NEWS

Here is a recap of what went down last weekend with MHBL:

Note: All players should be aware that the all-star roster of 20 will be chosen following this weekend’s 

games. 

 

Huskies vs. Ssauga Elite – Huskies meant business right at tip-off, trying to avoid a 3-game losing streak. 

They efficiently attacked the rim and opened the game with a 10-2 lead, while playing solid defense and 

setting good screens. Huskies #8-Rusell extended the team’s lead to a 10-point difference after hitting a 

3, and getting fouled while going to the rim and making both free throws on the next possession – he 

finished with 18 pts., including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 4 rebounds. Ssauga’s defense was 

existent, and they grabbed a fair share of offensive boards, but nothing was stopping Huskies’ inside 

game – Huskies led 34-23 at halftime. Ssauga’s #3-R. Diankulu was the team’s highest scorer, recording 

an impressive double-double with 19 pts. and 11 rebounds, while  #5-L. Diankulu – with 15 pts., 3 

boards, and 3 blocks – and #8-Rusell were the only other double digits scorers. Huskies were hot, scoring 

on nearly every possession, but the biggest play came in the 2nd period, when the man of the hour, #7-

Elsadig penetrated his defender in isolation and threw down a one-handed slam! This play not only 

excited the crowd, but extended Huskies’ lead to 46-31. #7-Elsadig scored a game-high 26 points, adding 

3 steals to his stats. Ssauga had started to close the gap midway through the 2nd period, but with a 

corner 3 from #00-Osman – who finished with 14 pts. & 5 rebounds – and three 3-pointers from #24-

Campbell, their fate was sealed;  #24-Campbell finished with 13 pts., including 3-of-5 from downtown & 

5 rebounds, but left the game with about 8 minutes left in the game after taking a hard fall on a 

defensive play. Huskies forced turnovers all game long, and forced Ssauga to take difficult shots, but 

even when uncontested, Ssauga was struggling to score. Huskies won with a blowout, 81-49.

 

Spurs vs. N.W. – Spurs were trying to avoid a 3-game losing streak, and N.W. was trying to remain 

undefeated (the only loss on their record was a result of a forfeit). Spurs had their key player, #24-

Haroon playing for the first time this season – he finished with a game-high 30 points and 4 rebounds. 

N.W. is filled with great rebounders, they recorded 30 rebounds, vs Spurs’ 17. Spurs started off strong in 

the first half, ending the period with a 32-23 lead. Spurs’ #14-Curic was the only other player with a 

double digit score, finishing with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Things turned around after several stops and 

offensive rebounds by N.W., as they cut the deficit down to 4 only 3 minutes into the second half, led by 

#1-Paisley, who finished with 24 points. Three other N.W. players finished with double digit scores: #8-

Clarke and #9-Andrew, who both ended with 11 points, and #10-Frimpong, who finished with a double-

double, 10 points and 16 boards. With just over a minute left, the score was tied at 54, until Spurs’ #15-

Gul fouled out, leaving the team with only 4 players on the court. This seemed to seal their fate, as they 

turned the ball over twice in consecutive possessions, and N.W. took the W with a 62-57 score.

 

West Bridge vs. Prestige World Wide – Both teams were looking to stop their losing streak (although 

one of Prestige’s loss came from a forfeit in the previous week). West opened the game with a quick 6-

point lead. West’s #32-A. Hall – who finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting – attacked the rim late in 

the first period with an athletic up-and-under layup and-1 (with the made free throw) to keep the score 

close. Prestige led by 2 at the half, with help from a 3-pointer from #30-Kostecki, which would become 1 

of the four 3-pointers he hit during the game, finishing with 14 points. West’s passing is very controlled 

and precise, so their ball movement gives them good opportunities. West’s #0-M.Hall and #5-Roberts 

each grabbed 3 rebounds and scored 13 and 14 points, respectively. The most effective player on the 

court, however, was Prestige’s #23-Aldham, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 

rebounds on 5-of-6 shooting. West struggled offensively for the most part, but the game still came down 

to the wire, with Prestige clinging on to a 3-point lead by a thread. West had the last possession and 

chucked up a deep 3, but missed. Prestige shot an impressive 59% from the field, while West was 

shooting at 45% accuracy.

 

North vs. Hoyas – The game’s opening minutes consisted of Hoyas’ #12-O. Passley – who finished with 

11 pts – hitting a 3, followed by two back-to-back post-ups by big man #15-D. Passley, who was excellent 

in the paint and recorded 18 pts on just below 70% shooting. Although Hoyas entered the game strong, 

they were slightly trailing North for the majority of the 1st half, ending it with a 3-point North lead after 

#1-Vernon hit a corner 3. PG #1-Vernon played with high energy, pouring in 16 pts and grabbing 4 

boards throughout the game. The second half opened with two back-to-back 3s from #1-Vernon, along 

with an offensive deficiency from North, and Hoyas eventually led by double digits halfway through the 

2nd period. Despite North’s #3-Taylor being the game’s highest scorer with 22 pts on 7-of-14 shooting, 

and with an additional 14 pts from #1-Chavarro, 13 pts from #5-Fray, and 10 boards from #34-Blake, the 

whole team shot only 40% from the field, compared to Hoyas’ superb 57%. Hoyas extend their winning 

streak to 2, and win with another blowout – 81-57.

 

Squad Up vs. Woes – This game was an exciting matchup, as both teams play a fast-paced, high scoring 

game. Both teams are excellent rebounders, Squad totalled 30, Woes totalled 21. Three Squad players 

finished with double digit scores – #23-Spalding, 21 pts; #5-kingkg212121, 21 pts; and #3-Eduful, 16 pts 

– with the latter two posting up double-doubles with 10 and 11 rebounds respectively. Squad was 

leading for most of the 1st period, but after a good run by Woes, they led by 4 at the half. Coming into 

the 2nd half, Woes tightened their defense and attacked effectively on offense, leading by as many as 12 

only 3 minutes in. Woes #00-Omar finished with 21 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, and grabbed 

4 rebounds, and #24-Riley went 10-of-17 from the field for a game-high 22 points, and 3 steals. The 

other Woe players contributed nicely too: #7-Kacardio, #12-Cooper, and #2-Roberts pouring in 8, 7, and 

6 points, respectively. Woes led by 10 with 1:30 left in the game, ultimately winning 72-63 and 

maintaining their undefeated standing.

 

Monarchs vs. City Game – City entered the game looking for their first real win (since their only win was 

a result of their opponent’s forfeit last week), and Monarchs entered looking to keep their 2-game 

winning streak alive. Monarch’s #12-Alilovic – with 7 rebounds – and #15-Troop – on 7-of-9 shooting – 

led the game in scoring with 21 points a piece, while the ball-handler guru #51-Lemos added 12, and 

#32-JO finished 1 board shy of a double-double with 10 points. City led by 3 at halftime, but with an 

intense fight for the lead in the 2nd half and 26 seconds remaining, the game was tied at 58. City’s #15-

Jatana threw up a difficult shot from beyond the arc at the buzzer (after having made 4 of them in the 

game), but missed, taking the game to overtime. The first 2 minutes of OT were scoreless for both 

teams, as Monarchs missed offensively, but drew charges defensively. City’s #00-Khan – who finished 

with 7 points – banks a difficult layup, but it was followed by Monarch’s #15-Troop hitting an and-1, and 

making the free throw to bring his team to a 64-60 lead with 30 second left in OT. Down by 4 with 15 

seconds left, City’s #6-Khan – who had a team-high 20 pts – dishes it to #15-Jatana who banks his 5th 3-

pointer of the game and brings City to within 1. City’s #7-Chambers also played a huge role in the game, 

posting 16 points. Unfortunately, City ended up fouling #12-Alilovic, who scored both free throws, and 

then they turned the ball over, forcing an intentional foul. Down 3 with under 5 seconds left, City was 

not able to take the game into double OT. Monarchs were looking to improve their 2-0 standing to 3-0, 

and that’s exactly what they did. Not only did they shoot 55% from the field (compared to City’s 40%), 

but the Monarchs out-assisted City by more than double, and out-rebounded them by more than triple.

 

Peak Canada vs. Black Mambas – Both these teams have really talented players, and their fast-paced 

plays makes this matchup exciting. Mambas seemed to take the reins on the game early with a 13-1 run 

in the opening 5 minutes. Peak was not moving the ball as well as they normally do, despite #13-Paul 

rebounding efficiently, totalling 10 boards. Mambas had an 18-point lead at halftime, led by game-high 

scorer #55-Pierre – who finished with 31 points and 5 rebounds – as well as #12-Gyamfi – who recorded 

20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed 7 boards. Peak made good runs in the second period, but 

were not able to close the gap because of Mambas’ fire offense. Peak’s #6-Iggy had a team-high score of 

29 points, on an excellent 11-of-16 shooting from the field. With only 6 minutes remaining in the game 

and Peak still down by double digits, #1-Lewis goes on an incredible shooting run, scoring 13 of his total 

23 points in those 6 minutes. This crazy comeback brought them to within 3 with 15 seconds left, but 

when #55-Pierre got fouled and hit both free throws, it was game over, and Mambas ended the game 

with a 66-61 win, maintaining their winning streak and remaining the only undefeated team in the East.