Tyler Biggs, Sports Reporter
It took a buzzer-beating shot, but the Humber Hawks men’s basketball team saw its 13-game winning streak snapped over the weekend.
In the first game of the road trip, the Hawks (13-5) lost 84-82 in a tightly contested match to the Lambton Lions (10-8) in Sarnia on Saturday, but refocused quickly for the second game on Sunday, defeating the St. Clair Saints 100-78 in a game that didn’t feel particularly close.
This should have made Hawks head coach Samson Downey happy but he didn’t settle with the win in Windsor well, as thoughts of past and future still maligned most of his thoughts.
“Losing at the buzzer last night was tough,” Downey said. “But yeah we definitely responded the way I liked today and then we got one more against Sheridan.”
The game against the Sheridan Bruins, who are 13-6, holds a significant impact on the standings and affects who the Hawks could play in their first match in the postseason. But before getting there, the final season game on Feb. 20 at home against arch-rival Sheridan Bruins looms.
“That Sheridan game does have ramifications in the standings, nothings is set as far as first, second and third so that’s the game we move on and prepare for,” Downey said.
The 13-5 St. Clair Saints also have their eyes on the standings. Going 6-4 in their last 10 games has muddied the waters. But a new issue seems to be forming in the Saints’ coach’s minds.
Co-head coach Brendon Seguin wasn’t shy in expressing where his team came up short.
“We obviously have to work on our conditioning a bit,” Seguin said. “The playoff format is you got to play every day, three games in a row to win so we are not there yet obviously.”
The notable player from the weekend was decorated Humber Hawks forward Jaylan Morgan. He collected 36 points, 15 rebounds and became the second player in the program’s history have scored 300 points in two seasons.
However, even with the win and individual accomplishments, the Hawks had only one thing in mind with the final game remaining.
Hawks guard Kevin Otto said building up team confidence is key as the team progresses towards the Provincials.
“I think if we tag guys on and get all the guys moving then defence turns to offence, offence turns to buckets and buckets turn into wins,” he said.
