Humber Hawks prepare for weekend doubleheader

 

Coming off of a convincing win against Fanshawe, the Humber Hawks men’s basketball team travels to Sault Ste. Marie this weekend to face the Algoma Thunderbirds on Saturday and Sault Cougars on Sunday.

While Algoma has a strong core group of players, Sault is a rebuilding program under first-year head coach Greg Mapp.

“Sault is a much improved team,” said Hawks coach Shawn Collins. “They are getting Toronto kids out there for the first time.”

Algoma on the other hand will provide quite a test for Humber with their size on the inside.

“We need to continue to focus on our defence against Algoma,” said assistant coach J.R. Bailey. “They have a couple of new additions to their team and they have a lot of size.”

DJ Wright, a 6’7 forward, who recently transferred to Algoma, along with 6’10 forward Tylor Hynd, will provide the Hawks with a unique matchup that they rarely see.

 

 

“They are the biggest team on paper that we have faced in OCAA action,” said head coach Shawn Collins. “Rebounding will be a big focus for the game.”

“The objective for the games is to be better than the week before, and to peak when the games matter most.” said Collins.

While the coaches may be developing a game plan suited to prevent Algoma’s size from hurting the team in the paint, the players remain focused and are approaching it like any other game.

“We have to play Humber basketball,” explained senior guard Kern Lewis. “We need to stick to our game plan and follow our principles of communicating on defence in order to be successful.”

One of the unique wrinkles of this game is the fact that it is being played in Sault Ste. Marie, and the team will have to endure the lengthy bus ride on Saturday morning.

“It’s not an easy bus ride, but we will arrive four to five hours before the game against Algoma,” said coach Collins. “Every individual prepares differently.”

“It gives us time to get some more rest in,” said Lewis.