Carleton wrapped up their 10th national championship in the past 12 years with a tightly contested 79-67 victory over their cross-town rival Ottawa Gee-Gees in the first all-Ottawa CIS basketball final.

Players have come and gone, however there has been one constant throughout this magical run…Dave Smart, or as we like to call him, The Canadian John Wooden.

The win gave the Ravens a measure of revenge after falling short to Ottawa in the OUA championship last weekend by a single point.

Playing in his final CIS game, fifth-year forward Tyson Hinz came up huge for the Ravens scoring 30 points on 10-15FG and 9-11FT, with six rebounds and five assists, winning CIS Final 8 MVP.

Hinz is methodical in the post. He surveys the offence and the entire game slows down while he sets up and waits before making the right decision. On the opposite end of his scoring outburst, Hinz guarded Terry Thomas, one of the best scorers in CIS and held him to 4-15 shooting.

When asked to sum up his performance in his final game, Hinz literally couldn’t put it into words to sum up his championship-clinching 30-point performance.

Phil Scrubb did a little better: “He was amazing. I saw in my first year (Hinz’s second) when he dominated nationals and he’s pretty much unguardable down there. He won this game for us.”

Ottawa won Silver in CIS men’s basketball for the first time in program history. The best-ever finish for the program was still not enough for a team who has emerged as a true rival for the decade-established dominance of the Ravens.

“Their program is really developing and they’re going to compete with us every year,” said Phil Scrubb.

Thomas Scrubb added: “I don’t think they’re losing anyone next year and we’re losing two key players so it’ll be even tougher next year to keep up with them. We’re losing two posts so maybe next year I’ll call [Hinz] up and ask for some tips, but you can’t really teach what he does.”

Phil contributed 16 points and seven rebounds, brother Thomas Scrubb added 20 points and eight rebounds. They’ll be counted on next year when Hinz and fellow fifth-year starter Kevin Churchill are watching from the alumni section.

Ottawa has a bright future ahead. Head coach James Derouin thinks Terry Thomas may pursue professional opportunities in the sport but retains everyone else from a team that went 20-2 in the season, losing only to Carleton.

Those players include second team all-Canadian Johnny Berhanemeskel who finished with 19, young gun Caleb Agada who scored 15, and a roster with depth and skill.

“We were the top two teams in the country for most of the season,” said Ottawa coach James Derouin after the game. “Both teams backed that up with our tournament performance. It was a great final. You’re looking at it like an All-Canadian all-star game almost and that contributes to a high quality of play.”

Next year for Carleton will bring adjustments, but Dave Smart loves to tinker.

“I’m so happy for Kevin and Ty. It’s been a long year with lots of ups and downs personally and with them as a group,” said Smart. “There will be no Kevin and Ty next year so we’ll have to figure out a way to change the way we play, we’ve still got a bunch of talented kids. We have to make adjustments every year and I’m looking forward to it.”

If it’s another episode in this epic CIS basketball rivalry, we are too.

 

NPH Top Performers

• Tyson Hinz – 30 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
• Thomas Scrubb – 20 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast
• Johnny Berhanemeskel – 19 pts, 5 ast
• Philip Scrubb – 16 pts, 7 reb
• Caleb Agada – 15 pts, 5 reb

Bronze Medal: Alberta 61 – Victoria 53
Victoria Terrell Evans 18 points, 16 rebounds
Alberta Jordan Baker 16 points, 8 rebounds