Ravens Ram Ryerson

A Timmy's inside the athletic hall, a great touch to one of the better facilities in the league. Also a great way to warm up the innards on a frigid winter's night in Ottawa. We are in town to take on the nation's #1 ranked Carleton Ravens and after our previous nights debacle with #4 ranked (now #2 thanks in part to our unfavourable performance) Universite d'Ottawa Gee Gees. The casual observer would suggest that we are up to our armpits in latrine waste. However the game is played on hardwood, not paper and we are pretty confident that we can give these guys a go of it.


Before the game the ever amicable Carleton coach, Dave Smart, (No really he is quite pleasant before and after the game. It is just during the game that his take-no-prisoners persona resonates for all to see.) came by to chat about some of the peculiar quirks of the FIBA rules which the CIS has adopted. He was looking particularly dapper this night with a presidential looking sky blue silk tie tightly knotted to go with what looked like a newly pressed form fitting suit. You can well imagine my surprise and dismay that within a few seconds after the tip-off there was a totally different look to Coach Smart. There was a definite disheveled look to the coach as the tie was loosened, top button undone and a wild eyed look of desperation took over. He had good cause for his consternation as the Ryerson Rams played even with the Ravens for the first quarter ending it only two behind, 23-21. The second quarter was similar with us losing by six, 16-10. Overall we were hanging in there and with a couple of lucky bounces we could have been on top and this with Boris Bakovic sitting out the last 5'16" with three fouls.


In the third quarter our scoring ability abandoned us and the Ravens took full advantage of our haplessness, 29-9. Now some might say that there was increased defensive intensity by Carleton, but I would deny that presumption. The disheveled look on their coach shortly after the initial tip off is my proof. These guys are playing with intensity from the giddy up, as directed by their boss. For my money if the Rams can improve their shooting percentage by just a few points they will be a contenda and a serious one at that. For the game Boris had 18 points fouling out early in the fourth quarter. For Carleton Stuart Turnbull had 20 & 4 dimes, Aaron Doornekamp had 20 & 8 boards (a bonus here as his usually obstreperous father could not be heard all game. Do you think they were confident of the W as a given?). And the winner is Carleton, 96-60.