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Junior Cadougan Steals the Show

Published by CROWN staff on June 8, 2009

All-Canada Classic: Men’s Rumble

If you weren’t there, you missed out on a showcase of Canada’s best ballers. PHASE 1 presented the 2009 Men’s “Rumble” at the All Canada Classic, and ohh what a rumble it was.

Both teams came out with a great amount of energy, which the fans eventually fed off of. Alwayne Bigby started the game with two quick blocks on the highly recruited, and Texas committed Tristan Thompson. These were just 2 out Bigby’s 5 blocks which helped keep things tight throughout the first half. The literally, “big” Team West with the exception of Brady Heslip and Ty Nurse kept the pressure on as they took a 48-33 lead in the first half with 2 minutes on the clock. Heslip and Nurse were huge in other ways, as they would hit multiple treys while subbing for each other and staying fresh. When Heslip was on the court, he was something like a phenomenon, dropping 23 points and 12 dimes. His percentage from behind the arc is definitely something to take note of because 15 out of his 23 points were from 3 point land where he shot 5/6. Nurse also came out firing 3’s not to mention; the T & T connection as Ty was tossing alley oops to Tristan.

Alwayne Bigby hard to the cup.--Photo Credit: Randy Smith

A name you may recognize from the first issue of CROWN, and should know from this point on is Cory Joseph who is completing his high school career at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada. He displayed a tremendous amount of improvement in his overall game but particularly an increase in his speed and handles as he took it to the rack or brought the ball up the middle. When Coach Jerome “JYD” Williams decided to switch the point guards from Cory to Adrian Tomlinson, AD would bring even more speed to the line up. Being the smallest player on the floor by far, at 5’7, hewas still able to impact every facet of the game including; getting his teammates involved, scoring and even rebounding, including three boards on the offensive end.
The East put up a fight as they outscored the West 9-2 in the final 2 minutes of the half making the score 50-42 for the West. There was no turn of events in the second half. It remained to be a back and forth battle where Nurse lit a fire with 2 quick 3’s, not only with the two teams, instead with Tristan Thompson and his undersized opponent Alwayne Bigby. Bigby, the top prospect out of Canada and Thompson, the top prospect from America competed at a high level as they went at each other back and forth, including some friendly taunting which brought even more excitement to the game
The high flying 6’3 PG Emerson Murray, who was the youngest player in the event made British Columbia proud while players he displayed his athleticism, winning the Slam Dunk Competition the day before and holding his own against the top players out of Ontario. Murray was a treat to watch and his speed and agility was quite impressive. He still has one more year, look out for him as he looks to defend St George’s provincial championship in the 09-10 season.
Back to the game. In the second half, both teams maintained the intensity and traded baskets for a couple minutres until the East made a big run led by Juniour Cadougan and Alwayne Bigby.
The fellas came out and started the game with a great intensity from both sides. Mangisto Arop, CROWN’s second issue cover boy and Gonzaga commit made his presence felt at both ends of the floor displaying his versatility as he knocked down a 3-pointer right in the face of Dwayne Smith. On the defensive end, Arop kept Dwayne Smith in check and maintained a double digit lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game.

This is when you enter the Junior Cadougan show. In his first return back to Canada to play in an all-star game, Cadougan started the game as a facilitator, assisting his teammates on multiple plays. In the last 10 minutes, Cadougan took it upon himself to take over with a fan in the stands cheering “MVP” every time Junior touched the ball. I don’t blame that guy, he had a case. Junior snapped and showed why Marquette signed this 6’2 tank of a point guard, scoring 12 points in the last 8 minutes. He showed a little bit of everything, his decisively quick dribbling, precise passing, strength and body control as he attacked the basket and finishing with contact.

Junior Cadougan slashes through the lane during the Men's Rumble game.--Photo Credit: Randy Smith

Unfortunately for the east, this serge along with solid contributions from Alwayne Bigby was not enough to hold off the West in the final seconds. After Cory Joseph, hit a clutch three to pull the East within one. Responding was Arop with a hard drive to the bucket plus the foul. After some questionable calls, overturning a foul on Maurice Walker, that could have tied up the game if it was upheld the East through up a couple desperation three-pointers that were missed. The game ended up in a high scoring affair: 107-101 with the West winning.

The stars that shined the brightest were: Junior Cadougan (24) Tristan Thompson (23) Alwayne Bigby (21) and Brady Heslip (23)

Honourable mentions:
West
Mangisto Arop- played a solid game on both ends of the floor
Ty Nurse-spread the floor with his efficiency from deep

East
Cory Joseph- kept the defence on their heels
Adrian Tomlinson- Had a complete game

–By Elias Sbiet–

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