One day after defeating the McMaster University Marauders in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Final 8 quarter-final game, the Carleton Ravens men’s basketball team played a team they weren’t as familiar with, defeating the University of Alberta Golden Bears 79-55 March 8.
The Canadian Tire Centre was packed once again with Ravens fans eager to watch their team make it to the CIS Final 8 championship game.
The beginning of the game was thrilling, with good back-and-forth action for both teams. Ravens fourth-year guard Philip Scrubb said they did a good job making sure the Golden Bears couldn’t go far.
“Our focus was on defence that quarter,” he said. “We knew they were going to come out aggressive, so I thought we did a good job of halting their momentum.”
With both Scrubb brothers leading the way, the Ravens went up 16-10 over the Golden Bears at the end of the first quarter.
Ravens head coach Dave Smart said it looked like that was when the Ravens really got on key, widening the lead between the teams.
“I think we were a little calmer at the offensive end,” he said. “We didn’t give up easy baskets at the other end.”
The Golden Bears were able to put some of the pressure back on the Ravens at the end of the half. It was 29-25 for the Ravens at halftime, a score Smart said was far too close for comfort.
“Other than the last five minutes of the second quarter, for two and a half quarters we did a good job of not getting broke down cleanly off the dribble,” he said.
The Ravens did a good job keeping the Golden Bears’ star fifth-year forward Jordan Baker off the scoreboard, shutting him out through the first half. He only had nine points in the game, all of them scored in the fourth quarter. Smart said Baker was still able to make an impact late in the game.
“He’s a great player,” he said. “We tried to gang up on him, he still found open guys. It gets tough when guys aren’t making shots, and he feels like he has to take over.”
As a team, the Golden Bears only scored four points in the third quarter. Their first field goal in the quarter did not come until a minute and a half to go.
Thomas Scrubb had another strong game for the Ravens, leading the team in scoring for the second game in a row with 22 points. His brother Philip had 21 points and four rebounds.
Philip said his brother once again outplayed him.
“I hit a few shots, but [Thomas] has been really big for us,’ he said.
With the win, the Ravens now advance to the CIS Final 8 championship game March 9 at 2 p.m. to play the winner of the second semifinal featuring the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the University of Victoria Vikes. The Golden Bears will play the loser of that game for the bronze medal.
Philip said he wants another shot at U of O should they win their semifinal game, after losing to them 78-77 in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Wilson Cup championship game March 1.
“We’re going to prepare the same,” he said. “Obviously we’d like any other shot at Ottawa, but Victoria is going to be tough too.”
