The seventh annual MBNA Capital Hoops Classic will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at Scotiabank Place. The Carleton Ravens and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s and women’s basketball teams will face off in front of a large and rowdy crowd.
This will be the sixth Classic to have a women’s game. The Ravens won every time, except for last year’s event where they lost in a heartbreaker 59-55. They are looking to rebound this year, in a game that has implications for first place in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) East division.
The Ravens and Gee-Gees both have an identical record of 9-3, and are tied for first place in the division with 18 points.
“This game has major importance and pressure to it because of how close the two teams are in the standings. This game will help decide who will be first and who will be second going into the playoffs,” Ravens head coach Taffe Charles said.
Even though this game is the only thing on the minds of the Ravens supporters, the team has another crucial game before this one, on Jan. 18 against the Queen’s University Golden Gaels, who are third place in the division.
“We don’t want to be premature and already look ahead to the game against Ottawa,” Charles said. “Right now we need to take it one game at a time and prepare for the game against Queen’s and then we will prepare for this one.”
Kendall MacLeod, a guard for the Carleton Ravens, is in her fifth year and will be playing in her final Capital Hoops Classic.
“It is sweet playing in Scotiabank Place and in front of a lot of fans,” MacLeod said. “The loss last year was disappointing and so this year it is very important to get the win. I am looking forward to the chance to get it back in my final year.”
The game is a big change for both teams as it is a mid-week game, with the game time set for 6 p.m., the only mid-week game that Carleton plays all season, and it is played in a much bigger and different location.
“The change in venue is huge as the gym is a lot different. Thank goodness for shoot around, which gives us a little bit of an opportunity to get used to it,” MacLeod said.
On the other side of the coin from MacLeod, Ravens forward Lindsay Shotbolt will be playing in her first Capital Hoops Classic.
“I can already see that this game is a huge deal. It is being broadcast live on TV and it is a big rivalry in a big venue,” Shotbolt said.
“The different atmosphere is definitely going to bring more excitement and more pressure to the game. We just need to block out everything around us and focus on the game.”
“We haven’t played well offensively recently, and our offence needs to step up in this game,” Charles said.
“The game is going to be very tight, and our best players need to be solid offensively and make plays to give us the best chance of winning.”
