Conquering cricket basics
Nihal Kambli, vice-captain of the Ravens cricket team, sat down with the Charlatan’s Alyshah Hasham to break down the rules of the game, and explain just how they came up with the idea for Ottawa’s first university cricket team.
The Charlatan: Where did the idea for a Ravens cricket team originate?
Nihal Kambli: About 12 to 15 Carleton students were playing in the Ottawa Cricket Club league.
Ravens Cricket Club wins finals
The Ravens Cricket club won the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council winter league championship against the Reverse Swingers March 28 in Norm Fenn Gym.
Bowling second, Carleton needed to beat a score of 71 runs for four wickets in 15 overs. The team was able to do it with a final score of 77 for two wickets in 12 and a half overs.
Captain Salman Arshad proved his leadership role on the newly formed Carleton team after scoring 31 runs and taking one wicket.
The team left the tournament with a $500 cash prize, a trophy and a new reputation.
Ravens eliminated in CIS semifinals
All year long, Carleton’s head coach Dave Smart said that his team shouldn’t be considered the favourite to once again capture the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) National Basketball Championship. As it turns out, he wasn’t kidding.
The Saskatchewan Huskies proved to be too much for the Ravens, as they upset the home team 86-82 in the semifinal match-up March 20 at Scotiabank Place.
Although Smart was pleased with his team’s effort, he said their execution was lacking throughout the night.
Graduating veteran hopes to stay on the court
When the University of Saskatchewan Huskies trumped Carleton in the close 86-82 Canadian Interuniversity Sport semifinal victory March 20, they not only ended the Ravens’ season but also the Carleton basketball career of team captain, Kevin McCleery.
“He stepped into the role of leader and he was our best player on the floor,” said the other team captain and long-time teammate, Mike Kenny. “We’re gonna miss him a lot.”
UQAM’s coach leads the way
Carleton may have beaten the Université du Québec a Montréal (UQAM) Citadins in the quarterfinals, but there was a bigger story on the sideline.
The story of Citadin head coach Olga Hrycak, who is the only female coach for a men’s basketball team in North America.
What’s outstanding about Hrycak is not the fact that she’s a female coach, but that she is the coach of a team that started from scratch and has evolved into one of the top-ten teams in the country.
