The Humber Hawks men’s basketball team fell just short of defending their OCAA title, losing 67-61 to the Durham Lords in the championship final on March 2.
But the action didn’t stop at the final buzzer. Tensions rose during the awarding ceremony when an argument between fans from both teams broke out, escalating when a Humber player got involved.
Security and other match attendees quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation, but the incident added an unexpected layer of drama to an already intense final.
Despite the loss, Humber secured the OCAA silver medal for the 14th time in program history and will now turn their focus to the 2025 CCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship in Montreal from March 10 to 15.
The OCAA final featured the two best teams in the province, facing off for the first and only time this season. Humber entered the game as the top-ranked team, being undefeated in the season.
The Hawks started strong and ended the first half with a single-digit lead. Senior player Jalen Menzies and third-year forward Adrian Aluyi led the offence for Humber, combining for 31 points.
Aluyi had a great game by dominating the offensive glass and scoring off second-chance opportunities.
The second half, however, was all about Durham. The Hawks struggled offensively in the third quarter, managing to score only 11 points while the Lords capitalized on their chances.
With just three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Durham took a 60-55 lead and never looked back, securing their first OCAA championship in nearly three decades.
Humber fought until the final possession, but ultimately fell short, settling for silver.
Head coach Omar Miles credited Durham’s defensive intensity and acknowledged his team’s offensive struggles.
“We ran into a really good opponent that plays equally as good defence as us,” Miles said. “And we just happened to have a tough time scoring. When it comes down to a championship game, it’s usually defence that wins, and this was the result.”
Despite the loss, Miles emphasized the importance of handling the challenges they come across.
“I just think you have to know how to win with grace and lose with grace,” he said. “If you want to be a really good winner, you have to know how to lose.”
Miles reminded his team of the bigger picture with the CCAA National Championship ahead.
“Keep your head high. We have something bigger to play for. Our ultimate goal was to get back to Nationals. We need to win three games, and anything can happen,” he said.
With their OCAA campaign complete, the Hawks turn their attention to the 2025 CCAA National Championship, hosted by Vanier College in Montreal. The tournament runs from March 10 to 15, where the Hawks will aim to redeem themselves and compete for a national title.
“We have a good set of young players who will take over, and we should always be good,” Miles said. “But right now, our focus is on finishing strong at Nationals.”
Humber will enter the tournament as the top-ranked team, eager to prove themselves on the national stage and cap off their season with a championship victory.
