Reyhani, Robinet lead SJAM to 61-45 victory over KCI

The SJAM Highlanders and the KCI Raiders played this evening in a rematch of last year's WCSSAA final. SJAM and KCI also entered today as two of the four remaining unbeaten teams in the WCSSAA senior league.

This time around, the 'Landers prevailed by a 61-45 final. Despite the score, the Raiders were withing "striking distance" for most of the contest but had difficulty mustering many substantial runs.

Game Review

1st Quarter
After arriving to an 18-14 SJAM lead late in the first quarter (thanks to a slower-than-anticipated drive over), SJAM's Matthias Hamm canned a three pointer as time ran down in the first frame to give SJAM a 7 point lead at the end of one.

End of 1st: SJAM 21, KCI 14

2nd Quarter
The Highlanders controlled the second stanza, holding the Raiders off the scoreboard for the first 3:00 of game time while scoring 10 points themselves to take control at 31-14.

The Raiders woke up after a Tristan Ruddock interior bucket and a huge Darnell Simpson off-the-backboard block on SJAM's Ben Reyhani that resulted in a Graham Notar three-pointer in transition. This quick five-point spurt got the Raiders back to "striking distance", down twelve.

Reyhani, however, would have the last laugh as he cashed a three from the parking lot (or at least near to where KCI's coach Nick White was standing) and followed that up with two more a few ticks before the intermission. That quick five point burst (in about 45 seconds) propelled SJAM to a 15-point halfitme edge.

Halftime: SJAM 40, KCI 25

3rd Quarter
The second half started slow for both clubs. A Darnell Simpson three-ball for KCI was the lone score in the first three minutes of the quarter.

Another Reyhani three (after a Jake Robinet interior bucket) extended the SJAM lead to 45-29, but KCI came back with an 8-0 run (2 Arben Kalaba threes sandwiched around an athletic drive and score by Simpson) and made it a ball game late in the third frame.

End of Third: SJAM 47, KCI 37

4th Quarter
The fourth quarter again started off slow before Jake Robinet threw down a two-handed breakaway slam off of a KCI turnover for the first field goal of the quarter.

The teams traded a couple of baskets before a Kwame Botchway three-pointer essentially put the game out of reach (54-42 with 3:00 to play).

Throughout much of the second half, the referees let a lot go---on both sides---I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but on this night in particular it definitely hurt the slashing & driving Raiders to a greater extent; KCI was not getting the open looks that SJAM was by running offense and (unfortunately for them) did not get some possible foul calls.

Regardless, SJAM was clearly the better team out there on this night and free throws down the stretch extended it to a 61-45 final.

Final: SJAM 61, KCI 45

Additional thoughts and observations:
1. SJAM has definitely established themselves as a definite front-runner (with Bluevale) in the WCSSAA league, and as a top team in CWOSSA.
2. SJAM guard Jordan James appeared to be dressed but didn't play -- possibly injured?
3. The Raiders are a solid club themselves (definitely in the top 6 of WCSSAA with clubs like CHCI, WCI, FHCI) but cannot afford to make the number of errors, especially unforced ones, that they did on this night if they are to compete with the SJAM's and BCI's of the league.
4. SJAM's key rookies, Ben Reyhani and Edem Ame, look like veterans of the senior league. Hard to believe they are just in grade 11.
5. Ame, though undersized, has a sturdy frame that allows him to battle effectively on the interior. He also has the quickness to effectively drive to the basket.
6. Reyhani, meanwhile, has unlimited range. SJAM was able to get him open looks (and a couple times KCI lost him on defense), and he is money from the land of treys. He's already had a 33 point game this year and you can see why he put up 50+ (if I recall correctly) in a junior tournament game last year.
7. Darnell Simpson had a nice game for KCI, including 10 points in the second half and a couple of absolutely huge blocks. He's definitely improved tremendously over last year, and has a nice all-around package including the ability to hit shots from range. I think he's a definite OCAA prospect right now.
8. Jake Robinet had a big and quiet game for SJAM.....if that makes sense. KCI could not match-up with his size and poor post rotation led to a couple easy second half baskets. At about 6'7", he'll be a load to handle for many teams again this season.
9. Nice to see JR from WCSSAA Sports in attendance - he's also posted some thoughts and observations.