Kajan Thiruthanikasalam (Sports Writer, Colts Athletics)
SCARBOROUGH, ONT.- The Centennial Colts held a 65-49 lead with 7:51 left in the fourth quarter and were even up 73-61 with 2:51 left in the game. It would have seemingly been a solid bounceback effort after a double digit road loss against the Seneca Sting.
The St. Lawrence Vikings, however, did not get the memo.
The Vikings (3-4) scored the last 14 points of the fourth quarter to tie the game, to the stunned silence from the Colts fans, and eventually completed the comeback with a 89-83 overtime victory over the Colts (2-4) at the Athletic and Wellness Centre. It is Centennial's second straight loss.
Five players scored in double figures for St. Lawrence, led by Rachel Steer with 20 points and a game high four assists off the bench. Chelsea Ramsay had 18 points on 10 made free throws, with two of them sending the game into overtime, while Shian Noble had 15, Kassie Dewolfe had 13 on four made triples, and Kylie Moyer finished with a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds).
The comeback spoiled a career night for Centennial second year forward and leading OCAA rebounder Yasmeen Smith, who scored a career high 39 points to go along with a game high 13 rebounds on 16-26 shooting (61.5 per cent) from the field. However, Bethany Miller was the only other Colt to score in double figures with 10 points.
Despite taking relatively good care of the ball (14 turnovers compared to the Vikings' 26), the Colts were undone by rebounding (61-55), three point shooting (24-12 in points off triples), and the free throw line (23-15).
Foul trouble was a major issue as well for Centennial as Smith, Mariam Konate and Tonie Parker all fouled out.
Dewolfe started off the game with a pair of triples as St. Lawrence led 11-5 early in the first quarter but an 18-5 run from the Colts saw Centennial go up 22-16 after the first quarter. Smith had 14 points in the first quarter as she could not be stopped in the paint.
Back to back triples from Dewolfe and Hannah Stratton tied the game at 22 in the second quarter but Centennial went into intermission, up 37-33, after Smith had six in the quarter.
Both teams exchanged baskets for most of the third quarter as the Colts held a 49-45 lead. But the Colts ended the quarter on a 11-4 run, capped off by a triple from Judy Ta, as they took a 60-49 lead heading into the final quarter. Smith had 32 points and eight rebounds after three quarters.
A triple from Kelly Hunter and two made free throws from Konate gave Centennial their largest lead of the game at 65-49 with 7:51 left. Both teams then exchanged baskets for the next five minutes and a left handed floater from Miller gave the Colts a 73-59 lead with three minutes to go. But that would be the last points that Centennial would score in the fourth quarter.
Steer scored the next seven points and Ramsay then hit two free throws (after Smith missed both free throws a trip earlier). On the Colts' next possession, Miller turned the ball over, leading to a corner three from Dewolfe, cutting the lead to two (73-71) with 51.4 seconds left, forcing head coach Justin Bobb to call a timeout.
After turnovers from both teams on their next possession, the Colts had the ball, looking to find some sort of offense. But Centennial turned the ball over again, and Turner then fouled Ramsay, who sank both freebies to tie the game at 73.
Miller then turned the ball over with a chance to take the lead and the Vikings had a chance to win in regulation. A three point attempt from Dewolfe just missed and Moyer's ensuing putback attempt was short, sending the game to overtime.
A layup from Noble early in overtime gave St. Lawrence a 75-74 lead, its first lead since 13-11 in the first quarter. The Vikings were up 80-77 when Karmealia Turner converted a massive three point play to tie the game. It was the last time the game would be tied, however, as the Vikings closed the game out on a 9-3 run and completed the comeback.
Centennial now heads on a two-game road trip as they head to Barrie to play the winless Georgian Grizzlies on Wednesday Nov. 29, at 6:00 pm.