WCSSAA Junior Final: 'Landers Clamp Down in Second Half For Title Victory

The SJAM Highlanders used the strength of a 13-0 third quarter start to help them pull away to a 51-36 victory over the Eastwood Rebels in the 2015 WCSSAA Junior Basketball championship at Cameron Heights in Kitchener on Wednesday evening.

The Rebels kept pace in the early-going, and a couple of Prabhjit Sangha three-pointers helped Eastwood go into halftime down by only a single point (28-27).

SJAM, however, quickly turned up the defensive pressure, and was able to execute on offense, with Nino Spasik the beneficiary of some good looks by SJAM's guards on the interior.  SJAM went on their 13-0 run before Eastwood even had a shot connect with the rim in the third-quarter.

Spasik ended up with 11 points in the third-frame en route to a game-high 15.

With the 'Landers slowing things down on offense, the 13-point deficit after three quarters would be too much for Eastwood to overcome.  Only 10 points (combined) were scored in the final eight minutes, with everyone on both benches getting some playing time by the final minutes.

In total, SJAM held Eastwood to just 9 second half points.

For SJAM, Nino Spasik led the way with 15 points, while Brian Zapp had 11.  Dragan Stajic hit for 9 points, while other 'Landers on the scoresheet included Filip Popovic (7), Chris Bullock (4), Maksim Koprivica (3), and Terrance Patrick (2).

Eastwood was led by Mubaarak Adem Ibrahim's 12-point effort, while Prabhjit Sangha was also in double-figures with 10.  Layee Jabateh (7), Tucker Sutton (6) and Greg Huras (1) rounded out the Eastwood scoring.

Both teams advance to this weekend's AAAA CWOSSA tournament in Brantford.  SJAM will take on Brantford CI in their opening game (Friday, 9am), while Eastwood plays St. Mary's immediately following.

Linescore
SJAM  16-12-17-06 = 51
ECI      11-16-05-04 = 36 

ECI (36)
L. Jabateh 3-9 1-4 7, T. Lewis 0-2 0-0 0, M. Aden Ibrahim 4-13 3-6 12, P. Sangha 4-9 0-0 10, A. Mitchell 0-1 0-0 0, T. Sutton 2-4 2-4 6, G. Huras 0-2 1-2 1, M. Sute 0-0 0-0 0, N .Lebar 0-1 0-0 0, E. Bacila 0-1 0-0 0, J. Dorleon 0-0 0-0 0, M. Faulhammer 0-0 0-0 0, M. Cat 0-0 0-0 0.

Field Goals:  13-42 (.309).  Free-Throws:  7-16 (.438).  Three-Point Goals, 3-11 (.272):  P. Sangha 2-6, M. Aden Ibrahim 1-5.

SJAM (51)
D. Stajic 4-8 0-1 9, C. Bullock 2-4 0-0 4, N. Milosevic 0-4 0-0 0, B. Zapp 3-5 4-5 11, N. Spasik 7-9 0-0 15, F. Popovic 3-5 0-0 7, M. Koprivica 1-10 0-0 3, T. Patrick 1-2 0-0 2, H. Ahluwalia 0-1 0-0 0, W. Cullen 0-0 0-0 0, J. Summer 0-0 0-0 0, D. Bain 0-0 0-0 0.

Field Goals:  21-48 (.438).  Free-Throws:  4-6 (.667).  Three-Point Goals, 5-17 (.294):  N. Spasik 1-1, D. Stajic 1-2, B. Zapp 1-2, F. Popovic 1-3, M. Koprivica 1-8.