Jonas Emilsson
KramMag.com

T Wolves VS Pride

One team desperately needed a win to get themselves back into the contender conversation, the other team was desperate to prove that their current success is no fluke.

After defeating the top-ranked Western Canada Redmen two weeks ago the Notre Pride (5-2) were feeling good about themselves when they faced the Bishop McNally Timberwolves (3-4) in this week’s Spolumbo’s Game of the Week.

This time around, desperation won out as the Timberwolves put together a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Pride 81-78 in a thrilling game that saw several lead changes.

“I thought it was a fantastic game,” said Timberwolves head coach Dave Finn. “It was exciting, it was fast-paced and there were several lead changes.”

Awet Abraha led the Timberwolves with 25 points and Paul Gulfo chipped in with 24 of his own.

Pride’s Josh Jebose led all scorers with 33 points.

The result was a feel-good win for the Timberwolves, who have battled through a grueling schedule through the first half of the season.

“It was an intense game,” said Timberwolves forward Awet Abraha. “We needed this win, it was a crucial win in order for us to get to the Div. I playoffs. A lot of guys stepped up and we got the win.”

Twice they have faced the Western Canada Redmen and the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs, two teams that many consider the two top teams this season.

“We have had the toughest schedule out of any team around here,” said Abraha. “We have one more crucial game left and then the next two we should be able to win.”

And it’s not like facing the Pride is an easy task on its own.

Coming in to Thursday night’s game, the Pride held a terrific looking 5-1 record, including that very nice 85-82 win over the Redmen.

But knowing that they needed to start putting some wins on the board in order to secure a spot in the playoffs the Timberwolves took care of business to keep the door to the post season wide open.

The Timberwolves had the most jump out of either team in the first quarter, and in the last two minutes of the quarter they put together a nice 7-1 run to take a 26-19 first quarter lead.

Knowing they faced a much bigger team in the Pride, the Timberwolves deployed a quick transition game which resulted in plenty of fast-break layups thanks to plays by the extremely creative Gulfo and Jeff Joaquin.

“Jeff and Paul are very smart with the basketball and they are very unselfish and that’s why I like them as much as I do,” said Finn. It’s not really about scoring – if they score they score – but they are very creative and I encourage and allow that creativity.”

The momentum started to swing in the Prides’ favour in the second quarter, thanks in large part to back to back plays by guard Anthony Manful.

With his team trailing by 31-19 midway though the second quarter, Manful used his quick hands to intercept an errant pass and flew down the court for an uncontested layup. He quickly turned and sprinted back on defense just in time to take a charge under his own hoop for another turnover.

Manful’s hustle seemed to inspire his teammates, and by the time the halftime break came the Pride had narrowed the score to 44-42 in favour of the Timberwolves.

In the third quarter Jabose got busy in the paint.

The big man was a force on the boards, especially on the offensive end where scored several of his 20 second-half points by putting back rebounds.

Heading into the fourth quarter the Pride led 65-63.

Jabose’s success forced the Timberwolves to switch their defensive formation in an attempt to slow him down.

“We went from a two-three defense into a two-one-two and that seemed to help us a little bit, especially in the last six, seven minutes,” said Finn. “Once we switched to the 2-1-2 it seemed to be very effective for us.”

The atrategy didn’t exactly slow down the big man, but it did slow down the Pride’s offense suddenly started to turn the ball over.

The turnovers opened up the Timberwolves’ transition game once again, and with 58-seconds left on the clock guard Joaquin drove to the hoop and dished to an open man for an uncontested layup, and an 80-78 lead.

The win moves the Timberwolves to within one game of a .500 record, and with the Redmen and Bulldogs out of the way they suddenly find themselves able to control their own destiny heading towards the playoffs.