Mohawk holds off late Niagara push for victory

Raivone Young scores career-best 32 points

Raivone Young attacks the Niagara defence

Box Score HAMILTON – A game that saw 10 lead changes and five ties ended in favour of the Mohawk Mountaineers, who defeated the Niagara Knights 86-83.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well in the opening quarter, which ended in an 18-18 tie.

Offensively, the Mountaineers settled in during the second quarter on the back of Raivone Young (Halifax, NS), who scored 11 of his game-high 32 points. As a team Mohawk shot 68.8 per cent from the field for a 30-point quarter.

The Mountaineers led 48-38 at halftime.

Niagara took over the pace of play in the third quarter and began to chip away at the Mohawk lead. By the end of the of the third the Knights cut the Mountaineers lead to four.

By the 8:06 mark of the fourth Niagara had taken the lead. The Knights advanatge would grow as high as seven, forcing the Mountaineers to play some late catch-up.

Mohawk buckled in defensively resulting in better offensive play. Down 81-75 with 1:59 left, Cale Calura (Hamilton, ON) would knock down a mid-range jumper followed by a monster dunk by Jailen Jackson (Hamilton, ON).

Young would later score and get fouled to give Mohawk an 82-81 lead and force a Niagara timeout.

Out of the team-huddle the Knights regained a one-point advantage.

With 34 seconds remaining, Calura attacked the rim and found Harpreet Gill (Brampton, ON) for a tough layup that gave the Mountaineers the lead and the win. Calura would later score to seal the deal.

Young scored his 32 points – a career-best – on 10-of-16 shooting and five threes. Calura had a 16-point, seven rebound and five assist game, while Jackson scored 15 and grabbed seven rebounds. Gill picked up his first career double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Mohawk will get a couple days off before returning to the DBARC on Jan. 27 when they host the Canadore Panthers at 6 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Cale Calura: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#7 Harpreet Gill: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#11 Raivone Young: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#1 Jailen Jackson: W; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#9 Cale Calura
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#7 Harpreet Gill
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#11 Raivone Young
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#1 Jailen Jackson
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: W