Joey Night

If you were a 6'10" 4th year Senior with above average athletic ability and a decent skill set getting 33 points and 14 rebounds wouldn't be that big of a deal given the dearth of Bigs in Canada. However, if you are Joey Imbrogno and are averaging 5 pts & 7.5 rebs it is a huge big gigantic deal. Especially, if the last time you had a big game was in your Freshman year when you flirted with a triple double 17 pts, 21 rebs & 7 bs.  So what happened in between, were we going through the Gobi Desert? Does that mean that this is just an oasis and next weekend we are packing sand up our a%* again? Tune in 2 da Road and we'll tell you all about the season ending game at the U of T Athletic Complex against the hated Blues. Or better yet make your way down on the 21st at 8p. We'll need all the support we can muster.  

For the game against York the Lions had a lot at stake, as they wanted to guarantee a playoff spot and possibly move up in the placings. For the Rams it didn't much matter what happened as we have fourth place wrapped up and with it a first round playoff game at home (February 25), Of course, there is always the matter of pride and momentum creation, a couple of heady concepts that are not always brought to the table. ("You've got to be kidding me". - random fan) Anyway, the two differing mindsets showed as the Lions sprinted out to leads in the 1st and 2nd quarter under the auspices of Ruach, Tyndale & Company finishing the half in front, 42-36. At halftime we all gave thanks to some last minute heroics from our side and last minute flubs from the bad guys, otherwise the spread would have been much more than six. 

In the second half everybody woke up from the bus trip (we just pulled in from our previous night's game in Sudbury), including Joey who went 22/8 in the half. Can you imagine the nightmares Tom Oivera, York Assistant Coach, is now having, as he was one of Joey's teachers in high school at Brebeuf College. Alright already enuff talk about Joey, how about that above the rim off the backboard to beyond the 3-point line block that N'Krumah Hylton put on outstanding Freshman David Tyndale. It was so highlight reeling emphatic that even Tyndale gave Hylton a low five. Of course, Tyndale came back next possession and hit a trey plus some self-congratulatory words he directed at Krums (pronounced Krooms). OK, four other things about Joey and then that's it. Nice dunk (That got Sal - Joey's Dad - off his feet arm extended in the air). Nice spin move to a power layin. Nice jump hook. Nice reverse layin off one bounce. In other words, true big man moves done with authority. 

Just in case you thought nobody else was in the game don't forget about the best player in the CIS, Boris Bakovic. He had a routine, for him, 25 & 12. York had no answer as the Bigs were too slow and the Smalls were too short. When he gets a look at the basket, which is whenever he wants, he is pretty hard to stop. He threw in a dunk in his repertoire against the Lions, something he has been doing regularly of late. Boris leads the CIS in scoring at 27.7 and would have even more if he wasn't such a team player. Did you know he is 7th all-time career scoring leader in the OUA after three seasons. The guys ahead of him all took 4 or 5 seasons to accumulate their points. First Team All-Canadian easy, except for that little thing called Politics. 

Those of you who have read this far will now know that the final score was, 92-83 for the Rams. Big shout out to Freshman Matthew Cupido (Hamilton Cathedral) three point specialist and team bon vivant simply b/c he asked for the ink. 

This was  Tut Ruach's last home game after five sterling seasons at York, including in his first year CIS  Rookie of the Year. We're glad we don't have to deal with his shyte anymore from the guard spot. Of course, York reloaded with Tyndale and things won't be any easier out there over the next four years. Tuts family were there fort the Senior Night presentations, including his sister who is worthy of mention b/c of her exuberant drumming, enthusiastic chanting and extravagant outfit....Good to see former Rams T.C. Cline and Philip Rowe in attendance.