Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
Over the January 12 to 14th weekend the Algoma Thunderbirds women’s and men’s basketball programs traveled to St Catharines, Ontario to face the Brock Badgers on January 12th than returned home to face the visiting Lakehead Thunderwolves of Thunder Bay, Ontario on January 14th at the George Leach Centre in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.
In the 77 – 37 loss at Brock University, the (1-9) Thunderbird women were led by Kaila Fong with eleven points while rookie Ashlyn Noble found the backset for seven points and Allison Read scored three points in the loss. On Sunday against the Thunderwolves, the Thunderbirds earned their second win of the 2023 – 2024 OUA season with Fong sinking 13 points along with Brooke Gruhn, Noble, and Read all scoring eight points in the 49 – 45 win over the visiting Thunderwolves.
At Brock on January 12th, the Thunderbird men were led by Boluwatife Obasoto with 25 points while Kur Mayuom found the basket with nine as well as Patrick-Oliver Mpoyi adding six points in the Thunderbirds 77 – 60 loss in St Catharines. After returning home, the Algoma men hit the hardcourt to take on the visiting Thunderwolves. In January 14th contest, Johan Germain, Mpoyi, and Obasoto all sank twelve points in the Thunderbirds 84 – 72 loss at the George Leach Centre in Sault Ste Marie.
After the win on Sunday afternoon against the Thunderwolves, Algoma women’s coach Katie Hamilton told Saultsports that “I thought our effort and execution for the last three quarters against brock was great and we really wanted to carry that momentum over to the Lakehead game Sunday. We had a really solid couple weeks of practice post Christmas break and went in with a very clear game plan for that Lakehead game. The girls really executed what we had prepped for from start to finish which was great to see.”
“I thought outside of actual game prep and execution, people just really stepped up when needed. Alli hit a huge three, Fong obviously was terrific down the stretch, a rookie post in Grace Silverthorn grabbing 17 boards is just outstanding, Sadie and Brooke played terrific interior defence and got their hands on so many passes, the Q and Noble combo really limited their leading scorer in Alli Burke. I could keep going with each individual contribution that we had from all 10 players and people just doing their jobs when called upon. Sunday was by far our best overall team effort and I’m quite proud of the girls for it,” added coach Hamilton.
Men’s coach Ryan Vetrie added “I saw a lot of progress this weekend. We moved the ball much better and got the shots we were looking for in both games. Defensively we had too many breakdowns over the weekend. This group has shown when we are locked in both offensively and defensively we are tough. Until we are able to be more consistent we are going to struggle. I’m excited for the second half.”
Visit Freeze Frame Photos photo gallery of the Algoma Thunderbirds versus Lakehead Thunderwolves in men’s OUA action from the George Leach Centre.
Next up for the Thunderbirds will be over the January 19th and 20th when they play host to the Ottawa Gee Gees on January 19th followed by the Carleton Ravens on the 20th at the George Leach Centre with the women tipping off at 6:00 p.m both evenings while the men hit the hardcourt both evenings at 8:00 p.m for OUA action. Games can be watched LIVE on OUATV.
