Harvey scored 12 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Lakehead got the dirty work done by committee, as the Box Score shows.

For the Gee-Gees, Ward scored 21 points (7-17 FG) with 10 rebounds and 4 assists in 38 minutes of play. Gabriel Gonthier Dubue was next with 11 points and 9 rebounds, while Caleb Agada had 10 points. Johnny Berhanemeskel, who averaged 16 PPG  and 48% from the field during the season, was held to 2 points on 1-13 shooting, but did grab 9 rebounds with 3 blocked shots. 

Coach Scott Morrison:

"What a big win for our program. It was a 4th quarter comeback that this group of players has essentially patented over the last four seasons. We've been working hard to extend our seasons 'one more' game now for three weeks...The guys have succeeded in extending it to the last possible game - nothing to do now but go for it tomorrow."

Lakehead will play Carleton tomorrow at 3:30 ET. (Reminder: Set your clocks ahead tonight!)

The Score Television Network will Broadcast Live

Webcast available via CIS TV

--

Hugh Mullally

Sports Information Director

Lakehead University Athletics

Office: 807 766 7157

Fax: (807) 343-8203 

Media Links from LU's CIS Quarter-Final Win Over CBU

Ottawa Native Carter Helps Lakehead to Upset Win - Ottawa Sun

Maritimer Ben Johnson Sticks Fork in Cape Breton - Yahoo Sports (Eh Game)

Lakehead Scores Upset Win in CIS Final 8 - The Globe and Mail 

Semi Final Secured - Tbaynewswatch.com

LU Reaches National Semi-Final - Chronicle Journal

Morrison's Lakehead Squad One Win From National Final - The Guardian

Cape Breton Loses to Lakehead - The Chronicle Herald

First Round Recap - Ottawa Citizen

Toronto Star Feature on Yoosrie Salhia

Sports / Basketball

Star player’s final tournament marks end of hoops era at Lakehead University

Former Toronto high school star Yoosrie Salhia helped transform Lakehead’s basketball team from perennial loser into CIS powerhouse. Salhia plays his final tournament this weekend at the CIS championships at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

By: Charlie Wilkins Special to the Star, Published on Fri Mar 08 2013

Arab Spring came to Thunder Bay, Ont., about three years before it reached the shores of North Africa. It came in the form of a solemn-faced basketball player with roots in Cairo and the eyes and passion (not to mention the serenity and courage) of a Saladin warrior.

Five years have passed since 20-year-old Yoosrie Salhia, a six-foot-six post player, left the rough streets of Parkdale in west Toronto and came north to tiny Lakehead University to join what was probably the feeblest university basketball program in the country. During the previous season the audaciously named Thunderwolves had won just one game (by one point) and lost 30 (often by as much as 30 points).

Thunder Bay, it should be noted, has (in the words of the old joke) about 10 months of winter and two of tough sledding.

“I definitely had to do some adjusting,” says Salhia, who had never been north of Lake Simcoe and hated cold weather (“I’m Egyptian!” he laughs.) More significantly, he had never played on a losing team.

And would not play on one for long.

Coach Scott Morrison had never seen Salhia on the court — not even on video — when the freshman arrived at the northern university after a high school career at Western Tech in Toronto and a year at Weatherford Junior College in Texas, where he never played a game because of injuries.

“The first day in the gym, we were doing a rebounding drill where the guys come down the lane from the foul line,” says Morrison. “I’m there putting up a little interference with the blocking pad. Here comes Yoosrie — I’ll tell ya, the kid hit me with more brute force than I have ever been hit in my life, moved me back about a metre. It hurt. He’s hard. Then he did it again. I thought, OK — a man among boys. This is the rock on which I’m going to build my team.”

It took about a year and a half for Morrison to mould Salhia and a handful of rookies (including Gregg Carter, this year’s CIS defensive player of the year) into a unit that, like Salhia himself, could play with the biggest boys in the country, as they will be doing this weekend at the CIS championships at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

Since the year after Sahlia’s arrival, Lakehead has never missed the championships (an accomplishment matched only by the legendary Carleton Ravens). In 2011, the team won the OUA Wilson Cup and has consistently been one of the top defensive teams in the country. Sahlia has been a frequent OUA all-star and has several times led, or nearly led, the CIS in rebounding and blocked shots. He has been a persistent scorer, an OUA leader in double-doubles, and is a physical and psychological survivor of such Promethean durability that, after two major knee surgeries and a half-dozen back injuries, he plays regularly with three slipped discs and in more or less constant pain.

“Some mornings it’s scary,” says his roommate and close friend Greg Carter. “He’ll be lying there in bed at the apartment and just can’t move.”

The miracle, says Morrison, “is that by game time he’s always ready, giving it everything he’s got, even if he’s only at 30 per cent.”

Born in Toronto in 1989, Salhia, the youngest of five siblings, grew up under the influence of his mother Saadia’s strict Muslim faith (his dad died during Yoosrie’s first year at Lakehead).

“He was a scrawny little kid. Very shy,” says his oldest brother, Badr. “Then, in about Grade 8, he discovered basketball. Unfortunately, it wasn’t till he was halfway through high school that we realized how good he was. Suddenly, universities were calling from all over North America.”

To this day, the family, an entourage of ever-smiling cheerleaders, attends Yoosrie’s games en masse, often driving hundreds of kilometres on weekends to see him play.

At one point in his adolescence, Salhia spent nearly a year in Egypt. He has been back and forth twice since and like the rest of the family has evolved a keen consciousness regarding political and social rights in the Arab world.

“Ever since I was little,” he says, “I’ve been listening to my mother’s rants about bringing home democracy, about human rights, about narrowing the gulf between the rich and poor in Egypt. So when Arab Spring came along, it was a natural for us. We got behind it. It’s a very important movement if they can keep it going.”

Yoosrie does not drink, observes fasting and prayer during Ramadan, and has worshipped on occasion at the tiny Thunder Bay Masjid, the only mosque between Toronto and Winnipeg.

“I don’t know much about his religion,” says Carter. “What I do know is that he’s a great friend with great depth — a guy you could trust with your life.”

Salhia is legendarily quiet, both socially and in the dressing room.

“But when he tells you to shut up in the room,” says Carter, “everybody shuts up and listens.”

Asked how his ethics and beliefs jibe with his reputation for intimidation and toughness, Salhia submits that he’s flattered if anybody’s intimidated by him on the court. “It’s not something I strive for. Basically, I’m just a rebounder” — a monstrously successful one often overmatched in height by post players towering above him.

Queried on the secret of his success on the boards, he says, “Hard work, a feel for the ball, and an instinct for getting to it.”

Almost as an afterthought, he adds, “If possible, you want to give the guy you’re playing against a good shot just before you both go up for the ball.”

A good shot where?

“If possible in the chest — it gives him something other than the rebound to think about.”

“I guess he’s given a lot of guys a lot to think about over the years,” laughs Hugh Mullally, Lakehead’s sports information director.

“What I really want them to think about,” says Salhia, is that when they’re out there against me, nothing will be easy. Everything will be a battle.”

“He’s down to his last battle this weekend,” says Morrison. “Winning it would be a great way to end a great career.”

“What I want them to think about,” says Salhia, “is everything will be a battle, and that in the end they’re not going to win it.”

'Wolves Advance to National Semi-Final with Win over #2 Cape Breton

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 8, 2013

T-Wolves Advance Past Capers 74-61; CIS Round 2 at Last

KANATA, ON -

The men's basketball team reached pay dirt at the CIS Final 8, at long last, and advanced past the first round to the semi-finals, with a 74-61 win over the Cape Breton U Capers (#2) on Friday afternoon.

Although deemed to be an 'upset' by many, there were no teams seeded in the Top 6 that Lakehaed matched up better against than the Capers. Much to the dismay of the bus loads of 'Orange Army' Caper supporters, the hunter orange they donned by the hundreds on the baseline did nothing to deter Lakehead gunners from unloading both barrels in the opening minutes of the game. Lakehead opened on a 11-4 run, with Ben Johnson hitting 2 threes in the first 3:31 of the game.

The Capers would respond after coach Scott Morrison pulled his starters on a near-line change substitution following some rushed shots on the offensive end and a couple defensive lapses. With 4 reserves on the floor, Cape Breton made a run to tie the game at 12. Lakehead would finish the quarter up 15-12, and the rest the starters got in the 1st Q would pay off in the 4th quarter.

On the defensive end, Lakehead was locked in on All-Canadian Jimmy Dorsey, drawing two offensive fouls on the crafty guard in the first 5 minutes of the game. Dorsey picked up his third foul at 7:34 of the 2nd quarter after pushing off on a drive against CIS Defensive Player of the Year Greg Carter. That put the Capers in a tough position, thus relying heavily on their bench, who did a good job, propelling the Capers ahead to lead 33-29 at the half.

To begin the second, Carter would even the score with two straight hoops, and Ben Johnson provided a long range snipe to take the lead at 8:00 of the third, and another triple to give the T-Wolves a 42-35 lead.

Cape Breton fought back time and again, taking a 46-44 lead, and the 3rd Q ending in a 48-48 tie. The game would be tied again at 52, before Lakehead guards Carter and Dwayne Harvey would score on back to back plays and get the T-Wolves ahead for good. Lakehead out-scored CBU 26-13 in the final quarter. Attribute that to fantastic team defense and rebounding down the stretch, courtesy (in part) of veteran Yoosrie Salhia and sophomore Joey 'Nitro' Nitychoruk, who was absolutely Buck Wild in the lane, grabbing a game-high 9 rebounds (4 offensive) to go with 3 blocked shots and 6 points in 13 minutes of play. Salhia finished with 8 rebounds, 2 points, a block and a steal.

Ben Johnson was a man on fire from the land beyond, hitting on 7 of 10 three point attempts, totalling 25 points and 3 rebounds. Dwayne Harvey had 16 points (6-10 FG), 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Joe Hart finished 50% from the field (4-8) for 11 points and 5 rebounds. Greg Carter had a good home coming, scoring 9 points with 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. On top of that, he limited CBU's Dorsey to 12 points (4-15 FG), a good 9 pts below his season average.

Four Capers scored in double figures, with Dorsey and Arild Geugjes with 12pts apiece, and Cedric Kasongo and Sean McCormick adding 10pts each. Geugjes had a team-high 8 rebounds.

Lakehead out-rebounded Cape Breton 47-33, and shot 5-17 from three in the first half, compared to 5-8 in the second frame (41% on the game).Box Score

Coach Scott Morrison:

"Both our seniors and our young players stepped up and elevated their games today to get an important win for our program. Aside from 5-6 minutes in the first half I thought our guys executed our plan about as well as possible. If we are to have a chance that number must be very close to 40 minutes tomorrow. Either way it's great to be out of the morning games this year."

The Thunderwolves will play Ottawa tomorrow at 5:30 pm ET.

The Score Television Network Will Broadcast the Game.

Webcast available via CIS TV

Final 8 Media Links (Team & Individual Stories)

Reminder Friday's 1/4 Final Game vs CBU will be webcast at CIS TV

General Team Final 8 Media
LU Counts on Experience - Chronicle Journal

Redemption - Tbnewswatch.com

Capers, Axemen Eye Final - Halifax Chronicle Herald

Thunderwolves Earn National Bid - Chronicle Journal

Thomson Out - Tbnewswatch.com


Greg Carter - CIS Defensive Player of the Year

Carter Repeats - Tbnewswatch.com 

Carter Defends Defensive Award - Chronicle Journal

'Wolves Open 2013 Final 8 vs Cape Breton (CIS-TV)

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 6, 2013

Lakehead vs. Cape Breton in Round 1 of CIS Final 8

THUNDER BAY, ON -

The men's basketball team will take on the Cape Breton U Capers in round 1 of the CIS Final 8 tournament, held at Scotiabank Place in Kanata. The 'Wolves go into the weekend seeded 7th, while Cape Breton is seeded 2nd. This will mark the 4th consecutive trip to the 'Big Dance' of Canadian University basketball for coach Scott Morrison and the Thunderwolves.

This will also be the first time that his team has not faced a B.C. opponent in the first round. The Thunderwolves and Capers last met at the national tournament in 2009 in the consolation round (which CBU won). They have had a couple exhibition meetings since then (all resulting in Lakehead losses), but no games in the current season.

The ties between these two teams run deeper than an outsider might assume, however. Lakehead assistant coach Nathan Johnson was assistant to now CBU Capers head coach Matt Skinn during their time with the St FX women's program, just prior to Johnson coming to Lakehead. With that in mind there could be some tactical familiarities in the teams' game plans.

As for personnel, shooting guard Joseph Jones was roommates with Capers star Jimmy Dorsey during their playing days together at Howard College in Maryland, before both players came north of the border.

The Capers are 21-1 on the season, their only loss coming to Acadia (73-49 on Feb 16). They do have a knack for winning close games, having beaten St FX twice by 5 points, St. Mary's twice by 4 and 5 points, along with Dalhousie and UPEI by 2 points, all but one of those games played away from their comfortable Sydney, N.S. confines.

Jimmy Dorsey leads the Capers in scoring (20.8 PPG 6.4 RPG, 5.4 APG), and was also named a first-team All-Canadian earlier today. Of note as well is Shaquille Keith, who made the CIS All-Rookie team, and comes off the bench for the Capers.

One place the Thunderwolves hope they can have success against CBU is from the 3-point line, where the Capers shoot 30.5%, and average close to 26 long range attempts per game. The Thunderwolves have the second best 3-point defense in the country, limiting teams to 27.2% from beyond the arc.

Coach Scott Morrison:

"I am excited for our graduating seniors that they get the opportunity to go for #1 a fitting way to end their careers at Lakehead especially since our first appearance on the national stage occurred in this building back in 2010.  At the time we were a bunch of wide-eyed kids - this weekend we need to be men if we want to advance for the first time to round 2. Cape Breton is a formidable team with excellent coaching and one of this era's top players in Jimmy Dorsey.  We will be underdogs for sure but I know our guys will come out fighting to extend their season one more time."

Game time is Friday, March 8 at 12 noon ET.

Webcast Coverage of Game 1 vs Cape Breton Available via CIS TV

Games in the later rounds will be televised on The Score Television Network, and all games webcast on CIS TV.

Greg Carter - Two-Time National Defensive Player of the Year

March 6, 2013
(via CIS)

The CIS announced the All-Canadians and major award winners for the 2012-13 men's basketball season this morning. Repeating as CIS Defensive Player of the Year is senior point guard, Greg Carter. A full list of award winners follows below.

Carter, who has been honoured each of the past four years at the OUA West level, becomes only the second multiple winner of the CIS defensive MVP award since its inception in 2005.

The 5-foot-10 point guard was the anchor of a defensive unit that ranked sixth in the country in points allowed per game (68.5) and fifth in opponents’ field goal percentage (38.3). The business administration student finished second in the OUA in steals (2.1 per contest) and showcased his exceptional all-around game by also contributing 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest.

A native of Ottawa, the four-year co-captain led the Thunderwolves to second place in the OUA West standings with a 14-7 record.

“We’re pleased that the CIS coaches have recognized once again what we at Lakehead have known for five seasons - that Greg Carter is the elite defensive player in the country,” said Lakehead head coach Scott Morrison. “Many players have the ability to change a game with a big defensive play but few, if any in recent memory, have the impact on an opponent’s offensive game plan that Greg does on a weekly basis. Greg has been a hard worker, a leader and a winner at every level he has played and it is nice to see his CIS career draw to a close with this outstanding honour being bestowed a second time.”

2012-2013 CIS MEN'S BASKETBALL AWARDS & ALL-CANADIANS

Mike Moser Memorial Trophy (player of the year): Philip Scrubb, Carleton

Defensive player of the year: Greg Carter, Lakehead

Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy (rookie of the year): Deontay Smith, UPEI

Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy (coach of the year): Dave Smart, Carleton

Ken Shields Award (basketball, academics & community service): Daniel McCarthy, GuelphFirst Team

Pos.     Athlete                        University       Year    Hometown                  Faculty

G         Philip Scrubb               Carleton           3          Richmond, B.C.           Commerce

G         James Dorsey              Cape Breton     5          Baltimore, Md.             Community Studies

G         Stephon Lamar            Saskatchewan  3          San Diego, Calif.         Arts & Science

F          Tyson Hinz                  Carleton           4          Ottawa, Ont.                Commerce

F          Owen Klassen              Acadia             4          Kingston, Ont.             Kinesiology

Second Team

F          Lien Phillip                  Windsor           4          St. Marks, Grenada      Business                     

G         Doug Plumb                 UBC                5          Pitt Meadows, B.C.      Arts

G         Maxwell Allin              Laurier             4          Chatham, Ont.             Arts

G         Warren Ward               Ottawa             5          London, Ont.               Arts

C          Mike Andrews             Bishop’s          3          Oakville, Ont.              Education

All-Rookie Team

G         Deontay Smith             UPEI                1          North Preston, N.S.      Arts

G         Rohan Boney               McMaster         1          Oakville, Ont.              Social Science

G         Shaquille Keith            Cape Breton     1          Brampton, Ont.            Community Studies

G         Youssef Ouahrig          Alberta             1          Montreal, Que.             Native Studies

G         Karl Demers-Bélanger Laval               1          Quebec City, Que.       Actuarial Studies 



-- 

Hugh Mullally

Sports Information Director

Lakehead University Athletics

Office: 807 766 7157

Fax: (807) 343-8203