Kevin McCleery had a huge game against U of O and was last year’s defensive player of the year ( Photo: Stephen Smith )

 

The Ravens men’s basketball team has the best regular season record in Canada once again after defeating the University of Ottawa on Gee-Gee’s territory 76-69 on Sat., Feb. 21. Playing in front of television cameras broadcasting live and a sold-out arena, the two teams with the best records in the country clashed for the second time in less than a month. The result was the same: a riveting game and a Carleton win.

This time Carleton did it without their best player, fi fth-year forward Aaron Doornekamp, who was nursing a bruised foot. Ravens big man Kevin McCleery said playing without Doornekamp has actually been a positive thing, acting as motivation for the rest of the Carleton players. “We wanted to win one for him,” McCleery said. “These are his kinds of games.” Playing opposite last year’s Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East defensive player of the year, Dax Dessureault, McCleery played perhaps his best game ever as he notched 27 points and 13 rebounds.

Carleton head coach Dave Smart said he felt that the Gee–Gees’ reluctance to double team for fear of leaving the perimetre exposed led to McCleery’s big game. “I think that Dax is a great defender but I don’t think he can cover [McCleery] one-onone without fouling him,” Smart said. McCleery said it was the strength of his teammates that allowed him so many opportunities. “We have so many weapons that it’s hard for teams to double any of us,” he said. Veteran guard Stuart Turnbull, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds, opened the scoring with a contested reverse lay-up before U of O took over, sprinting to an early lead.

Carleton weathered their opponent’s energy burst with their brand of steady, team-oriented basketball. The Ravens’ strong fundamental play was a contrast to the emotional, fl ashy and streaky play of the Gee-Gees as Carleton used its strong team defence to wear down their opponents. Montpetit Hall was full of both Raven and Gee–Gee fans and both sides were loud, but Turnbull’s play gave the red-and-black something to cheer about. His highlight reel started as he blocked a shot by a much taller Gee-Gee, making the Carleton section cheer. He then flew in for a rebound on the other end, pump-faking into the air before hitting a twisting lay-up to bring the Red Zone to their feet.Meanwhile, U of O was making some

tough shots to keep the game tight. Rob Saunders was a hair’s breadth from blocking a three-pointer late in the game with so much of his arm and hand up and in the way that the Gee-Gee was shooting blind. The shot went in and Saunders looked over to the Ravens coaching staff, who shrugged in unison as if to say, “There’s not much more you could have done there, sometimes guys just make tough shots.” U of O fought through the game and held a three-point lead in the third quarter as it became a battle of big men. McCleery pulled the team within one with a double spin move over Dessureault. In a following play, Dessureault reached over McCleery’s back for a rebound, hooking McCleery’s head and neck and violently pulled with his elbow on the way down.

McCleery walked away laughing and moving his neck from side to side before he went to the line for his foul shots: he hit both to tie. Rob Saunders was put on the line almost immediately after, hitting both of his shots and putting the Ravens up 72–69. Doornekamp said that it wasn’t difficult to watch the game from the sidelines since his teammates pulled out the win. “It would be hard to watch if guys were struggling but they played really well and it was fun to watch,” he said, promising to be doing more than just watching the next time the Raven’s hit the court.

“I’m looking forward to the playoffs,” he said with a smile