The reigning OCAA champion Humber Hawks are one step closer to defending their title, defeating the Georgian Grizzlies 83-63 in the provincial semi-final at the Humber Athletic Centre on March 1.
Humber extended its dominant streak to 29 consecutive wins in OCAA games, a run dating back to January 2024. The Hawks have been nearly unstoppable at home, not losing a game in Etobicoke since November 2023.
Head coach Omar Miles expressed his pride in the team’s performance.
“Honestly, it was tough,” Miles said. “And we're grateful for these opportunities. We took the opportunity and we won with it. Now we have an opportunity for gold, but also we're heading to the Nationals. It's wonderful.”
The Hawks showed their consistency, outscoring Georgian every quarter thanks to their relentless defence.
Humber’s ability to make key adjustments and stay locked in on both ends of the floor ensured their control over the game.
“We don't even follow streaks,” Miles said. “It’s good wins or bad wins. And when we lose, we learn from that. When we win, we hope that we can learn from something. It's just trying to be consistent, especially on the defensive end. I'm proud of our guys because that’s what we did today.”
Player of the Game Kwabena Antwi delivered a powerful performance, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds, and four assists. He credited the team’s preparation and discipline for their victory.
“Something that we worked for all season, so this is expected,” Antwi said.
Despite securing the championship berth, their focus remains unwavering.
“We're not really too excited about it. We've got one more to play to win the gold, so just an epic game.”
The Grizzlies put up a fight, especially in the second half, but Humber’s defensive adjustments ensured they stayed ahead.
“They put a lot of pressure on us. They watched us play for a whole week. So just locking down on defence and being mentally strong is so important in this type of environment, and I thought we did that for the most part,” Miles said.
With just one game remaining to defend their championship, Humber remains focused on the ultimate goal.
“Absolutely the same thing again. Defence, defence, defence,” Miles said. “Defence wins championships. And we want the championships.”
Antwi is confident in the team’s mindset heading into the final.
“We're always confident. Always going to be on a high,” he said. “So it's just another game for us, and we're ready to play it.”
Playing in front of a packed home crowd added to the momentum and support of the victory for the Hawks.
“It’s amazing because it’s something that we worked for all year, going undefeated, and beating up on everybody the whole season. So it's a blessing playing in front of your home crowd, your family, and your friends.”
The OCAA Championship game scheduled for March 2, and the Hawks are determined to take down Durham, complete their title defence, and continue their dominance on the national stage.
