Tournaments

Pinky Lewis Tournament – Championship Game

Published by AJ on December 22, 2008

Pickering VS. Eastern Commerce

Watching this game was déjà-vu. It felt like I was watching the 2007 OFSAA championship game between Pickering and Eastern commerce. Replace Keaton Cole with Marvin Binney, Devoe Joseph with Rob Gagliardi, and use your imagination.

Prior to the Pinky Lewis tip-off, one could’ve assumed Pickering and Eastern would end up in the finals, which is reasonable to say as these two programs are that good! After dodging a bullet from a determined Assumption Crusaders team in a close game, Pickering eventually made it to the finals. On the other hand, Eastern Commerce was set on cruise control as they were fresh off defeating the other Crusaders,( Father Henry Carr) in a comfortable 13-point victory.

Right from the jump, Pickering wasted no time as they started off hot from long-range, taking a 9-2 lead midway through the first. Pickering has this game on lock right? Wrong! PG Marvin Binney took matters into his own hands as he steered the Saints to a 17-4 run to end the first Q, either making plays for others or scoring himself. Eastern ended with a 19-13 first quarter lead.

Eastern has this game on lock right? Not really. As Binney continued to carry his team on the offensive end, it was big man Kevin Thomas (#20) for Pickering who kept it close in the second quarter, working both ends of the court. Thomas posted a near double-double in the first half with 13pts, 8 rebs. Going into halftime, Pickering had recaptured the lead, 36-35.

In the 3rd quarter, the game stayed close with the lead swaying back and forth. Eastern took a stance on the defensive end, drawing many charges, putting several Pickering players in foul trouble. The 3rd Q ended with a 48-46 lead in favour of Pickering.

As expected, this game was going down to the wire with neither team letting up. In the final minute of the game, # 34 Shamar Bennett who came off the bench hit a crucial 3 pointer that gave the Saints a 3-point lead with 50 seconds left… but only momentarily, as Rob Gagliardi answered with a trey of his own tying the game up at 57-57. With the final possession, and the Pinky Lewis championship in the hands of Eastern’s Alwayne Bigby; he drove right taking a contested shot that luckily landed in the hands of #24 Jerome Brown . On the defensive break down by Pickering, Brown grabbed the rebound and scored his only fourth quarter bucket to win the Pinky Lewis Gold!

Final Score: 59-57 Eastern Commerce

Leading scorers:
Eastern Commerce: #15 Marvin Binney 23 points 2P: 2/4 3P: 4/10 FT:7/8
#24 Jerome Brown 14 points 2P: 6/8 3P: 0/3
Pickering: #33 Rob Gagliardi 22 points 2P: 3/7 3P: 5/8
#20 Kevin Thomas 17 points 2P: 8/10

Conclusion: Eastern Commerce, (a small team) will be looking to run opponents out the gym with their speed and athleticism; led by PG Marvin Binney
Led by the triple threat of Rob Gagliardi, Kevin Thomas and Jonathon Tull, Pickering must pick up their defence in order to remain elite.

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