Hello everyone and welcome to the last part of the Behind the Hoop series.  Today we take a look at two forwards for the Brock Women's Basketball program who have been trying to find their spot in the rotation and working hard to build up their strengths.

Lauren is a 5'10 first year forward from Niagara Falls with the will to learn and a set of skills that allow her to grow extensively.  Along with the coaches feedback, Lauren has taken it upon herself to learn the skills she needs to excel in University basketball and through time in practice and some minutes in game, she has developed key skills of her game that make her fit in with the Badgers style.

Along with other forwards, Lauren has been working on her finish around the rim throughout the season. Getting the ball inside and being able to take your opportunity and score is essential to the offense Brock runs and as the year went on, Lauren got better and better and is quickly becoming one of the best forwards in the program at finishing inside the paint. Her patience and movement around her defender makes her tough to guards when she gets the ball around the basket and as the years go on she will become a vital scorer for Brock.

On the other end of the court, Lauren has been learning how to be more aggressive and physical on defense. When she is put in the game she's often put inside the paint with another forward around the arch, so grabbing rebounds and sealing space for other players is key.  Going against bigger guards who play very physical to get rebounds, Lauren has had to step up and play more aggressive around the paint and has been learning how to fight for rebounds while avoiding fouls.

Sofia is a 5'9 third year forward from Oakville who has followed in the footsteps of Courtney and the other senior forwards in adapting to Brock's style and adapting the play that is required for Brock's forwards.

Sofia has also been focusing on finishing around the paint this year, but a speciality for her that separates her from other forwards is her ability to finish along the baseline. If Sofia catches the ball along the baseline, she has the ability to lay it off the glass and finish unlike other forwards, and along with her improving 3-point shot, she is becoming a threat from multiple areas on the court.

Like Lauren, Sofia has had to play more aggressive throughout the year and battle for rebounds.  With her ability to push others out of the way and leap for rebounds, Sofia hss quickly shown that she can provide a presence around the paint Brock needs and going into next year and the year after, the trust her coaches have in her is sure to increase and she will gain more and more experience in games.

That concludes the final part of the Behind the Hoop series.  I hope you enjoyed taking a look at the play of Brock Women's and Men's basketball players throughout the year and thank you for tuning in week after week. Until next time Badgers.

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Badger Bulletin #38: The Final Buzzer
Men Advance, Women Fall in Two 40-Minute Thrillers
By Jacob Smith
Round two, this time on the road.  Men in London, Women in Hamilton, the Badgers spread far and wide to conquer two different opponents and try and advance to the semi-finals of the OUA playoffs. With both games starting at the same time, Badger fans had a selection of great basketball to watch as both games went to the final buzzer before a victor was truly decided.

The women were set to go against the number one seed in their division and the national ranked 3^rd best team in the country, the McMaster Marauders.  The odds were set against the Badgers coming into the game, but their fight and resiliency proved many wrong and the Badgers took the Marauders to the final whistle and made them play on their toes every minute of regulation.

It was going to take a full team effort to keep up with the Marauders, and a special defensive plan to contain their wealth of scorers.  Brock got the team effort started immediately ni the first as they traded shot for shot with the Marauders and played great defense to take away opportunities in transition.  As the first quarter came to a close Brock had McMaster on their feet, only trailing 22-19.



Brock's defensive game plan kept working for them in the second quarter as they interrupted the Marauders in the midst of their run and kept the game close.  By the end of the second quarter, multiple Badgers got on the scoreboard, led by Kristin Gallant, Melissa Tatti and Jessica Morris, and the Badgers full efforts were on display against one of the best in the country. Going into the third quarter the Badgers weren't letting the game get away from them, and trailed the marauders 36-32.

Brock needed to maintain composure against the Marauders as the game went on or the game would slip away from them quickly.  Defense needed to be just as efficient and their offense had to be better than the Marauders.  Due to quick hands and pressure on all parts of the floor, Brock punished McMaster and forced several turnovers in the third quarter.  Paired with the speed of guards like Melissa Tatti and Kristin Gallant, the Badgers made sure the Marauders didn't get a second of rest and kept the game within 8 going into the fourth quarter like they had for the entire time leading up to this.  With just one quarter left to play, the Badgers were surprising the country and held the McMaster Marauders to just a 53-50 lead.



There's a reason McMaster is second in the OUA and first in their division, and that's because of their ability to play a full 40 minutes and put teams away by outlasting them on both ends of the floor.  Brock had a challenge ahead of them in the last quarter and they didn't shy away. Continuing to do what they did throughout the game, Brock kept the game close up until the final minute when McMaster went on a run that would end Brock's season.  Down 3 with just over 2 minutes to play, McMaster got a series of stops that resulted in baskets on the other end and put away the Badgers, taking the 81-70 victory after a hard four quarter battle.

The men had just as much of a test ahead of them in the second round as they travelled to Western to take on the nationally ranked Mustangs.  Last time Brock travelled to Western they were put away with a buzzer beater.  Following that the Mustangs came to Brock and pushed away in the final minutes to secure a 96-91 victory, would the story be different in the playoffs?

Western came out firing against the Badgers, getting opportunities and making the most of their inside scoring.  Despite Brock's efforts from three, and their presence on the boards, Western came out and scored 22 points in the first quarter to take a 22-14 lead over the Badgers. Brock had been in this position before against the Mustangs and other teams so moving into the latter parts of the game they knew what they had to do to pull ahead.

Though Brock tried to punch back with the scoring of different key players, Western played with urgency and didn't let the Badgers come back.  Facing the toughness and relentlessness the Badgers knew the Mustangs had, they were unable to find an answer for the early lead Western earned themselves and went into the second half trailing 42-35.



Both teams were evenly matched when it comes to capitalizing on opportunities, and the third quarter showed that.  Defense and contesting shots was the key for the Mustangs holding the Badgers back in the first half, but offense took over in the third as both sides put up 26 points in the quarter.  This high scoring quarter, though helping Brock get into a rhythm, kept the Mustangs ahead 68-61.

Western was able to keep the Badgers at a distance for the first three quarters, but that changed in the final 10 minutes as the 26 point third quarter got the Badgers offense in a rhythm and they chipped away at the Mustangs lead.  A 7-point lead going into the fourth slowly turned into a 5, then a 3, then just a 1-point lead with very few seconds left to play.  With Western now on their toes, Brock got the ball on the sideline with under 10 seconds to play and Tyler Brown drove his defender inside for what was the floater that would save Brock's season and give them a 89-88 victory.

The record setting women's season came to an end in thrilling fashion at McMaster.  A hard fought game showed what the Badgers were capable of when they played as a team and everyone contributed, and despite the loss it was a great end to a season that set the building blocks for years to come. The men showed their resilience against the Mustangs and in turn saved their season.  Keeping their minds on victory when they weren't able to get a break paid off late game as a floater put them ahead and on to the next round to play the Carleton Ravens. 

This concludes the Badger Bulletin for this year.  I would like to take a second to thank you all for reading and thank you for showing interest throughout the year.  Brock Basketball is reaching new heights in both the Women's and Men's program and it has been a thrill to write about it during this year.  Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

Hello everyone and welcome to another part of the Behind the Hoop series.  In the second last part, we take a look at two forwards whose post moves and positive mindset show great potential in the Badgers rotation.

Eden, a forward from Newmarket Ontario was brought into the program and put under the wing of senior Courtney McPherson.  Learning the ins and outs of university basketball, Eden has grown her strengths tremendously and has gained the support of her teammates and Badger fans across the St Catharines area.

One of the main focuses of Eden's development over her rookie season has been learning how to maneuver in the paint with the ball.  With Brock's inside-out style of play, having a forward who can move with the ball and score inside the paint is a vital piece to a successful offense. Eden has been working daily alongside the coaching staff to learn different moves inside the paint and learn when and where to call for the ball, and because of it she has improved vastly and gained the trust of many.

While inside the paint, Eden also needs to be a strong defensive presence, and that comes with boxing out and grabbing rebounds.  Learning from the coaching staff when the right time to box out and the right time to go for the rebound is, Eden has shown that she can be a presence inside and do much of Brock's work around the basket that they need in order to successfully play their game.

Kyle, a 6'6" forward from Welland Ontario, is playing alongside his brother Ryan Cooper for Brock Men's Basketball.  Just coming into the program this year with a handful of rookies, Kyle has grown his game through practice and work on his own time.  With the height of most forwards in the OUA, Kyle has been growing his offensive game and learning how to successfully guard on the perimeter so he can be a versatile and dynamic player as the years go on.

With Kyle's height and agility, he could be put in the paint or out on the perimeter if the player he's defending is pulled out for screens or to shoot.  This has forced Kyle to practice many different aspects of his game, including his close-outs and his post moves.

As a forward in the OUA, being able to move around the paint is essential, but on top of that, you have to be able to defend on the perimeter if the other team tries to pull you out.  Through practice and playing against fellow teammates, Kyle has been working on his perimeter defense and closing out against a shooter, in an attempt to further his defensive capabilities and allow the coaches more flexibility when playing him in games.

On the other side of the court, Kyle has been working on becoming more of a threat from close to midrange.  Getting the ball inside or in the high post is a big part of Kyle's game, and beating defenders one on one or learning how to quickly pass out has been a focus of his development and has shown great improvement as he works on his own and in practice.  

This concludes this part of the Behind the Hoop series, come back next week as we finish off the series by looking at two forwards for the Brock Women's Basketball team and how they fit into the changing program.  Until next time Badgers.
 

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Behind The Hoop: Jenneke Pilling and Tyrell Maclennan
Your inside look into the career's of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith
Hello everyone and welcome to another part of the Behind the Hoop series. Today we take a look at two red shirt guards new to Brock and how they will fit in moving forward as they are put into the rotation.

Jenneke Pilling

Jenneke is 5'7" and hails from St. Catharines, Ontario. This second year guard transferred from Windsor for the 2018-2019 season and is a red shirt, developing her game in practice and individuals. Though not being allowed to play in games, Jenneke is showing signs of being one of the smartest players in the program and her talents with shooting the ball and executing plays shows tremendous hope for her moving forward.



There are lots of good qualities Jenneke is developing this year with Brock. Starting with her basketball IQ, Jenneke is learning the sets as fast as anyone on the team and has used them to teach others. Though new to the Brock program, Jenneke uses her knowledge of the game to teach herself what she has to do in each set and puts so much focus on execution that she sets herself up for great improvement as the year concludes and she earns minutes in games next season.

Her high basketball IQ rubs off on several places, not only her knowledge of the sets but her overall development and her leadership qualities. Jenneke is taking advantage of every rep she gets in practice and individuals to make herself better. Taking in what the coaches are telling her with regards to how she plays and how she could play better, Jenneke has developed this year as much as anyone and the rising confidence in her game due to seeing results has made her more vocal around her teammates. Combining her skills development with her increasing knowledge of the Brock style of play, Jenneke has shown excellent leadership abilities in just her first year at Brock and as she grows in the following years, she will be a very key person in the leadership role for new rookies coming after her.

Tyrell Maclennan 

Tyrell is a 6'3 forward also from St. Catharines, Ontario, red shirting for Brock Men's Basketball this season. Though he is unable to play in games, Tyrell is using this year to adapt to university basketball and find his place amongst the roster and current rotation of players.



On offence, Tyrell does his job quietly and effectively. With already vocal leaders on the team like Johneil Simpson and Tyler Brown, Tyrell knows he has to worry about his game and making sure he does his job properly so others can do theirs. Whatever task the coaches put in front of him he will most likely accomplish and get close to perfect within a few reps. Tyrell is the type of player to put his head down and work and for a forward that will be fighting for minutes alongside several seniors and fellow freshman next year, that mentality should pay off greatly in the form of opportunities.

On defense, Tyrell has the length and agility to keep up with a guard, and the physicality to play the 3 or 4 and rebound over other forwards. Tyrell presents Brock with a lot of choices on defense regarding where they play him and who he goes up against, and those choices makes the coaches job much easier and should pay off for Tyrell in more playing time when he hits the court next season.
 

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Badger Bulletin #34: Rebound
Home court advantage pays dividends for Badgers
By Jacob Smith

Fresh off of two thrilling games at McMaster University on Wednesday, Brock Basketball returned to action just two days later to have a rematch against the Windsor Lancers. When Brock travelled to Windsor weeks ago, they were handed two difficult losses. Now playing at home in front of their own fans in their gym, they were set to change the outcome and come out on top.

Brock Women's Basketball entered the night 9-10, one game ahead of the Laurier Golden Hawks who were 8-11. A victory would put them even closer to the third spot in their division, while a loss would edge the Hawks closer to jumping up if they were to be victorious in their game the next night. The stakes were high for the Badgers but for the players, their minds were set on execution, effort and finishing off the Lancers.

Playing an inside-out style of basketball, Brock clashed instantly with the inside presence of the Lancers and the first quarter was a clash of the forwards with the guards doing their job of getting the ball inside. Second chance points were even more important for both sides and Windsor and Brock finished the first quarter tied at 14.

Being met with relentless physicality around the paint, Brock expanded their game in the second quarter. Now using more of their shooters over inside penetration, Brock stepped out in front of the Lancers. Meagan Charbonneau, Baelie Campbell and Kristin Gallant contributed massively throughout the second while Courtney McPherson held down the rebounds to give the Badgers a 30-28 lead going into the third quarter.



Shooters got warmed up and Windsor struggled to stretch their defense without Brock finding an opportunity to score. Much of the same pace was kept in the third and Brock's lead grew to 10 points. Thanks to the contributions of bench players when fouls became an issue, Brock entered the fourth quarter with a 52-42 lead.

Like they learned in their last matchup, Windsor has the ability to make even a double digit lead, disappear in just one run. Within the first half of the fourth quarter, Windsor used their strength to delete the Badgers lead and push out by two points. Now on their heels fighting to go back on top, the Badgers relied on the same play that had worked for them throughout the game. They didn't get the result they quite desired as the game ended in a 61-61 tie and overtime was coming up.

Now in their first overtime of the OUA regular season, Brock was fatigued and many of their players were still in foul trouble. Riding the momentum, they gained from fighting back in the fourth, Windsor leapt out early in overtime and held on, taking the 71-66 narrow victory over the Badgers.

The men's game was a different story than their last matchup. When they met in Windsor, the Badgers early significant lead couldn't hold late in the game and Windsor stormed back in the fourth to take the victory. In Friday's matchup, Brock took the lead and never looked back, piling points on the Lancers every minute of each quarter.

The game started out like any normal OUA game would, both teams trading scores in an effort to get the first burst of momentum and swing ahead. As the first quarter went on, power shifted into the hands of the Badgers and they had a 15-6 lead going into the second quarter.

The starting rotation of the Badgers clicked together instantly against the Lancers. Johneil Simpson found his shot very early on to punch himself an early 13 points throughout the second quarter and Cassidy Ryan found his stroke around the paint to clean up the boards and get key jumpers to fall. Due to their efficiency and teamwork in the second quarter, Brock's lead grew more and more and the second quarter ended with Brock ahead 37-19.



The already-clicking play of the Badgers got hotter and hotter in the second half. Brock put Windsor further on their heels and the Lancers were unable to find their rhythm and get consecutive stops against Brock. Now with 23 points after 3-quarters, Johneil Simpson led the Badgers rotation to a 29-point third quarter and a 64-40 third quarter lead.

The spectacle Brock put on in the third quarter wasn't the only show of strength the Badgers had that game, as it got better in the fourth. Not taking any breaks against the Lancers to deny any opportunity for Windsor to do what they did to Brock in their last meeting, Brock's wide range of scorers and key defensive players helped put 35 more points up in the fourth quarter. This show of domination in the second half kept Windsor down and out and put the Badgers en route to a 101-49 victory over the Lancers.

A narrow defeat followed by a show of strength and dominance ended up being the story for Brock Basketball on Friday night. Now with the women sitting at 9-11 and the men at 14-6, Brock hosts the struggling Waterloo Warriors on Wednesday night in their second last home game of the OUA regular season before the start of playoffs. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.

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Badgers Going Abroad: Johneil Simpson
One of the best scorers nears the end of his time with the Brock Badgers
By Jacob Smith

Among elite players there are a few who rise above and set themselves out as generational players. Elite scorers, elite defenders, elite positional players, the best of the best who have a skill that is rarely matched. Brock Men's Basketball has been graced with an elite player for the last five years, and his growth has been that of a star in U Sports basketball.

Johneil Simpson, a fifth year guard from Toronto, Ontario has grown massively over his time at Brock and will be graduating as one of the all-time greatest scorers in Brock Basketball history. So how did he earn his titles? Let's look at his career at Brock.

When Johneil joined the Brock Badgers in the 2014-2015 season, he was joining a developing team looking to build on its mixture of rookies and veterans. Making an impact almost instantly with his offensive abilities, Johneil started 18 of his 19 games played. During his first year, Johneil lit up the court with his 39% field goal shooting and close to 36% three-point shooting.



Showing fans across the OUA that he was going to become a major offensive threat, Johneil also worked on his defensive game which was a key element to the way the Badgers played throughout the next few years.

Johneil's second year was about further growth for not only him but the team. Now comfortable with the group they had and the growth of freshmen, Johneil worked day in and day out to make sure Brock Basketball got better and better. Starting the same number of games as the previous season, Johneil improved his off ball play, increasing his rebounds and assists per game to help the team and help spread the offense to make the team more dynamic.

In 2016-2017, Johneil saw a massive growth in his offensive game. Though he only started 9 games and played less minutes, Johneil greatly improved both his mid-range and long range shooting and climbed himself higher and higher up the ranks of Brock scoring. As he became more comfortable with his game, Brock got better and better, all leading up to his fourth year where he would help achieve something Brock hadn't done in a decade.



2017-2018, the year Johneil went to Nationals. The previous three years had provided Johneil excellent time to grow his game in a stable environment and grow accustomed to the roster he would see year after year. As he became more comfortable with what coach Charles Kissi and the rest of the staff wanted from him, he adapted better to the conditions and in turn helped the team's success grow to their peak in the 2017-2018 season.

By his fourth year, Johneil had gotten closer and closer to the top 10 in Brock Men's Basketball all-time scoring. Already known across the OUA as a huge threat if he has the ball in his hands, Johneil's shooting and ability to fight to the rim helped the Badgers achieve their best record they've had in years, and on top of that push Brock to get the wild card spot in the U Sports Basketball National Championships. Despite a fifth place finish, what Johneil, his good friend and top 5 leading scorer Dani Elgadi, and the Badgers had achieved is something Brock hadn't done since 2008 and it proved to be a huge testament to the program and the skill the team had.

Now in his fifth year, Johneil has many accreditations among OUA basketball. Numerous OUA All-Star votes, scoring titles at Brock in points per game and all-time scoring and program best records. As he continues to push the 12-6 Badgers through to playoffs, Johneil now sits fifth in Brock Badgers all-time scoring with 2755 points, achieving that feat after his 40-point performance against the Algoma Thunderbirds on January 26^th.



There is little Johneil can't do. Over his years at Brock he has proved himself to be an elite scorer who takes and creates his own opportunities, and a defensive minded all-star who will do what he has to in order to help his team succeed. Once his time at Brock is over there is little question he will go down as one of the greatest players to play at Brock and Badger fans, if they haven't already, will realize that they witnessed a truly outstanding player whenever they saw number 11 dress up and hit the court. Until next time Johneil.

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Badger Bulletin #33: Badgers Storm Past Thunderbirds
Brock takes the weekend with victories over Algoma
By Jacob Smith

The Brock Women's and Men's Basketball teams played a weekend series against the Algoma Thunderbirds in their return to Bob Davis Gym in 2019. Wanting to come out with two victories, Brock had momentum on their side and were confident in their abilities to pull away and add to the win column.

The women showed a lot of strengths throughout the weekend, different players shining at different times capped with an impressive performance from their bench players on both nights. Ending the weekend with two victories, there are a lot of good things that Brock can carry forward as the season comes to a close.

Their first game against Algoma on Friday night started in the favor of the Badgers and never turned. Expected production from their starters early on followed by strong defense by a mixture of players gave Brock an early large lead going into the second half of the game. Thanks to the scoring of 9 of the 12 players for the Badgers lead by the 50% shooting and 17 points of Kristin Gallant, the Badgers put away the Thunderbirds 59-35 going into day two.



Brock Women's Basketball started slow against the Thunderbirds in their second matchup the next day. Unable to find their rhythm offensively, Brock kept the scoring low as the first quarter ended with the score 4-4. As the pace picked up in the second quarter, so did Brock's rhythm and they began to push away from the Thunderbirds, like they had the night before.

The big defensive quarter came later in the game for the Badgers on Saturday than it did on Friday, this time in the fourth and final quarter where they held Algoma to 8 points while scoring 21 of their own. By this time the Badgers had secured themselves a large cushion, one that was big enough to grant them a 62-40 victory over the Thunderbirds and a .500 record once again with 9 wins and 9 losses.

It's always tough to beat the same team back-to-back, you need grit and a dynamic style of play in order to catch the other team off-guard in the second game. The Brock Men's team had the right amount of grit and versatility and came away with two victories, making Brock Basketball a perfect 4-0 for the weekend.

The first game for the Badgers was very similar to the first game for the women, starting in favor of Brock and never changing. Brock punched their way out to an early lead thanks to the efforts of their starters, leading 21-13 at the end of the first quarter. In the second Brock looked to some of their bench and had remarkable performances from several key players, one being Ryan Cooper who had an impressive night at the forward position, giving Brock the edge they needed to stay in charge.

As the game went on, different players from the Badgers side played their role and Brock's lead grew and grew. A 21-13 lead turned into 48-35 at the half, which turned into 74-53 after three and eventually 101-71 at the final buzzer. A very impressive victory for the Badgers kept momentum on their side as they entered the second night.

The second game started off shaky for the Badgers. Tested by a refreshed Algoma squad, Brock was forced to keep the same production they had at the end of their last game, and maintain it the entire 40 minutes. While Brock's starters and bench players did what they had to do on both ends of the court, Algoma answered back with their 3-point shooting and key defensive stops. Maintaining the edge thanks to their momentum and grit they grew over the season, Brock stayed in front of the Thunderbirds and took the victory 90-83.

Along with their second win, there was a special highlight of the night for one special graduating senior. Johneil Simpson, one of Brock's best scorers, scored a very impressive 40 points in his second game against Algoma. Those 40 points, put him at 5^th all time in Brock Men's Basketball Scoring with 2740 points, and with the season not quite done and Johneil being 27 points away from 4^th, the senior still has probably many more highlights in his future.

Four victories for Brock, a team back at .500, a senior reaching 5^th in all-time scoring and both teams still very much in playoff contention. Can't think of a much better weekend for Brock Basketball. The season rolls on for Brock as they go to McMaster on January 30^th for their next game before travelling back for a home game on the 1^st of February. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Baelie Campbell: Leadership at all Levels
Baelie uses experience to mentor excellence
By Jacob Smith

Every team needs a leader, a role model to look up to, a veteran to go to for advice. For Brock Women's Basketball who isn't shy of veterans, there is a fourth year forward from Halifax, Nova Scotia who offers all of that. Her name is Baelie Campbell. Through her experience with playing the game, her attitude towards the game and her team and her desire to speak up when a situation could be better, she has grown to be a dependable leader and someone everyone on the team depends on for guidance in tough situations.



Baelie came into the program like many rookies do, humble and ready to learn from the veterans. Understanding she has a lot to learn, Baelie was quick to take in lessons and find her place in the program. Over the years her role has grown in several ways, her skill, her intelligence and also her leadership level.

In her first year, there were five upper year players, along with 6 rookies, 2 second year players and 2 third year players, making the leadership spread across the team, different players teaching different newcomers. Brought under the tutelage of guards like Kayla Santilli and Becky Ralph, Baelie learned to adjust to Brock's game fast and adapted to her role as a defensive minded mid-range guard.

The team changed immensely in Baelie's second year, along with the departure of the veterans from the year before, they underwent a coaching change and the insertion of several players into the roster, drastically shifting the leadership role onto the players who remained from the year before.

Moving from the set structure of the 2015-2016 team, 2016-2017 forced players like Baelie, Melissa Tatti, Alex Symmonds and the few others who remained from the year before, to set a new structure alongside their new head coach. Baelie took this change in strides, working together with the other second and third years to set roles amongst the rest of the team and over the next two years grow into the leaders they are now.



For Baelie, 2017-2018 was about growth and improving on the foundation she worked hard to set the year before. With the stability now set in place with returning players and coaches, Baelie worked on growing herself and her team both on and off the court to better the relationships in the still young team, and improve their play on the court to keep the team getting better.

Now moving into more of the veteran role, Baelie was looked to more and more for leadership and when the team was struck with injuries, she was forced to regroup those who were still healthy and keep their mind on track, putting up impressive minutes in important situations and showing how she is able to do great things for her team if she is called upon.

The relationships she set within the core group in 2017 came useful the year after as they were met with another coaching change in the 2018-2019 season. Previous assistant coach Mike Rao was given the role of Head Coach and the system was set to change once again. This proved to be a very small challenge for Baelie as she used her ability to be coached that she came into first year with to learn everything she could of the new system and once again take Brock Basketball by the reigns and guide the new recruits who joined the team coming into the season.

Now partway through the season, Baelie has shown several great characteristics of a leader and a mentor and her role has become more and more irreplaceable. So let's take a look at some of the characteristics she has shown.



The first characteristic, as I mentioned previously, is her personality and ability to connect with lots of people. Baelie welcomes every new addition like a veteran, treating them with the utmost respect and making them feel like they're a part of a family when they're in the program. Lifting players up when they're feeling down, encouraging positivity when a game isn't going their way, motivating players after they make a good read to keep going, Baelie does whatever she can to ensure the morale of the team and the players are at the highest.

Along with boosting the morale and building confidence within the team, Baelie also has grown her ability to gather and lead a team throughout a game. When a game is slipping away, Baelie has slowly become the player you look for to group the players together, remind them of what they have to do and ensure it gets done. Through the growth in confidence in her knowledge of the game, Baelie has become more of a vocal leader on the court and often tries her hardest to make sure her team sticks together even more so when they aren't playing well.

The last quality that sets Baelie apart as a leader is her desire to get better. In sports, when you are around someone who works hard to get better and is always willing to be coached, it is fairly easy for it to rub off on you and motivate you to get better, and that happens often with her teammates. Baelie has worked hard over her four years at Brock to get better and better at every aspect of the game, pushing herself to improve day after day she often holds herself to a high standard and makes that standard known to her teammates during practice. As her teammates keep watching her push herself to get better, it will only motivate them to push themselves just as hard to support their team, and is another quality that makes Baelie Campbell a leader.

Baelie has many qualities in her that allow her to lead the Brock Women's Basketball team, and what she has gone through over the past four years gives her the knowledge to overcome any adversity the team might face this year. With her supportive and caring personality, desire to hold team morale at the highest level, and desire to work hard to be better, Baelie has become someone the team looks to for advice, guidance and support in any situation and her leadership will only grow as the year finishes and she goes into her final season.
 

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Badger Bulletin #32: Momentum Shift
Brock's momentum cut short by Windsor on road trip
By Jacob Smith

After splitting the evening against the Guelph Gryphons on Wednesday, Brock went back on the road for a weekend bout with the Windsor Lancers. Determined to take the first of their two meetings and go back to St. Catharines with a victory, Brock came in with a head full of steam and confidence that carried them through much of their games.

The women came into the day 7-8, Windsor 9-6 and a win for the Badgers could bring the two programs neck and neck with each other as the season rolls on, but it didn't turn out exactly as planned.

Brock started off strong, keeping up with Windsor's penetration and force inside with their offensive rebounding and quick second chances. With Courtney McPherson dominating inside the paint early, Brock answered everything Windsor had to show and went into the second quarter trailing by just one point, 10-9.

The low scoring first quarter was answered with an explosive second quarter for both Brock and Windsor. Keeping up the presence on the boards, both teams capitalized on more second chances, Windsor getting to the line off of put-backs and Brock getting mid-range opportunities off of kicking the ball out after a rebound. After an offensive second quarter, Brock took a narrow 29-28 lead going into the second half.



Fast scoring, rebounding and equally efficient offence kept the game close in the third. Windsor continued to use their size in their forwards to get their share of offensive rebounds and Brock used their size and quickness to snatch up loose balls before Windsor could get to them. Scorers like Melissa Tatti and Kristin Gallant lit up the scoreboard and Brock extended their lead to 52-49.

Momentum shifted in the fourth despite the fast-paced scoring. As Brock's presence on the boards started to decrease, the second-chance opportunities Windsor got from either getting fouled or getting a put-back ended up being the factor that would give them an early run to go ahead and hold on for the remainder of the quarter. Brock's efforts brought the game within 5 in the last minutes but Windsor's size and dynamic scorers kept them ahead and earned them a 72-63 victory over the Badgers.

Brock Men's Basketball defeated Guelph on Wednesday by a close score of 101-100, so momentum was on their side. That momentum lasted them through three quarters but similar to the women, grit and toughness would need to be used in the fourth in order to seal the deal.

Brock stormed out over Windsor in the first. Overpowering the Lancers offensively with their ball movement and scoring, Brock jumped to an early 27-20 lead after the first quarter and didn't look back. Shooting above 40% in the first quarter as a team, Brock proved to be a powerhouse that Windsor would have to contain later on in the game.

The second quarter, much like the first, ended in Brock's favor. Putting up 21 points in the quarter, Brock continued to pour on points against the Lancers and make the hill that was to be climbed even larger. Thanks to outside scoring by Johneil Simpson and Cassidy Ryan as well as mid-range penetration from Tyler Brown and Daniel Cayer, Brock's lead was now 48-36 going into the second half of the game.



Windsor caught some momentum coming out of the break, finding their rhythm and where they can penetrate Brock's defense. The third went the way of the Lancers by a differential of 6 points, enough to cut Brock's lead down to 62-56.

The hill that Brock created in the first half which was cut down significantly in the third quarter, proved to not be too steep to climb for the Lancers as midway through the fourth quarter they were able to take the lead back from the Badgers and make Brock try and claw their way back. Unable to do so, Brock found their comfortable halftime lead gone and Windsor used the second half momentum to push their way to a slim 98-93 victory over the Badgers.

The tough road trip to Windsor ended up being one that was good and bad, but there is still hope for positive momentum going into the last few games of the season as Brock Basketball returns home to Bob Davis Gym for a back-to-back weekend against the Algoma Thunderbirds. Tip-off is set for 6 and 8pm on January 25^th and 26^th. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin. 
 

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Badger Bulletin #31: Same City, Different Place
Brock stuns Warriors with 2 victories 
By Jacob Smith

Weren't we just here several days ago? Yes, and no. On Saturday, Brock travelled back to Waterloo, Ontario to take on another OUA opponent, not the Laurier Golden Hawks but the Waterloo Warriors. In their first of two meetings this season, Brock was confident they could take game one and start off their series on a good note. Well a cold bus ride turned in their favor as they played hot on the court and proved themselves when it counted.

After picking up a big win over the Guelph Gryphons, the Waterloo Warriors were ready to take on the Badgers who were riding a three game winning streak, and the first quarter was one of immense fight as both teams were riding the momentum they had coming in. Both the Warriors and Badgers got going quick and Waterloo held a slim 19-17 lead going into the second quarter.

Brock's shooting was warming up fast this game, finding most of their points from mid to long range, Brock fed the ball to their scorers around the key for quick points. Unable to adapt very fast to Waterloo's transition game, the Warriors kept up with the Badgers and Brock held a 31-29 lead going into the second half.



The third quarter is where Brock stepped up their defense, adapting to Waterloo's fast paced transition game and turning what would've been 2 points, into a stop or turnover and another Brock possession. Due to their heavy presence around the paint and ability to lockdown players, Brock held Waterloo to just 6 points in the third as they scored 19 of their own, increasing their lead to 50-35 going into the final 10 minutes.

Riding a solid third quarter performance, all Brock needed to do was keep making the shots they were making all game and make it tough as possible for Waterloo to shrink the lead. With the impressive shooting of Miranda Smith who dropped five three pointers in the game on her way to 19 points, and the facilitation and scoring of Melissa Tatti, Brock stayed in-front of Waterloo and defeated the Warriors 63-47, moving to 7-7 on the season and turning the win streak to four games.

The men were looking for the same outcome as the women, and that's what they got after a strong second half performance.
Starting off slow, Waterloo jumped out to a 12-4 lead midway through the first, calling for Brock to regroup, slow down and execute their game plan that they were sure would work. That's exactly what it did as after settling down midway through, they battled back and finished the first quarter ahead 19-17.

Now playing at their pace and containing Waterloo with tight defense all around the key, Brock could focus on the smaller parts of execution in the second quarter and push farther ahead. Thanks to the scoring of their shooters and the presence of Cassidy Ryan and Johneil Simpson, Brock pushed out to a 43-35 lead going into the third quarter.



Determined to maintain the level of execution they worked towards in the second quarter, Brock continued to play tight defense against the talented Waterloo guards, denying passes inside to their forwards and contesting open shots. This as well as their shooting from several players both in the starting five and off the bench, helped make sure they held the lead and went into the fourth up 63-54.

It was time to hold on and finish strong for the Badgers. They knew Waterloo was going to fight until the very last second of the game and they needed to maintain composure and play their game until the buzzer sounds. Johneil continued to hit his shots, Tyler Brown executed plays like only Tyler Brown can and Brock held off Waterloo's final punch to win the game, 94-81.

Now at 9-5, the men find themselves tied with Laurier for second in their division and very much in the conversation for a potential playoff spot as the season rolls on.

Brock can't go home yet, after three road games, the Badgers stay on the road to play the Guelph Gryphons in their next OUA game on January 16^th, a game that is sure to be a battle on both the women's and men's side. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badgers Going Abroad: Cassidy Ryan
Dominant dynamic forward moves on to bigger things
By Jacob Smith

If you're looking for a forward who can execute defensively, shoot the three ball and slam in the paint, you don't have to look very far as Cassidy Ryan does exactly that. This fifth year forward from Mississauga has lit up the court every year he's been with the program and now it's time for him to move to the next stage in his basketball career. It won't be easy for Brock to replace the 6'7 big man, let's take a look at where his career has taken him.

Cassidy did 2 years at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York before transferring to Brock. Developing his skills by playing against tough competition in the U.S., Cassidy came to Brock in his 3^rd year with a wide range of abilities and quickly adapted and improved over his 3 years at Brock.



Starting at Brock in the 2016-2017 season, Cassidy came off the bench for a majority of the season which gave him the opportunity to patiently grow his game and adjust to the new team he was on. The 2016-2017 roster was filled with a decent mixture of seniors and freshman, with older forwards like Mo Ismail and Ryan Bennett, and younger forwards like Daniel Cayer, Mitch Saunders among others, Cassidy fit right in and had plenty of people to go to in his adjustment to Brock.

Playing 19 games in his first season at Brock and starting 2, Cassidy proved he can score in and around the paint with his near 50% field goal percentage, and he set a good foundation defensively for him to improve as the years went on with his rebounding skills.

The 2017-2018 season was Cassidy's fourth year of eligibility but second year at Brock. An experienced player at the College/University level, Cassidy used the season to show everyone what he has and bring his team to heights they hadn't been to in years. Getting more comfortable beyond the arch, Cassidy adapted his game to make him more of an offensive threat, allowing him to average 16.9 points per game along with his improved rebounding and blocks per game. Becoming a threat from all areas of the court, Cassidy helped lead the Badgers to a National Championship birth and a 5^th place finish, setting a standard for years to come.



Now in his 5^th year of eligibility, Cassidy and the 2018-2019 Brock Badgers are growing and growing and his game is once again improving. Now holding a 9-5 record, Cassidy has been a consistent piece to the Badgers play every game and he is showing not only the new recruits who were brought in, but the forwards around the league that he is going out with a bang and nothing is going to stop him. Playing a style similar to last year, Cassidy is excelling inside the paint and he uses his size to his advantage in most matchups that he's in.

Cassidy has the skillset of one of the most dynamic forwards in the OUA, the mindset of a future champion and the selflessness of a leader. He has worked hand in hand with the other seniors over the past 3 years to grow Brock Basketball bigger and bigger and he isn't quite done yet. With just under half the season left to play, Cassidy is sure to make even more of an impact on each game and bring the Badgers as far into the playoffs as he can.

Whether his sights are set on the next level of Basketball or not, it is certain that Cassidy's impact on Brock will not be forgotten for a long time, and as Brock prepares to keep evolving in the coming years, filling the spot of a forward like Cassidy will be a very tough challenge. Brock will miss the always smiling Sauga baller, and as the season finishes up fans should make sure to keep their eyes tight on Cassidy and take in all they can of this special athlete.

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Badger Bulletin #30: Brock Grounds Hawks
Brock wins both in rematch against Golden Hawks
By Jacob Smith

The second half of the regular season has begun, after tough games against the Western Mustangs, Brock was set to play their rematch against the Laurier Golden Hawks and come away with a slightly different outcome. What better way to spend a cold Wednesday night in southern Ontario than a basketball game in Waterloo.

The women's team came in to the game 5-7, riding high on two victories in a row, momentum was on their side and they were prepared to ride that momentum to victory number three. The Hawks were familiar opponents for the Badgers, playing them at the beginning of the season, Laurier was one of the first tests the Badgers had and they came up just short, 63-51. This time they were at Laurier and the scenario was different.

Brock worked hard over the winter break piecing together parts of their play to be more fluent, and it showed at numerous parts of the game. Early on against the Hawks, Brock used their fast play to get an early edge on the boards, but Laurier's consistent shooting gave them a 9-8 lead going into the second quarter.

Fast paced play and hustle on both ends of the court allowed the Badgers to dominate the offensive glass during the middle portions of the game, allowing them to out-score the Hawks 21-16 in the second quarter and take a 29-25 lead. Early scoring by Melissa Tatti and Kristin Gallant fueled the Badgers as they kept riding their momentum and good looks they were getting.



The opportunities gained from efforts on the glass and good shooting by guards and post players kept Brock slightly ahead in the third quarter, pushing out to a 53-49 lead before entering the final 10 minutes. In the last quarter Laurier made their last attempt to claw back but the drive of the Badgers to finish the game strong and the mentality the veteran starting 5 bring kept the Badgers in front even when the lead shrunk down to nearly 3, and allowed them to hold on for a 59-53 victory, achieving their third victory in a row and pushing them to just one game below .500.

The men took their first meeting with the Hawks by a score of 84-75, and with each team at full strength, fans could expect another closely contested game that would go down to the final 10. In the first quarter, it seemed like whatever Brock did on the offensive end, was matched by Laurier and they couldn't quite pull ahead. Opening scoring by Johneil Simpson and Cassidy Ryan kept the Badgers close but Laurier held a 25-22 lead going into the second quarter.

Once Brock figured out how to penetrate Laurier's defense at a more efficient rate, Laurier had trouble staying ahead of Brock. Brock moved their offense to more paint-oriented throughout the second quarter and because of it, outscored the Hawks, 24-16 and took a 46-41 lead going into the second half.

Brock's efficiency slowed down in the third as Laurier regained their momentum, punishing Brock from beyond the arch, outscoring the Badgers 23-17 and regaining the lead going into the final 10 minutes. If the back and forth of the game so far wasn't a clue towards how the fourth went, I don't know what is.



Much like it had been throughout each quarter, the momentum shifted in the fourth, once again back in favor of the Badgers as they continued to get the ball inside the paint for Daniel Cayer and Cassidy Ryan who were already in double-digits. Brock converted key opportunities and kept Laurier from any easy baskets in the fourth, holding on to the small lead they gained and pushing ahead to a 92-81 victory.

It was a close game for all 40-minutes, maybe closer than the Badgers anticipated but they were able to get the job done in the final minutes and this win pushes them to 8-5, tied with Laurier for second in their division and puts the momentum back on their side moving forward in the season as they were able to answer back after the tough defeat against Western.

Two very important wins amidst a very long OUA season, wins that while they may not seem like much when you look at the schedule, shows very important values these teams have, and that's the ability to get the job done when fatigue is high. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badgers Going Abroad: Courtney McPherson
Brock Women's Basketball gets ready to say farewell to impactful forward
By Jacob Smith

The Brock Women's team has seen their fair share of forwards come and go, but in the time she was here, there are few that have been as impactful in as short of a time as Courtney McPherson. Coming from Niagara College, Courtney filled the spot of the post player immediately with her physicality and toughness.



The 5'10 forward from Welland played 3 seasons at Niagara College before transferring to Brock, alongside teammate Brooke Murdoch who Badger fans will remember from last year as the brains of the starting 5. Beginning in 2014, Courtney came into the Niagara program and played all 18 games. Coming off the bench averaging 25.4 minutes per game, Courtney shot the ball at an impressive 49% over the season and continued her defensive progression, averaging 10.4 rebounds per game and 1.0 steals per game.

Courtney improved that in the second year at Niagara, giving the Knights a solid foundation in the paint on both ends of the court. She shot the ball steady, maintaining her shooting percentage, and she improved both her defensive statistics and overall rebounds as the year went on, getting better and better and staking her claim in College basketball. In her final year at Niagara College before transferring to Brock, Courtney polished off her game and earned herself a spot in the starting rotation for 4 games. Courtney proved to many that she has the ability to stand out in Ontario college basketball and that turned the heads of many, including Brock Women's Basketball.



Courtney transferred to Brock for the 2017-2018 season. Put into a program that was trying to find their identity and grow their record, Courtney was immediately given the responsibility of a starter and forced to transition to university ball fairly quickly. Brock played a slower style of basketball in 2017 compared to the 2016-2017 season, mostly due to the roster they had for both seasons, and Courtney's grinding presence in the paint fit perfectly, always finding open spots to get the ball and put some pressure on the forwards instead of quickly dishing it back out. In a team that was run by a solid veteran core alongside a large recruit presence, Courtney drove the Badgers to a 6-18 record and built up her own skills to make her even better in her last season.

A lot of changes happened between Courtney's last two seasons, coaching changes meant a new style to get used to and a significant personnel change meant new teammates to get used to playing with. After going through an injury riddled 2017-2018 season, Courtney would have a lot more help at the forward position in the 2018-2019 season with the addition of two recruits as well as returning forward Shannon Northey. This addition gave Courtney a bit of a break from the long games she was playing all of the previous season, and helped her focus on the smaller parts of her game that she needed to work on.

Now 5-7, Courtney and the Brock Badgers are powering through the regular season and working hard on and off the court to put themselves in the best position possible. Courtney is working on her finishes around the rim and her ability to facilitate the offence from in the paint, the other forwards are working on their finishes and the guards are working on their ball movement and court vision. With Courtney taking the younger forwards under her wing, she is doing her part to make sure she leaves the program in the best place she can going forward.



To hear from a few of her teammates on the impact she has had, I've gathered thoughts from five of her teammates and they have nothing but high praise for Courtney and her play and leadership. Here's what they have to say:

"Although I've only played one year with Courtney, it has been incredible. She is an amazing player and a great friend. Courtney is one of the biggest hustlers I know and always pushes herself past her limits. She sets a great example for rookies and new players coming into the program. Her communication and hardworking skills makes her such a valuable player. Courtney puts everyone on her team before herself which makes her a true teammate. We will miss Courtney tons but we know she will be filled with success in her future!"

• Meagan Charbonneau, 1^st year forward

"I'm grateful to have met Courtney through playing basketball. She is a sincere, compassionate, hilarious friend with infectious positivity. She is hands-down one of the hardest working players who is constantly willing to go through anything for her teammates. We are all so lucky to have had the opportunity to have played with, and developed true friendships with Courtney."

• Allie Columbus, 3^rd year guard

"From the first day I met Courtney when she transferred to Brock from Niagara College, I knew she would be one of my favourite people to be around because I could immediately tell she had one of the biggest and brightest personalities I'd ever encountered. Courtney brings a positive energy like no other and I couldn't ask for a better teammate both on and off the court. We will all miss Courtney's constant hustle and talent that has contributed so much to our program over the past two years, but what we'll miss more than anything is the person that Courtney is. I'd like to give a huge thank you to Court for always brightening my day, making me laugh, and making my past two years at Brock especially enjoyable. We love you, Court!!"

• Baelie Campbell, 4^th year forward

"It is very rare that you come across a person like Courtney; someone who is genuinely happy and kind. Whether we are being goofballs, which is 90% of the time, or locking it down on the court, she is easily one of the best people I have ever met. I know that whenever I need a laugh or a good hug, or even a spontaneous dance battle, Court is always there to give it. The team won't be the same without her"

• Shannon Northey, 3^rd year center

Courtney's personal impact has affected many, and her play has affected the program greatly. She has set a standard for many to follow and the way she holds herself on and off the court is something everyone can look up to. When she moves on to the next stage in her career, Brock Women's Basketball will have a lot to look back on and feel grateful for. Finish strong Courtney, and until next time.
 

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Badger Bulletin #29: Kick Off the Year
Brock meets Western for the first game of 2019
By Jacob Smith

Winter break is over, teams are back to work and the OUA season is starting up again. For the Brock Badgers, this meant a trip to London Ontario to take on the Western Mustangs. In one of their only afternoon games of the season, the women and men were set to tip off at 1pm and 3pm on Saturday January 5^th and go to battle to try and get the first win of the new year.

After a hard-working winter break, the women hit the court once again to take on the struggling Western Mustangs. They came in 4-7, sitting middle of the pack in their division in the OUA but with several teams within one game of each other, a win could put them higher in the standings. Brock came out energized and ready against Western, motivated to dominate all 40 minutes and get the win so they can move on to the rest of the season.

The first quarter favoured neither team, though Brock went out on an early run, the pressing offense of Western got them equal looks and the score was 13-12 going into the second quarter.

In the second set, it much favored the Badgers as Western's offense started to collapse and the tempo of Brock's play all around made it hard for the Mustangs to settle and run their sets. Brock out-scored Western 18-8 in the second quarter to jump out to a 30-21 lead.



Western couldn't get settled often in the first half, but during the third quarter that changed. The shooters of the Mustangs brought their offense alive with runs of 3-pointers to slightly close the gap, but Brock remained resilient. Knowing that if they continued to play the game they had been playing during the first half they would be fine, they kept answering back and held a 51-37 lead after the third quarter.

Brock sealed the game in the fourth, putting in the effort they had to in order to keep the Mustangs at a distance and earning themselves a 70-57 victory, kicking off their 2019 on a good note.

The men on the other hand were met with some struggles in their effort against Western. Coming in 7-4, they were ready and confident that they would also start 2019 with a victory.

Western jumped out quick against the Badgers, pushing the lead to 19-12 at the end of the first quarter due to their defensive pressure and efficient scoring. Continuing into the second quarter, Brock would need to find a way to slow down Western and get their sets moving and make Western play the way Brock wants them to play. Brock gradually got their play flowing throughout the second quarter as their scorers got their opportunities and they settled down defensively, and went into the second half trailing 39-26.

Though they were getting their opportunities offensively, Western would need to be slowed down if they were going to trim the lead, and that's the game plan Brock instilled in the third quarter. Both teams were getting the opportunities they wanted, but with Brocks heightened defense, they were able to get more stops and make the differential in scoring greater, cutting a chunk out of Western's lead and going into the fourth quarter only trailing 58-54.

They cut a chunk out of the lead in the third quarter, but more was needed to be done in order to take the lead. Brock kept on the tails of the Mustangs throughout the 4^th, keeping the deficit within 10 and making the comeback very manageable, to the point where it was tied with under a minute left.

Brock had to maintain their composure they had gained, in the final minute if they wanted to put away the Mustangs, but with Western's consistent offense and Brock's early troubles still not totally put away, that became a challenge. Western had been knocking down shots all game, and Brock had shaky offense that they were able to clean up in the third, but when it was clutch time, Brock missed key opportunities and gave the Mustangs one last chance at sealing the victory, which they did.



Brock missed a chance to take the lead, turning the ball over to Western who would go and make a last second three-pointer, with that clutch shot and 2 free-throws shortly following it, Brock's chances of coming away with a victory quickly disappeared and Western, the team who had been consistently fighting throughout all 40 minutes, came away victorious, 80-75.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Badgers, but one they can learn from. This, as well as the game against Ryerson, are two games where they were met with intense late-game situations where the game would be on the line, and even though they were unable to get the outcome they wanted, the way they handled their play with the game on the line teaches them what they need to get better at to avoid the situation they put themselves in when games become more and more important as the season goes on.

The Badgers split the afternoon against the Mustangs, but the season goes on and they travel to Laurier just days later for a Wednesday night battle against the Golden Hawks, will the women be able to make it 2 wins in a row? Will the men get their first win of 2019 and set themselves back on track? Wednesday will be a very important momentum swing for either team. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Behind the Hoop: Shannon Northey and Michael Vos Otin
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everyone, and welcome to another part of the Behind the Hoop series. Today we take a look at a rookie and a vet, a forward and a center who's unique abilities prove them to be invaluable to their programs.

Shannon Northey


Shannon has size, strength and the foundation to be one of the best forwards in the OUA. The 6'2 forward from Mississauga is in her third year with the Badgers program and as the year goes on she is getting attention from across the league.

Starting with her size, Shannon dominates the paint when she is on the floor. Towering over many of the players she matches up against gives her the advantage both offensively and defensively. Players know not to get too close to Shannon if they are driving into the lane or there is a high probability their shot will be blocked or they will be forced out of bounds. Knowing when to put her hands up and containing almost anyone who goes into the paint, Shannon provides the backbone to the Badgers defense that allows the rest of the players to focus on their jobs.

Offensively, Shannon uses her size to post up forwards and call for the ball in positions some may not expect. Practicing her ability to finish around the rim, Shannon is using her deadly hook shot to punish anyone who doesn't have their hand up, and in some cases even putting it above their stretched arms for 2 points. Matched with her growing strength, Shannon has the ability to be one of the most dominant forwards in the OUA.

As she battles back from a leg injury, Shannon is growing her vertical strength and ability to go up strong and if she is able to gain more confidence in her vertical finish, Badger fans can expect a lot more put backs and strong finishes around the rim in traffic.

Michael Vos Otin



Michael, a 6'3 guard is entering his first year at Brock but fourth year of eligibility. This mid-range shooter and ball handler is developing fast in the new style of play and as his defense increases, he gains more and more minutes in important situations.
Michael has become very open to coaching and criticism of his game, and as a rookie in a program, that has helped his game and improvement immensely. Over the first half of the season, Michael's offensive game has grown to more of a dynamic style, adding drives to the rim to his shooting style and occasionally taking the 3 when he has it. His ability to think critically of himself in every play and think about what he could've done better gives his team a better shot in every play and earns him better opportunities from him being in the right spot at the right time.

His defense has been much of the same, learning what the coach wants from him in various scenarios, he has been able to adjust to any situation he is put in. Brock is filled with offensive threats this season, from shooters to aggressive guards, because of this much of the focus on progression has been on defense. Michael has made large strides defensively as more and more sets have been introduced, and because of his fast improvement, he has earned himself a larger and larger spot in the rotation for the Badgers, a spot that will continue to grow as the year goes on and next year starts.

If Michael can combine his adaptive playstyle both defensively and offensively, with his ability to do whatever is asked, he can become a very solid second guard for the Badgers and give himself the opportunity to keep growing his own game. Badger fans should look out for Michael as the season goes on and watch as he becomes a larger and larger threat to his opposition.

That concludes this part of the Behind the Hoop series. Make sure you come back in January as we begin the Badgers Going Abroad series, featuring graduating players individually for both the Brock Women's and Men's Basketball program week after week. Until next time Badgers.
 

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Behind the Hoop: Maddy Gojmerac and Jacob Fraser
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everybody, and welcome back to another part of the Behind the Hoop series. Today we take a look at two rookie guards who's quick learning and vast intelligence of the floor allows for the execution to grow to lengths it wasn't before.

Maddy Gojmerac



Maddy is a first year, 57" guard from Welland. Her vision for the floor, passing ability as well as her overall intelligence makes her a key rotational player for the Badgers, and one that will overtime grow to be a starter. Starting with her vision for the court, Maddy knows exactly where to be and where the ball needs to go at all times, and even with her adjusting to the play style of the Badgers, has fit in seamlessly and is quickly growing and earning more and more minutes in crucial situations.

The Badgers offense requires a point guard who knows how to facilitate and move the ball, and Maddy is one of those guards. Swinging the ball one of the fastest on the team, Maddy proves to be an excellent backup guard to Melissa Tatti and can pace the floor and keep the momentum going even when others get tired. With a player like Maddy running the offense, Badgers can rest assured knowing the efficiency will not suffer and her vision of the court will allow for opportunities for different players when some get locked down or have a rough shooting night.

Lastly, her basketball intelligence. Tying in mainly on the defensive end, Maddy's IQ when shes on the floor, matched with her ability to see what's going on, makes her a guard with the potential to be one of the best defenders on the team. Still working on small things to make her better day by day, Maddy has shown she has the physicality to match up against bigger guards and also the pace to keep up with some of the smaller agile guards she will match up against. Coming off the bench, a guard who can keep up the pace and lockdown any guard on the opposing team is a very instrumental piece to the Badgers rotation and her alongside the starters or bench players ensures the effectiveness others built, will keep going and give them several more victories due to late game holds.

Jacob Fraser



Jacob is a first year, 6'2" guard from Markham Ontario. Jacob's movement off the ball and spacing on both ends of the court makes not only his job but the rest of his team's job easier whenever he's on the court. Jacob has adapted fast to the university style of play and the penetration oriented offense of the Badgers. Jacob knows exactly when he should cut inside or curl around for a shot, and his movement has created countless opportunities for not only him but his teammates, leading to key points in tight games.

Jacob spaces the floor like a veteran and even when he makes a mistake, is quick to adapt and adjust for the next play. Jacob has shown that he wants to play and wants to be involved in every play, and his quick adaptation to each play and the spacing of the defense, gives the rest of his teammates the space they need to move around.

Open to coaching, Jacob combines his off-ball movement with his ability to space the floor and create opportunities for others to be a very dynamic guard who puts the team before himself. In a Brock style that prefers ball movement before putting up shots, Jacob will grow to be an even bigger piece to their puzzle and as he works on his shot, will be an irreplaceable player for Brock and an eventual starter as the years go on.

That concludes this part of the Behind the Hoop series. Make sure you come back next week when we feature two more rookies and impactful forwards who do whatever they can throughout every minute to ensure their teams success. Until next time Badgers.

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Badger Bulletin #28: Split the Night
Brock goes one for two against the Golden Gaels
By Jacob Smith

It's the last weekend of basketball in 2018 for the Brock Badgers. They've been through the best teams in the OUA, but before they take a holiday break, two more teams from the middle of the pack in the east division were scheduled to make a stop at Bob Davis Gym, the first of them being the Queen's Golden Gaels.

What the Queen's women's and men's team have in common is one player their offense mainly runs through, making Brock's job to try and shut them down in order to be successful, For the women, that player is number 10, Marianne Alarie. Containing her in the first half, the Badgers were able to stay in the game and control most of Queen's offense.

Matching Queen's efforts around the paint, the Badgers got contributions from several starters to kick-start their play and lead them through the first quarter where they trailed 16-12 and going into the second half where the Badgers jumped out in front to a 35-33 lead.

Brock's defense held down the Golden Gaels in the first half, making the forwards life difficult by pestering them and forcing them to pick the ball up, along with locking down guards to avoid easy passes into the paint where much of their offense came from. Brock contained the Gaels while their shooting heated up thanks to shooters like Miranda Smith and Meagan Charbonneau, giving the Badgers momentum that they would need to maintain in the third and fourth quarter.



Queen's answered back in the third as Brock's defense began to slip, forcing fouls and making the extra pass to get an open shot, Queen's got their shooters that were contained in the second, open and jumped to a 52-44 lead that would grow as the final 10 minutes went by.



Brock's ball movement and contributions from several players didn't stop as the game went on, preferring to share the ball and give many players opportunities, Brock ended with three players in double digits but it wasn't enough to stop Queen's efficiency as they added 21 points in the final quarter to take their 75-63 victory over the Badgers.

The men's team were ready to bounce back into the win column following losses to Ryerson, Carleton and Ottawa, and containing Jaz Bains and the Golden Gaels would be the key to do so.

Brock held Jaz Bains to no points in the first quarter, forcing other players to contribute in ways they didn't expect, allowing Brock's offense which had been consistent lately, to jump out to an early lead. Thanks to a buzzer beater by Cassidy Ryan at the end of the first quarter, Brock held a 25-18 lead over Queen's which they held onto in the second quarter.



Cassidy Ryan and Johneil Simpson were the driving force of Brock's scoring in the first quarter, and it continued in the second as they knocked down 3-pointers off of opportunities created by Tyler Brown and got to the line for important points that would be the difference in a 41-38 halftime lead.

As the game went on, Queen's found other scorers to facilitate their offense, getting inside the paint and forcing turnovers by the Badgers to keep them in the game. Even though Queen's got their shooting going, it was too little too late as Brock's game was already running at full speed. All players were doing their job efficiently and despite Queen's sudden bursts of scoring, Brock kept pushing ahead and earned themselves a 66-48 lead going into the final 10 minutes.



The hole Queen's got themselves in during points of the first and third quarter was too much to come back from as Brock ran at full steam despite foul trouble and putting in players who get few minutes. Brock knocked down important shots at important times like they had been all game and it earned them a 85-64 victory and a 6-4 record.

The Badgers 2018 isn't over yet. The following night the York Lions enter the Bob Davis Gym to attempt to take away some of the momentum the Badgers have earned and prove they are climbing up the standings and are a force to be reckoned with. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badger Bulletin #27: Surprises and Downfalls
Ottawa seizes the victory over the Badgers
By Jacob Smith

On the second night of a back to back in Ottawa, the Brock Women's and Men's basketball teams gave a fight to the nationally ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees. Both the women and men were looking to bounce back from their losses to Carleton the night before, and each succeeded in their own ways, despite another loss.

The women's team were out to prove that they are more talented than some think, after having a slow start against Carleton that would put them in a hole they were unable to get out of, they wanted to come out firing against Ottawa, putting themselves in the best position as the game went on.

Brock and Ottawa started evenly matched, both offensively and defensively. Though Ottawa were able to use their size advantage in the paint to secure most of their points, Brock answered right back with their ball movement and shooting, matching basket for basket and only allowing Ottawa to score 14 points in the quarter, going into the second quarter trailing Ottawa 14-7.

Brock kept up their style of offense that worked for them In the first, getting into rhythm around the paint and scoring 18 points in the quarter, all while adjusting their defense to get used to how Ottawa was playing. Shifting to a more paint-heavy style of defense, Brock tried their best to avoid the pass inside and limit Ottawa forward Angela Ribarich who had her way with the Badgers in the first. Doing so forced Ottawa to think of other ways of scoring, and put Brock still in contention with the Gee-Gees, going into the second half trailing 37-25.

Brock adjusting their defense to deny passes inside, while forcing Ottawa to shoot more from mid range and try and penetrate instead of passing, didn't slow down their offense in the third. Ottawa quickly adapted to the Badgers new style of defending and shifted to more of a drive and kick style, finding open lanes off of penetration for guards to get inside or for shooters around the perimeter to be left open.



Brock wasn't as quick to adjust defensively this time as Ottawa quickly chained points together and went on an offensive run that further extended their lead and put the Badgers victory more and more out of reach. With many players contributing on both the Brock and Ottawa side, the audience saw a total of 39 points scored between both sides in the third and a 65-36 Ottawa lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Ottawa continued to pour it on the Badgers struggling defense in the fourth. Though Brock kept up its consistent offense throughout the game, the many threats the Gee-Gees have all contributed to what would end up being another 28-point quarter and a 93-53 Gee-Gee victory.

The Brock Men's team were in the same position as the women coming into the game. After a tough loss to the number one Carleton Ravens the night before, Brock looked to prove that they can still fight with the best of them and give the seventh ranked Gee-Gees a run for their money.

Brock was a handful for the Gee-Gees throughout the first half. Flowing smoothly in transition and around the arch, Brock matched the play of the talented Ottawa guards to make it a 21-20 game going into the second quarter. Ottawa showed early that their style of play would include many drive and kick opportunities, so going into the second and third quarter Brock would need to tighten up around the perimeter all while maintaining their presence and denying open lanes to stop Ottawa's momentum.
Brock continued to execute on all aspects of offense in the second quarter, scoring a solid 29 points to gain a 49-40 lead over the Gee-Gees.



Similarly to the women's game, Ottawa adapted in the third quarter to Brock's fluid offense and found ways through the stretched out defense to increase their offensive efficiency. Ottawa shifted their emphasis offensively towards more ball movement which created the same opportunities from mid to long range, and gave their shooters more time to get off better shots. Ottawa shot the ball at a much higher percentage in the third and off of key runs by their shooters, they were able to pull back to only trailing by 4 going into the fourth.

Brock would need to figure out how to adjust their defense in the fourth to control what they had been controlling as well as limit the opportunities they were getting now from beyond the arch. Doing so at a reasonable pace, Brock and Ottawa remained close for a majority of the final quarter, leaving the game to be decided on small mistakes the Badgers made in the final minutes.

As Ottawa fought to get on top with just minutes left, Brock enforced more physicality around the paint to limit inside-out passes or drives to the lane. While doing so, they sent Ottawa to the line and lost themselves possessions or steals they could've gotten on the other end. Ottawa took advantage of those points Brock were giving them and used it to push out farther, all while putting Brock's starters who were then on the court, in foul trouble, limiting their ability to play as forcefully as they were.

Ottawa pushed farther and farther ahead in the final minute of the fourth, sending good shooters to the line and using their forwards to secure rebounds over Brock players who were afraid to foul out. Small mistakes on the defensive end led to easy looks for the Gee-Gees and as time wound down Brock found themselves defeated by a score of 94-41.

Brock now moves to 5-4 following losses on their trip to Ottawa, and will look to bounce back against Queen's and York in their final games of the calendar year. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Behind the Hoop: Meagan Charbonneau and Ryan Cooper
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everyone, and welcome to another part of the Behind the Hoop series. Today we look at two freshman forwards who have shown the potential to be very key pieces to their respective programs. 

Meagan Charbonneau

Meagan is a 5'7", first year forward from Pointe Claire, Quebec who's desire to learn and willingness to take criticism have caught the coaches eye and allowed them to coach her into one of the core players on the roster. Still growing her confidence and learning her place on the roster, Meagan has shown the ability to be one of the best dynamic forwards and with her ability to learn from others and the coach, she will continue to grow and grow as the years go on.



Meagan has the strength to go up against many people in her position in the OUA, giving her the edge offensively to secure spacing in and around the paint. Along with her ability to create space in the paint, Meagan has been working on her mid-long range shot to further expand her threat and force very specific matchups in some situations in order to somewhat contain her. Though she is only in her first year, Meagan has shown immense potential on the offensive end with her size and agility, proving to the coaches and those around the league that she will be one of the best and teams will see a lot more of her as she gets more and more minutes in the Badgers rotation.

The defensive end is where Meagan's agility truly comes into play. As the OUA slowly blurs the lines between positions, having an agile but strong player like Meagan can do wonders for a program, something Brock is very aware of. Meagan is earning more and more time on the court as she shows her improvement, and as she continues to prove that she has the strength to guard players in her position and the agility to match up against certain guards, it will only increase her value and earn her more and more time.
As the season goes on and the following years, Badger fans can surely expect to see a lot more of Meagan on the court and know that when there's an agile forward or a not as strong guard, the Badgers will be fine with Meagan matched up against them.

Ryan Cooper

Ryan Cooper has the size to put players on posters and the shot to put teams out of the game. This first year 6'8" forward from Welland Ontario is another dynamic forward with the desire to learn that will fuel his growth as the years go on. Ryan is one of several forwards on the Brock men's roster, but showing his skills and what makes him stand out has earned him valuable minutes in several tight games, and continued to help his growth as a player.



Ryan came into Brock with a very smooth 3-point shot. When he gets set with a ball and looks to shoot, his consistent form will get him on a streak that is hard to stop. Playing usually with Mitch Saunders, Cooper gets put around the arc and with his shot and length to create space to shoot, the two go together nicely and as he continues to practice his form, will allow him to become one of the most consistent shooters in his position.

Cooper's size doesn't just give him the space he needs to shoot the ball off of a step back, but it also makes him one to avoid in the paint. As Ryan continues to work on using his strength to his advantage, his length is just waiting for guards to run into the paint expecting an easy layup so they can get blocked. Cooper has the potential to be a very dangerous and versatile forward, one they will need as current veterans go on to graduate, and as the season goes on Badger fans can expect consistent growth and spurts of potential from this hometown skyscraper.

That concludes this part of the Behind The Hoop series, make sure you come back on December 3^rd as we feature two freshman guards who are quickly rising up the lists of their rotations and earning valuable minutes to improve their game. Until next time Badgers.

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Badger Bulletin #26: Battered by Ravens
Brock leaves Carleton Empty Handed
By Jacob Smith

The last road trip of the calendar year for the Badgers would be one of the toughest trips they take all year, visiting the nation's capital to take on two of the best teams in the country. Before finishing off 2018 with a home stand against the Queens Golden Gaels and York Lions, the Brock Women's and Men's basketball teams we're headed north to take on the Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The Carleton women recently entered themselves into the U Sports Women's Basketball record books with a 46 game winning streak ending just days ago with their 56-52 loss to Lakehead. Despite the loss, Brock would still have their hands full as they took on Carleton and would need to execute flawlessly if they wanted to shock the Ravens. The Ravens came prepared for the Badgers though, not taking anything lightly and giving them everything they had in order to secure a victory and not suffer another loss.

Brock's shooting came out inconsistent against the Ravens, and that put them in an early deficit that they would need to fight back from. Struggling to contain the Ravens offence which would attack any lane they were given, the Badgers feel to an early 22-4 deficit which would turn to a 32-16 Ravens lead going into the halftime break. It was clear that Brock would need to step up the intensity in the third quarter to fight back against the Ravens and do whatever they could to hope the Ravens paint presence slowed down.


Brock used their desire to play more intense in the 3^rdquarter to contain the ravens to only 17 points in the quarter. Strong efforts on the offensive end by Melissa Tatti and Baelie Campbell along with defensive pressure from Miia Sorra and Allie Columbus kept the Ravens within reach going into the final frame and held the score to 49-21.

Though the defensive efforts and intensity picked up in the third, Brock's inconsistent shooting proved to be the deciding factor as the fourth quarter went on. Carleton continued to find ways inside like they had been throughout the game and the mid to long range shots from the Badgers were unable to find the bottom of the hoop, keeping the Ravens firmly in the lead and bringing them to the final buzzer where the Badgers found themselves losing 72-43. Going to just as tough an opponent the next evening with the University of Ottawa, the Badgers will look to even out their shooting while continuing to work on their ball pressure defensively and make their second game a different outcome.

The Brock men's game against Carleton proved to be a learning experience for the new group as they went up against the top team in the country. Carleton, going into tonight's game undefeated looked to keep it that way and silence the Badgers and they did just that.

The first quarter started out even between the Badgers and Ravens, both offenses picking up and each side learning how to get through the defense and what each team likes to do. Through learning holes in each defense, Carleton and Brock went into the second quarter with a 21-13 Raven lead.

The second quarter is where things really turned in the favor of the Ravens. The Ravens stepped up their pressure defensively and increased the pace down the floor which the Badgers were unable to keep up with, showing flaws in their game plan and allowing the Ravens to fully capitalize. Using a fast paced moving offense against the Badgers and really pressuring them full court, the Ravens out-scored the Badgers 27-5 in the second quarter and expanded their lead 48-18.



The second quarter put the Badgers in a hole they would need to fight hard to get out of, and though their efforts in the third showed that fight, they were once again limited to very low scoring in the fourth and we're unable to fully chew away at the deficit.

Finding open looks around the perimeter for Kascius Small-Martin and Johneil Simpson had been working for the Badgers throughout the game, and they continued to look for them in the third, having them contribute to many of the 22 points scored in the third and push back slightly on the Ravens.

Being the skilled team that they are, the Ravens saw how the Badgers were getting their open looks and stopped that in the fourth quarter. They adjusted their defense to heavily guard mid-range and use their presence they already have with size to deny the paint, and that gave the Badgers trouble, only scoring 6 points in the final quarter. Though they had a sprout in the third scoring 22 points, the Badgers couldn't chip away at the Ravens lead and eventually lost the game 86-46.

This game gave the Badgers much to reflect on and learn from moving forward, and they would look to adapt their style of play and learn from their mistakes the next night when they played the number 7 ranked team, the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.

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Badger Bulletin #25: The Main Event
Brock returns to the Meridian Centre to continue a long standing rivalry
By Jacob Smith
It's always an exciting time of the year when Brock is gearing up for their game at the Meridian Centre. This year they were looking to build on the hype gained from last years' matchup with Carleton by welcoming another one of the best teams in Canada, the Ryerson Rams. Ryerson's women's and men's teams are both ranked 2^ndin U Sports national rankings, making for an early test for Brock, along with the added bonus of the rivalry Brock and Ryerson have.

Along with going to the Meridian Centre, Brock plays against Ryerson every year and for the past several years the visiting team has sent fans to the home teams school to cheer on their squads during the game. Brock and Ryerson met twice last year, the first at Ryerson where 5 buses of Brock students travelled and bust the roof off of the Coca Cola Court during the Badgers fight against the Rams, and once again in the OUA Playoffs where the men's team faced off against the Rams in the semi-finals, Ryerson bringing fans and filling the section of the Bob Davis Gym directly behind Ryerson's bench.

There's no environment quite like a Ryerson and Brock basketball game, and the Meridian Centre amplified that as 3175 fans filed in. The night began with the Brock Women's team, coming off of 3 wins in a row, going up against a 6-0 Ryerson Rams women's team who would give them a physical test like no other they've seen this season. Led by well-known coach Carly Clarke, the Rams multi-faceted play was going to be a challenge for the Badgers and require a full-team effort along with the backing of the Badger faithful. As the fans poured into the Meridian Centre, Brock stepped onto the new Brock x Canada Games court and got straight to the action.

Ryerson pressed the Badgers from the first possession. Using their athleticism to beat Brock off the dribble and size to set screens to get shooters open, Ryerson started offensively like you would imagine a top 3 team would. The Badgers, who were fully aware the level their execution had to be at if they wanted to surprise the Rams. Getting open looks, the Badgers traded shot for shot with the Rams in the first quarter and went into the break down 18-15.



As the atmosphere picked up in the second quarter, so did the Rams offense as they got the ball inside and used their forwards to get easy points around the rim, pushing their lead and out-scoring the Badgers 22-10 in the quarter. Despite rough shooting, the Badgers were able to sustain most of their execution in the second quarter and build on it as the game went on, going into the second half trailing 40-25.



The Rams continued to pour on points in the 3^rdquarter from their starters and one or two bench players, working for them in the first half, getting inside the paint and using their size advantage made it hard for Brock to stop and meant that they had to step up their offensive play if they were to keep up with the Rams. Still trying to find consistency in shooting, the Badgers did their best to push back against the Rams but were outscored by 15 in the 3^rdquarter, and 4 in the fourth quarter, leading to a 81-55 loss.



Playing hard and aggressive all game, the Badgers had lots of positives to take away from this game against a nationally ranked team and one of the best in the country. Playing aggressive defensively and using the agility that they have used against other teams to force many turnovers, the Badgers showed that the building blocks are there and with more work, they have the talent to contend with one of the best.

Despite the game ending, the evening was only half over. More and more fans poured into the Meridian Centre as the evening went on and the men's teams filed onto the court for the second event of the night. With a rivalry that has grown over years and the taste of elimination that was put in the mouths of the Badgers last time they played the Rams, the tensions were going to be high and the competition fierce, making for an excellent 2 hours of basketball.

Both the Rams and Badgers aren't short of offensive threats, putting the emphasis on momentum and stops, something that would turn in the Badgers favor throughout the game, up until the fourth quarter. Brock and Ryerson came off the tip swinging, Johneil and Kascius making shots for Brock off of the always impressive ball movement of Tyler Brown, and star JV Mukama leading the way for the Rams. As mentioned though, despite getting opportunities offensively, with the help of 2000 fans and the energy of the rivalry, Brock was able to gain the upper hand in the first quarter and push their lead to 27-11 going into the second frame.



Both teams evened out in the second quarter, the energy of the Ryerson fans that made the trip to the Meridian along with the very talented starters for Ryerson made Brock's offense harder to execute and each side scored only 11 points. The starters for each side remained in the game and Brock kept going to the same shooters, the same with Ryerson and the even matchup fans saw in the semi-finals of last years' playoffs returned, holding fans on the edge of their seat.

Going into the third quarter Brock still held a 16-point lead, but Ryerson was prepared to fire back and they caught Brock less energized in the third. While Brock still executed offensively like they had been throughout the game, Ryerson battled back and gave Brock a fight they would need to hold for the rest of the game, shrinking Brock's lead to 52-45.



The fourth quarter was one for the ages. Brock fighting to upend the nationally ranked Rams and get a massive momentum boost going into the rest of the season, as well as showing why they deserve to be back in the national rankings, and Ryerson trying to prove why they are ranked where they are ranked and that they can put away any opponent.



Brock's shooters that they were able to depend on in the first 3 quarters went colder in the fourth, forcing them to play a inside-out style and feed the ball into their forwards more as well as the occasional penetration for a drive and a foul. Brock's lead that they gained in the first half sustained them throughout the first half of the final quarter, but Ryerson's intense offense that had been also slowly chipping away, found their way back on top late in the game and gave Brock one final test of the night, holding off the energized Rams. Once again going back to their starters that had been battling for them for the entire game, Ryerson's JV Mukama, Filip, Vujadinovic, and Miles Charvis helped seal the deal for the Rams and gave them the final push they needed against the Badgers, pushing out their lead they were able to gain and taking the victory 71-62.

Despite two losses on the side of the Badgers, the evening wasn't short of pride as the 3100 fans who paid for their ticket to go see their teams were loud and proud at every moment of the game. Continuing with the tradition of showing Brock to the city of St. Catharines, the evening didn't disappoint and the fans who were inside the arena, were treated to 4 hours of exciting basketball with some of the most devoted fans in Canada.

This is only one game in a long OUA season for women's and men's basketball, but for the players and especially the rookies who were experiencing this tradition for the first time, I'm sure it is one they will not forget and are looking forward to repeating next year when a different opponent comes to town. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badger Bulletin #24: A Taste of What's to Come
Brock gives UofT a sample of what they are capable of
By Jacob Smith

It was the first of an exciting 2 nights for Brock Basketball, what's known as the meridian weekend. Every year Brock plays 2 home games that are slightly different than the rest, the first game taking place at Brock and the second taking place at the Meridian Centre in downtown St. Catharines. For the first of the two home games this year, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues came onto campus and the Badgers showed them just a little of what they are fully capable of.

Coming off of a 2 win weekend the previous week against Laurentian and Nipissing, the Brock Women's Basketball team had all the momentum they would need going up against the Varsity Blues, and it showed throughout the game. Brock's offense didn't take long to click against UofT, the starters got their shots falling and the bench support aided their weaknesses. Brock jumped out early and caught the Varsity Blues off guard as they quickly held a 27-12 lead going into the second quarter.
UofT began to pick up their offense in the second and third quarter, getting better looks and capitalizing on more mistakes the Badgers made on defense. Though not enough to catch up to Brock's movement and scoring, UofT used their mid-range shooting to decrease a 43-21 lead after the second quarter, to a 59-41 lead at the end of the 3^rd. Not giving more than 3 players on the bench many minutes until the fourth quarter, Brock's starters continued to get the job done and hold UofT to below 30% shooting.



The fourth quarter is where Brock sealed the deal against the Varsity Blues. With the Blues still trying to figure out a way to claw themselves back against the Badgers, Brock used their full momentum to keep pushing away the blues and expanding their lead. Throughout the game Brock forced UofT to turn the ball over 22 times compared to their 14, several of them coming in the fourth which severely impacted the Blues opportunity to shrink Brock's 20-point lead as Brock eventually went on to win the game 74-50 and push their win streak to 3 which would put them back at 500 with a 3-3 record.

The Brock Men's team showed their dominance over the Varsity Blues throughout the whole 40 minutes. In what ended up being a 50 point differential in score, Brock didn't take their foot off the gas and showed relentless force against a struggling Blues squad. Also coming off of 2 wins against Laurentian and Nipissing, Brock's play was clicking on all cylinders from the very first tip and it put the Varsity Blues on their heels. Brock held Toronto to just 5 points in the first quarter, scoring 23 of their own and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Like the women previously, Toronto's offense started rolling in the second quarter but it also wasn't enough to mend the hole they found themselves in after the first quarter. Brock's starters pushed the Blues on all ends of the court, shooters made their shots, forwards fought for rebounds and the Badgers kept expanding their lead, going up 48-25 going into the third quarter.

Though Brock allowed UofT to score 20 in the second quarter, they answered right back in the 3^rd, with Johneil Simpson and Cassidy Ryan leading the way to an impressive 32-point quarter, while the Blues who had been struggling to chain together opportunities put up only 12 of their own. A 23-point lead for the Badgers got bigger and bigger as they poured on buckets and going into the fourth quarter they found themselves with a comfortable 80-37 lead.



Brock was able to play a majority of their bench against the Blues, after securing themselves a significant lead, Brock experimented with different lineups on the court and as a testament to their depth, they held on and even expanded their lead. Role players saw some of their first minutes on the court and UofT continued to fight to keep themselves going as the final 10 minutes went on and Brock sustained their lead to finish with a 103-54 victory and a 3 game winning streak going into the big night 24 hours later.

Energy and pride shined through the Bob Davis Gym as the women and men sunk the Varsity Blues and a very important weekend kicked off on the right note. The Badgers test was far from over though as the Ryerson Rams prepared to go to battle in a game at the Meridian Centre the next night. Would the Badgers be able to hold off the #2 nationally ranked Rams and continue their impressive play? Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.

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Lead by Example
Jensen Murphy lets her play do the talking
By Jacob Smith
There are several things you can control about a hockey game, and a lot of them have something to do with the goalie. For Brock goalie Jensen Murphy, she takes the pressure with little hesitation and even in the face of substantial adversity, finds a way to come out on top and show her skills at the highest level day in and day out. For the fourth year goalie from Kingston Ontario, dealing with challenges and being thrown into the fire of being put in front of the net for almost every game of the season is nothing new.

Jensen Murphy has become one of the best goalies in the OUA, and it all started when she was young and her desire to be in the crease. Jensen has gotten a lot of practice in front of the net dating back to when she first started on a team at 6 years old after learning to skate as soon as she could walk. Playing junior hockey throughout her teenage years leading into 3 years in the Kingston Junior League for the Kingston Junior Ice Wolves, Jensen was stopping pucks for as long as she could remember and with each shot she was able to save, she got better and better, a passion she says started when she saw the pros do it when she was first learning to skate; "When I was four I remember my father took me to an NHL game, it was Ottawa versus Buffalo and Dominik Hasek was goalie. I remember just watching him and thinking I want to do that".



Well the dream became a reality through the KJL and her development programs, and Jensen slowly mastered the position which brought her to Brock. Jensen's skill has separated her from many others ever since her first game at Brock, and she very quickly became the primary goalie Brock turns to if they are looking to hush competition or secure a victory.

Brock Women's Hockey has seen a steep increase in results over the past four years, ending the 2015-2016 season at 10-17, they quickly improved to 12-14 in 2016, 15-17 in 2017 and now 3-3 so far in 2018. A lot of that success has to do with the growing foundation of players and mentors that bring in recruits almost seamlessly allowing for the continued growth and limits time spent on small things such as teaching foundations or smaller skills that could be learned individually. Jensen, is one of those players. Jensen takes pride in her ability to lead by example, and what she has done with the team and how the team has done with the other goalies is evidence of that.



Jensen is holding a .962 save percentage this season, allowing only 11 goals and helping your Badgers in 5 of their 6 games, the other game being given to their rookie goalie Emma Balazsi. Good enough for second in the OUA, Jensen has been a contributing factor in a 3-1 victory over Laurier where she made 33 saves, a 2-0 shutout victory over UOIT where she made a stellar 46 saves, as well as a spectacular 3-2 comeback victory in a shootout. Jensen has proved herself on the ice this season with her performance and not having to worry as much about vocally teaching the other goalies and just show them by example, has paid off and seems to fit perfectly with the level she is performing at.

Going back to her performance thus far this season, Jensen has not only led the OUA in total saves with 201, but she is also 2^ndin save percentage, 6^thin her goals against average with 1.56 and 7^thin minutes played with 307:30, a reflection of her performance and the trust the coaches have in her to get the job done. What Jensen has done in the crease during the years she has been at Brock has not only elevated the trust the coaching staff has in her to show the younger goalies what to do, but has shown her fellow players that they can trust her when the game is on the line. The team this year is the effect of a large recruiting class, lots of rookies who are physically fit and prepared in the classroom meant Jensen and the other veterans were given the greenlight right from the start to get the team going.



With all the pieces falling into place over the years for Brock Women's Hockey, a strong recruiting class who's abilities let Jensen focus on her game and not have to put much emphasis on vocal teaching, the results show that this program is and will continue to get better and the goalie from Kingston who is also somehow managing to maintain a Medical Sciences degree, can continue to set the bar higher and higher for goalies not only across the OUA but the country and help show Canada that Brock Women's Hockey isn't to be messed with.

Jensen has the mindset, skill and pieces around her to continue to be one of the best goalies. Her ability to perform allows for better and faster progression in practice, and her ability to teach by playing allows for not only her but the other goalies to focus on their personal progression, maximizing the potential this team has and allowing for the greatest growth as a group. Badger fans should feel lucky whenever they see number 72 skate out to the net and as this season goes on make sure to watch for more astonishing saves or record breaking percentages. 
 

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Behind the Hoop: Lauren Zonneveld and Mitch Saunders
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everyone and welcome to another part of the Behind The Hoop series. Today we take a look at two role players for their respective programs whose mindset on and off the court has made them a role model for their teammates.

Lauren Zonneveld



Lauren is a second year guard from Guelph Ontario who is constantly listening and learning on and off the court to make sure she is the best teammate she can be. Still learning how to put her athleticism to best use, Lauren has made it a point to take in whatever lessons the coaches or other players are giving her.

Offensively, Lauren is one of the most agile on the team, using her size and speed to get to the basket, Lauren grew her inside game a lot over last season and it can be put to use throughout the season. In a drive and kick playstyle that the Badgers have shown throughout the first 5 games, a lot of emphasis has been placed on the guard to beat their defender and find an open lane to kick it out to one of the shooters. With Lauren's speed, she has the ability to be that guard and become a very solid piece of the Badgers offense as the season goes on.

Defensively, Lauren has been quickly learning the Badgers style of defense and the spacing that is required to make it work. Going up against other fast and bigger guards in the OUA, Lauren has to quickly learn spacing and when to call for help in order to improve her defensive abilities. If she is able to practice her defense and keeping her player in front of her, she will become one of the better all-around players that this program has and solidify her spot in the rotation of guards.

Mitch Saunders



Mitch, a 6'6 forward from Oakville has been given lots of room to grow this season, and he's taken advantage of it, resulting in a growth of his minutes in game and his production In tight spots which helped Brock secure several of their wins so far. Mitch has combined his ability to maneuver around the post with his size and strength defensively to fit perfectly into the new style of play Brock is trying to maintain.

In an offense that's focused around sharing the ball across all 5 positions until an open shot is created, having a forward inside the paint to facilitate the movement is essential for success, and Mitch's growing presence has added that dynamic in more rotations and given the coaches more options to go to if players get in foul trouble. Stepping into the role that was filled mostly by Dani Elgadi last year, Mich has been forced to contribute in a big way every time he steps on the court offensively and create open shots for others, and his ability to do that has been a big factor in the Badgers regular season wins so far.

Defensively Mitch uses his size and strength to muscle his way around the paint. Whlie forwards like Cassidy Ryan and Daniel Cayer are left around the perimeter, Mitch is often placed in the paint with the task of getting rebounds and creating space and screensfor others to move around more freely. Much of his responsibilities come off the ball and along with his skills with the ball, Mitch is slowly becoming one of the best all-around players this roster has and his ability to adapt to different styles of play and learn the style fast has earned him more and more minutes.

That concludes this part of the Behind the Hoop series. Make sure you come back next week when I give you a look at two new Badgers who are looking to make more of a splash as the years go on. Until next time Badgers. 
 

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Badger Bulletin #23: Believe You're Better
Brock takes down Nipissing to finish weekend
By Jacob Smith
Momentum shifts and confidence boosts, Brock's last game in Sudbury against the Nipissing Lakers was a much needed boost going into a tough following weekend. Coming off of two wins against Laurentian the night before, the Badgers gave the Lakers all they could give and came away with another two wins, adding another point to their record and giving them more momentum going into the meridian weekend.

The women we're on an even playing field with Nipissing, both feeling the effects of a back-to-back, this game was set to be a showdown of will power and depth. Along with help from the bench, to begin the game Brock's core group punished the Lakers on both ends of the court and secured themselves the lead going into the second quarter, 14-6.

Nipissing fought back with their perimeter shooting in the second quarter. With many of Brock's points coming from around the key during the first half, they were often out-scored on possessions which shrunk their lead to just two and made Brock have to pick it up in the second half of the game if they wanted to maintain their lead, only ahead 27-25.



While the bench was contributing solidly on defence, the starters were getting the job done for Brock on offense, mainly Melissa Tatti during the second half of the game. The starting guard couldn't miss from beyond the arch in the 3rd quarter and helped push the Badgers forward as it got into the crunch time of the game, keeping the lead at 2, 47-45 going into the final 10 minutes.

A group effort, like what kept them ahead throughout the game so far, pushed Brock further ahead in the fourth as Nipissing's energy and efficiency started to wear down. Despite getting hit with injuries late in the game, Brock's depth and stamina to finish off a game showed in the fourth and pushed the lead to as high as 18-points, securing Brock's victory 73-56 and ending their weekend in Sudbury 2-0.

The men's game proved to be a feat of strength for the Badgers. Despite knocking off McMaster the night before, the Lakers seemed unable to get runs going offensively and the Badgers took full advantage and showed their skills both offensively and defensively in a commanding victory.

Pushing out to an early 14-8 lead, shooters like Cassidy Ryan and Johneil Simpson hit the mark early against Nipissing and sunk the Lakers into a hole that they would spend the rest of the game trying to get out of. Brock's execution was at a level higher than the night before against Laurentian and Nipissing we're unable to capitalize on many of their opportunities, allowing the Badgers to push their way to a 21-8 first quarter lead.

The onslaught of buckets continued for the Badgers in the second quarter as they pushed farther and farther away from the Lakers. Guards found the open shooter anywhere on the court and the forwards got important stops and rebounds on the other end in what ended up being a very offensive second quarter. Going into the third quarter, the Badgers found themselves with an even larger, 48-21 lead over the Lakers.



Nipissing was put on their heels in the first half, clawing their way back slowly and slowly against a Badger group that weren't showing signs of slowing down. Johneil Simpson, having notched the 7th position in Brock's all-time scoring list the night before, continued to drain 3's in the third and pushed away any opportunity of Nipissing coming back, and pushing the Badgers lead even farther to 73-37 going into the final 10 minutes.

The starters got a break in the fourth quarter, most being credited with a significant amount of the Badgers lead thus far, the bench came in to take over and finish off the game. With players like Kyle Cooper getting their first look at an OUA regular season game, the Badgers bench finished off the job against a last chance Nipissing team and secured the victory, 79-51.

Two great wins for both the Men's and Women's program this weekend gave them much needed momentum and many positives to take going into the following weekend. Coming up next the Badgers have the UofT Varsity Blues at home and the Ryerson Rams in the annual Meridian Centre game so they will need to take all the energy and momentum these victories gave them and use it against two tough teams. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badger Bulletin #22: The Sudbury Show
Brock travels to Laurentian and secures two victories
By Jacob Smith

Next up on the schedule for Brock Basketball was a weekend trip to Sudbury for a game against the Laurentian Voyageurs and the Nipissing Lakers. Travelling into a snow storm, the Badgers didn't let the conditions harsh their toughness as they took to the court and gave Laurentian more fight than they were looking for. The women were 0-3, looking for their first victory of the season, the men 2-1, looking to bounce back after a tough loss to McMaster, a lot was on the line in the game and the Badgers knew exactly what they had to do.

The women came out firing against Laurentian, scoring early and scoring fast, Laurentian had to use their 3-point shooting to try and stay in the game. After stopping a 6-0 Laurentian run, the Badgers stormed out with their mid-range shooting and presence inside the paint to a 25-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Different players shined at different times for the Badgers as they kept the Voyageurs at a distance during the second quarter. Using what worked for us against previous teams, the Badgers got to the line several times in the quarter, putting Laurentian in foul trouble and getting themselves more opportunities to put points on the board. Despite a couple players getting a few early fouls, Brock was able to play their smart defense to get important stops, stop fouling and go into the second half leading 39-26.



Playing her first game in a Brock uniform, Sofia Croce shined for the Badgers throughout the middle of the game, securing herself 18 points in 20 minutes played, she gave the Badgers everything she could and was a massive part of their play not only in the second but mostly the third quarter. Laurentians' 3-point shooting and Brocks foul trouble got the Voyageurs back in the game midway through the 3^rd, shrinking the lead to just 4 points and going into the final 10 minutes behind 50-54.

The run by Laurentian to bring the game close in the 3^rdquarter was answered right away in the final quarter, starting off with an 8-0 badger run that set the tone for the rest of the quarter and seemed to put the final nail in the coffin for the Voyageurs. Brock pushed their lead to as much as 15 in the fourth, using the offense that worked for them thus far and playing smart to avoid fouling out. Calling timeouts whenever Laurentian seemed to get any momentum going and immediately shifting the momentum back, Brock halted any comeback by the Voyageurs and took the victory, their first of the season by a score of 75-60.

The men had revenge on their mind and they were ready to go to war to get the job done. Last season they were able to dispose of the Voyageurs relatively simply, but would that be the same this season? Laurentian made sure they weren't able to take a break all 40 minutes. The badgers offence fueled by Johneil Simpson and Cassidy Ryan got Brock out to an early 10-0 run, putting Laurentian on their heels and looking for a way to fight back. A 10-0 lead eventually became 19-6 and a 27-20 lead going into the second quarter as Laurentian was slowly figuring out a way to get themselves back in the game.

Kadre Grey, an oua player of the year, was the shining star for the Voyageurs in their game against Brock, scoring roughly half of their first half points and creating opportunities for everyone else on the court. Due to his multi-faceted offence and impressive dribbling skills, the Voyageurs were able to battle back in the second and make Brock's lead going into the second half only 7 points, 50-43.



Daniel Cayer had a standout first half for the Badgers, with 18 quick points he seemed unstoppable in the paint. During the third quarter he began to extend to beyond the arch and make very important shots to stop the Voyageurs fight back. No matter how close Laurentian brought the game, sometimes even tying it or bringing it within one point, Brock had an answer in a 3-pointer by Johneil Simpson, a mid-range bucket by Daniel Cayer or a post move by Cassidy Ryan. This impressive shooting performance earned the Badgers a 79-68 lead going into the final 10 minutes, but the game wasn't over.

Laurentian played much of the game working on momentum, chaining stops and transition buckets together to get energy and the crowd on their side, so during the fourth quarter stopping that momentum and hushing the crowd would be very important for the Badgers. Seeing how Laurentian could easily pull it back in the third, they did not want the game slipping away in the fourth due to momentum. As expected, the Voyageurs once again stringed baskets together to bring the game back to a 7-point deficit, but as the Badgers have done all season, their shooting brought them back out of a hole. Johneil Simpson rained 3's during the final 4 minutes for the Badgers and pushed their lead out to as much as 18, and secured the Badgers victory, 102-88.

Next up for the Badgers would be one more game in Sudbury, against the Nipissing Lakers the next night. With the Nipissing women losing to McMaster and the Nipissing men pulling out a 80-71 victory over the McMaster men, who gave Brock their first taste of defeat just last week, it is sure to be two great games and will be an important momentum swing for the Badgers if they are able to go 2-0 on the road. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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The Tradition Continues
Brock and Ryerson set to fill the Meridian Centre
By Jacob Smith
We are one week away from one of the spectacles of Brock Sports, the basketball games taking place at the Meridian Centre in St Catharines. For years, Brock has invited schools to the Meridian Centre to play a regular season game in-front of thousands of fans. From Laurentian to Guelph to Carleton to Ryerson, the tradition is set to continue on the 17^thas the Rams come back to the Meridian Centre.

Last year when the Carleton Ravens came to play, it was a night of historic proportions. Every other year Brock hosts Carleton and Ottawa in a weekend trip with the other team going to play McMaster, and in 2017 Brock hosted Ottawa at home at the Bob Davis Gym and then the Ravens in the largest arena in St. Catharines in-front of the largest group of fans to attend a Brock game. Close to 3000 fans flooded the Meridian Centre on December 2^ndwith another 7000 watching online, as notably one of the top teams in Canada battle both the Brock Women's program and at the time the second place team in Canada the Men's program.



The Women, who were fighting through an injury riddled season, fell to both Ottawa and Carleton, two nationally ranked teams by a score of 68-55 and 60-41. The men, coming off of an undefeated start, lost to Ottawa 78-69 and Carleton 80-75. In four highly anticipated games, fans got their share of exciting basketball as the nations' best were put in a fight against the hometown hero's.
This year things have changed, both the women's and men's program have a new roster with different playstyles that have given each of them a different start to the year from last year, and the Rams have grown to be better and better. The Brock Women's team are 0-3 to start off the season, though they still play Laurentian and Nipissing before UofT and Ryerson comes to town. Going against 3 of the best teams in the OUA, the women closely dropped each game and more importantly they've improved after each game, building the hype up higher and higher for the Varsity Blues and Rams. The Men's team have started the season 2-1, beating Laurier and Guelph and falling to McMaster in a tough 40-minute fight and battle for first in their division.



Ryerson on the other hand, have taken their programs that ended last season as one of the best in the OUA, with the women making a push in the OUA playoffs and the men earning silver in the U Sports national championship, and improved in many aspects to get them to a 3-0 start. The men have had a emphatic start to the season, with an impressive pre-season start and a 3-0 regular season start, they are putting all their different skills together and are showing to once again be one of the best teams in Canada.

The Badgers have a fight ahead of them when Ryerson enters the Meridian. Two of the top teams in the OUA trying to improve their undefeated starts against two Badger programs trying to get momentum back on their side. The hype is building up and fans are getting ready to support their programs. As word spreads that Ryerson is sending fans on buses to the game, Badger fans are being called on to come out in numbers and enjoy the night while watching their fellow students go to war on the hardcourt. 

If you haven't picked up your ticket yet, make sure you head to ticketmaster to pick up yours fast and get prepared for another electric night of Brock Basketball. Year after year the energy grows and grows and the Badger fan base grows larger and larger and this year will be no different. See you on the 17^th badger fans, let's show the world once again that we're the BEST FANS IN CANADA
 

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Behind The Hoop
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everyone and welcome to another part of the Behind The Hoop series where I give you an inside look into the career of Brock Women's and Men's basketball players. Today we look at two second year guards whose vision on the court and mindset to do everything for the team has made them a vital piece to what each program is trying to build.

Miranda Smith

Miranda is a second year guard from Welland who's sharpshooting play thrust her into the spotlight during her first year and kept her there ever since. Miranda is the type of player to put her head down and get the job done, a very valuable piece to the Badgers roster and her dedication only adds to that. When you tell Miranda that she should get better at something, she tries her hardest to do so, putting in whatever work she has to in order to put herself in the best situation possible, which leads into what I believe is her best attribute outside of her shooting.



Miranda likes to lead by example, while encouraging her teammates after a good play, Miranda likes to let her execution do the talking for her, and it has paid off. She has taken advantage of many opportunities given to her and combined her open ears with her talent to earn herself a spot on the starting roster and make her a consistent contributor to the Badgers play every game and every practice. She is quickly learning where she fits in with this new roster and through the guidance of coaches and other players, she is doing whatever she can to make her fit in the best and make sure she is giving the team everything she can.

Two things she is working on to help her contribution are her drive abilities and her defensive spacing. Miranda has a solid mid-long range shot that she has grown throughout last season, but with the Badgers new style of play they need someone that can get the ball inside to kick it out or score in the paint, and Miranda has taken advantage of that opportunity and is constantly working on her vision on the court and her drive and kick abilities to prove herself even more useful to the Badgers.

As well as drive and kick, her vision is improving on the other side of the court in her defensive spacing. Trying to play a more all-around game this season, Miranda has taken the challenges put in front of her defensively head on and is constantly improving her spacing to avoid gaps which would lead to baskets around the paint.

Daniel Caldwell

Daniel Caldwell, a second year guard from Toronto is proving himself to be a solid role player for the program and has been contributing effective minutes off the bench to take some of the stress off of the starters during their tough start to the season. When Caldwell came into the program, the team was flush with guards, 3 backup guards, their starter in Tyler Brown and the addition of Caldwell made the fight for minutes even tougher. This forced Daniel to work on his game during every practice and figure out a way he can stand out in the list of guards.



During his first and now part of second year, Daniel has been working on his execution, adding to his corner shot, Daniel is trying to show that he can come in and get whatever the coach asks of him done and it has steadily earned him more and more minutes. Learning from Tyler Brown as well as guard Noah Lapierre who has earned lots of minutes, Daniel Caldwell is taking in everything the coach has to say and using his work ethic to apply everything he is learning to his game.

Something that Daniel is starting to improve as he gets more minutes is his defense in tight situations. Not getting many minutes in first year forced him to improve his defense in whatever situation he could in practice, and didn't put him in many situations that he will find himself in as he gets more minutes this year. As he gets put in the game more, Daniel will get the opportunity to execute his defensive abilities in many more situations and should give him several chances to improve.

As Daniel continues to work on his defense through the increased minutes, and take in whatever he can from the coaches and other guards, Badger fans should expect to see a lot more out of Daniel and see him on the floor many more times this season knocking down corner 3's or executing sets to get other teammates points in every run down the court.

That concludes this part of the Behind the Hoop series. Make sure you come back on November 12 when we feature a veteran forward and sophomore guard who have embraced their role-player positions to contribute everything they can to the team day in and day out. Until next time Badgers.
 

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Badger Bulletin #21: Relentless
McMaster proves to be early test for the Badgers
By Jacob Smith
Nothing like a test early in the season to give you a taste of where you stand in the league. When the McMaster Marauders came to Brock they gave the Badgers that early test and showed the Badgers not only their strengths but what they need to work on going against another team that is one of the best in the OUA.

The women were faced with one of the toughest challenges they will face this season early on with the McMaster women's squad who finished near the top of the OUA last season and have a roster filled with senior players. This game would test every part of their game and the multi-faceted offense of the Marauders would put every member of the Badgers squad on alert all 40 minutes.
The young Badgers squad stuck with the Marauders throughout the first half, loading up on defense and taking over the rebounds to get themselves as many chances as they could. Fast shooting of Baelie Campbell and Melissa Tatti fueled the Badgers early on and pushed them to their 13 points and a 26-13 deficit going into the second quarter.



As McMaster continued to use their many threats in the second quarter, the Badgers fought back and shortened McMaster's lead to less than 10 with their ball movement and drive-kick offense. Helpful additions off the bench by players like Meagan Charbonneau and Miia Sorra, the Badgers clawed at the Marauders throughout every minute of the quarter and went into the second half down 40-29.

Something that hurt the Badgers during the second quarter and made their deficit larger in the 3^rdwas getting beat back door when they were closing out or loading up on defense. McMaster's ball movement and use of screens allowed for a lot of catch and rip baseline or middle, and the momentum McMaster gained off their movement often gave them the advantage when they wanted to drive through a lane or baseline for a layup off the glass. Relentless scoring and defensive rebounds throughout the 3^rdquarter kept the Badgers at a reasonable distance and allowed for the Marauders to gain a 69-52 lead going into the final 10 minutes.

The lead the Marauders gained in the 3^rdproved to be too much for the Badgers as their last minute fight in the fourth came up empty handed and they dropped their 3^rdgame by a score of 82-61. Despite falling to 0-3, their fight and abilities against a high ranked team like the Marauders gave them lots to take forward and improve on as the season goes on.

After the women's game finished, the Men took the court for a battle for first place. Both the Marauders and Badgers came into the night 2-0, at the top of their division and only one team could go into the weekend number one. The Badgers and Marauders are no strangers, after two tough battles last year at the beginning and middle of the season, the two teams couldn't wait to face each other again and they were ready to give the game their all.

McMaster came out in full swing against the Badgers and tested every part of their game for every second. Determined to come out and build a lead they could comfortably hold, the Marauders shooters couldn't miss and they took an early 23-9 lead.

Brock had difficulty getting their offense running during the first quarter, so while their shooters were warming up and bigs were trying to find gaps around the rim, Brock's play depended heavily on defensive stops. Forcing fouls and players like Mitch Saunders and Cassidy Ryan chipping in on the boards kept the Badgers offense going and shortened McMaster's lead to 39-26 going into the second half.



The Badgers had a battle infront of them if they wanted to get themselves back in front and stop this relentless offence McMaster was showing. The problem they were faced with is that McMasters shooting did not slow down. Using their foundations offensively to create open looks gave their shooters comfortable shots and they were able to sustain their lead off of those looks. No matter what the Badgers tried to do to improve their looks, McMaster answered back and kept the Badgers at bay, keeping their lead to 13 during the third quarter and eventually holding on for a 79-73 victory.

The fight the Marauders showed throughout all 40 minutes gave the Badgers lots to reflect on and improve. Being their biggest test of the year, the Badgers got a taste of what a talented team playing for a spot, plays like and the energy they bring, and because of it they saw the energy they have to bring to keep up with it and hold it off.

Going forward both the Badgers programs will build on this game, just like any other game, and will look to come back stronger next week when they take a trip to Sudbury for a game against Nipissing and Laurentian before coming home for a much anticipated weekend against the University of Toronto and then Ryerson at the Meridian Centre in St. Catharines. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.

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Badger Bulletin #20: Gryphons Come to Town
Brock finishes off opening weekend with a battle against Guelph
By Jacob Smith
After a win and a loss in their home opener against Laurier, Brock Basketball was back in Bob Davis Gym the very next night for the second game of the season. With the Gryphons set to go against the Badgers, both the women's and men's team would be playing against a much different style as the night before, testing different aspects of their play and producing slightly different outcomes.
The Guelph Women's Program are known for their physicality, fighting for rebounds and loose balls, they don't shy away from contact. After playing a dynamic shooting Golden Hawks team, the Badgers would have to play more inside out and absorb a significantly larger amount of contact all while executing better if they were to beat the Gryphons.

The first quarter was the beginning of a physical test for the Badgers, their smaller guards we're forced to match up against either quicker or more physical guards on the Gryphons and our forwards put up against tough, strong and defense oriented forwards on the Gryphons side. Brock battled around the key to get open shots and to keep up with the Gryphons inside out style, leading them to finish the first quarter trailing 25-14.



Rather than trying to get buckets inside the paint against the Gryphons physical forwards, the Badgers relied on their mid to long range shooting which helped them out throughout the first. Hitting several long range 2-pointers mixed in with a few 3's by shooters Melissa Tatti and Miranda Smith, Brock continued to fight against the Gryphons and go into the second half with the deficit cut to 4, 35-31 Guelph.

Brock came into the third quarter with the efficient shooting that they had nearing the end of the 2^nd, and with the help of important stops defensively, they were able to gain the advantage during the third and get momentum on their side. Going into the final 10 minutes, Brock held a 47-46 lead over the Gryphons.



The momentum gained going into the final quarter lasted the Badgers most of the quarter. With their shooters being re-energized off of defensive stops and their forwards continuing their physical matchup that they've kept up with throughout the game, the Badgers matched shot for shot with the Gryphons up until the final minutes when Guelph began to pull away. Losing some steam late in the game and drawing unnecessary fouls when they were down gave the Gryphons an opportunity to seal the game which they took advantage of and ended up victorious, 70-63.

The men were forced to step up their execution and late game decision making if they were going to put away the Gryphons and go 2-0. Guelph has a very dynamic offense filled with close-mid range scorers, rebounding bigs, and guards with ball handling skills that will cross anyone up. The Badgers had to come into this game and shut them down on both ends for all 40 minutes, only letting them be as good as Brock allowed, and that's what they did.



The Badgers controlled the pace of the game since the very first whistle, getting out and running on offense to create open opportunities and making their shots tough to a point where they weren't falling efficiently enough. A strong presence on the boards and points from almost everyone on the court early gave the Badgers a 23-22 lead at the end of the first quarter.

All-around strong performances offensively including bench players fueled Brock throughout the 2^ndand 3^rdquarters as they pounded away at the Gryphons without giving Guelph much time to gather themselves and find a gap in the Badgers play. Veteran's like Daniel Cayer, Cassidy Ryan and Johneil Simpson as well as showings from young players like Daniel Caldwell gave the Badgers the energy they needed to maintain their lead and go into the second half ahead 54-33.

The non-stop offense continued into the third quarter as the lead remained close to 20 points for the Badgers and the frustration on the side of Guelph made them miss important baskets that would've closed the gap. Going into the end of the 3^rdquarter, Daniel Caldwell continued to make his impact and second guard Noah Lapierre gave the Badgers everything he could give, working on both ends of the court to give Brock a 78-55 lead at the end of 3.



In what became a scoring onslaught for the Badgers, Guelph tried to claw back in the final 10 minutes but to no prevail as Brock kept using their many threats and held the lead above 10 points, eventually hitting the triple digit mark for total points and taking the victory, 102-85.

With the opening weekend of the OUA regular season finished, both the women and men are hard at work preparing week after week to put themselves at the best advantage they can going into the weekend's games. The next time Brock hits the court is on Friday November 2^ndas their rivals from across the skyway come to campus in the McMaster Marauders. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin.
 

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Badger Bulletin #19: Back in the Bob
Brock tips off season against the Golden Hawks
By Jacob Smith

The beginning of the Brock Basketball season started with a home opener. A fresh faced Women's and Men's roster got set to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks and push ahead early with a 1-0 record. A sold out crowd, high anticipation, and a lot of determination made the environment electric inside the Bob Davis Gym. First off were the Women's team, coming off a 6-18 record at the end of last season and numerous off-season additions, they are going to stop at nothing to improve day in and day out.



Brock started out strong against the Golden Hawks, taking advantage of slow defense to drive inside and get a mid-range jumper. The Badgers advantage over the Golden Hawks coming into the game was their athleticism, with Laurier having a lot of size, Brock's guards were able to find a lane and get out in transition to make their buckets easier. Going into the second quarter, Brock trailed by 1, 16-15.

The second quarter was equally successful for the Badgers offensively, able to use their speed to match the points Laurier was getting inside the paint. While Brock's play kept them in the lead, Laurier fought throughout the quarter to find an exploit in the Badgers play that would let them extend their lead. With drives by Melissa Tatti and long range shots from Miranda Smith, Brock held close to the Golden Hawks and went into the second half trailing by just 3, 28-25.



The fight that Laurier gave to find a hole in the Badgers play payed off for them during the third. While Brock's offense didn't slow their pace, their defense who were tested with the size that Laurier has, began to give in and allow too many buckets around the rim. Each player on the Badgers fought harder to draw fouls or get easy buckets but it wasn't enough to stop Laurier's forwards who got more rebounds and second chance points, and Brock went into the final 10 minutes trailing 33-43.

The Badgers pushed back early in the fourth quarter to shrink Laurier's lead to 6 but they were unable to sustain it throughout the quarter. Earning trips to the line but unable to convert on the free throws gave Laurier an easier time pulling ahead and eventually taking the victory. Despite a last second corner jumper from Baelie Campbell, the Badgers fell 63-51 to the Laurier Golden Hawks in a game that will teach them a lot of what they have to work on throughout the season.

The guys finished off their last season with a wild card bid to the National Championship tournament which ended in a 5^thplace finish. Keeping many of their players from last year and adding in a new stack of rookies, they were looking to once again take down Laurier and start their journey back to the playoffs.



The first quarter went in the Badgers favor as key players stepped up early and executed offensively and defensively. Last season the Badgers were known for their multi-faceted offense with different players excelling at different areas from the court, and this year it's much of the same with their dynamic recruits that were added. Their starters from last season such as Cassidy Ryan, Tyler Brown and Johneil Simpson sparked runs for the Badgers and gave them a 33-25 lead after the first quarter.

Brock continued to push in the second quarter but creating open shots and gaining momentum allowed Laurier to fight back. In a battle of stops, Brock started off strong but got in foul trouble in the second quarter and that allowed Laurier to even the score at 42 before late baskets gave Brock a 45-44 lead at halftime.



As the energy outputted from both teams increased in the second half, the Badgers got the upper hand and used a rising confidence to get extra stops and continue to find opportunities all around the court. Consistent efforts from every player showed the crowd at the Bob Davis Gym some of what this Badgers team is capable of and the Badgers stormed out to a lead going into the fourth quarter and eventually finished with a 84-75 victory.

It was a night of determination and celebration. Players made their return to the hardcourt and another season of Brock Basketball was kicked off in-front of an energetic crowd. It should be an exciting season for both Brock teams and they will be fun to watch as they develop and get better. Until next time Badgers, this has been your Badger Bulletin 

 

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Behind The Hoop
Your inside look into the careers of Brock Women's and Men's Basketball players
By Jacob Smith

Hello everyone and welcome to another part of the Behind the Hoop series. Today we move up from sophomores to showcasing two veterans, one making her return to Brock Basketball and one who's experience and talent speaks for itself.

Jessica Morris


Jess, a guard from Guelph, Ontario is set to make her return to Bob Davis Gym with the Brock Women's Basketball program this year and she brings a wealth of experience and talent to the young squad that will be useful as the long season gets going and minds and bodies are tested. One of two vets who are making their comeback to the hardcourt, Jessica's work ethic and skill she developed over her previous years with Brock will be welcomed back with open arms and Badger fans can expect her to make an immediate impact.

Jess gave the Badgers an offensive force around the rim that few others could on the team during 2016-2017. She built up her ability to score around the key with every game and along with the developing physical toughness, helped the Badgers with many possessions and fought for every bucket they could get. Though the team this season is a much faster paced shooting team who can occasionally finish around the rim, Jess will fit right in alongside other forwards, facilitating the offense by setting screens to create open shots and using her excellent mid-range game to score when required.

Defensively, Jessica prides herself on her determination to execute perfectly, learning everything she needs to learn about every play so she knows where to be at any certain time. As she makes her way into the lineup and gets more repetitions in defensive sets, Jessica will surely prove herself to be one of the backbones of this Badgers squad and the stops they look to get.

Daniel Cayer



Daniel Cayer is a forward from Montreal, Quebec who has become a vital piece to the Badgers rotation throughout his years at Brock. Daniel is a constant piece of the Brock starting 5 and he has earned that spot because of his hard work in practice and his focus on execution. Daniel uses his ability to finish around the rim along with his size and strength to punish any matchup he has and get the advantage for him and his team so he has the best chance of victory.

Beginning with his size and strength, Daniel has been working non-stop on his ability to post-up defenders and score around the rim. Often being put at the nail or block during Badgers offense, Daniel has adapted to playing the 3, 4 or 5 and can execute whatever coach asks him to do. On the other end of the court, Daniel's strength and ability to play three different positions allows him to matchup against several players on the court and defend them efficiently. He can use his length to defend shooters if he is stuck around the 3-point line or use his strength to box out other big men around the rim while grabbing rebounds to help his team get more chances to score.

Daniel's offensive ability has been pushed to farther and farther from the key over the past two seasons as the Badgers play changed from an inside team to more inside out and the 3-pointer has been added into their arsenal. Through constantly putting up shots in practice and spacing the floor to put himself in different areas, Daniel has been able to work on his mid-long range shot and get it to a point where he can add it to his repertoire during games and make himself a threat from all over the court, improving his teams level of play whenever he's on the court.

That's it for this part of the Behind The Hoop series. Make sure you come back on November 5^thwhen we feature two young developing shooters who are becoming important role players for the mixed Badger squads. Until next time Badgers.
 

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Brock Women's Hockey Opens Up Season at Home

Brock welcomes Laurier for their 2018-2019 season home opener

By Jacob Smith



Brock Hockey is back and on a wet and stormy day. Brock Women's Hockey held their home opener on October 20^that Seymour Hannah Sports Complex against the Laurier Golden Hawks and Brock looked to start off the season like they did last year. Brock started last season 10-2, a very strong opening which left many fans excited for the future, though they ended up finishing 500, Brock is going into this season looking to prove that they can maintain that impressive record they earned themselves during the first half of last season.

Brock has 8 first year players on this years' roster, a mix of forwards and defense along with the addition of Emma Balazsi between the pipes. This new batch of players provided a spark for the Badgers deep in the periods and helped fill out the lines who would be punishing Laurier physically for all 60 minutes.

Brock's handling of the puck gave them many shots on net during the first period, one of which found the back, giving the Badgers a 2-0 lead. Keeping the puck in Laurier's zone for the majority of the period tested the Golden Hawk's defense and forced the Hawks to try to do whatever they can to clear the puck and get a break. While attempting to clear the puck out of their zone, Laurier committed 2 penalties that would punish them on the scoreboard. 16:43 into the first period, the Badgers relentless offense payed off as #7 Amanda Ieradi found the back of the net, assisted by Makayla Porter to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead and give Laurier one of their players back, making it a 5-on-4 power play for the Badgers for just over a minute. The extra attacker didn't affect the Badgers however, as a minute and 20 seconds later they found the back of the net once again, this time unassisted by #27 Kimberly Brown and gave the Badgers their 2-0 lead they went into the second period with.

Brock started the second period down an attacker due to a roughing penalty that incurred at the end of the first period. The advantage allowed Laurier to switch the momentum for the first minutes of the period, keeping the puck past Brock's blue line and swapping the pressure on to Brock's defense and goalie. Much like the first period, fourth year goalie Jensen Murphy was determined to let nothing in her net and stopped every shot the Golden Hawks made for the majority of the second period. The momentum changed once again for Brock midway through the second period as advantages in numbers allowed the puck to stay close to the neutral zone but on the Hawks side of the ice. Brock's puck handling that worked well in the first period gave them several chances during the second but the score going into the final 20 minutes of play was still 2-0.

Brock didn't take their foot off of the gas in the third period, constantly putting shots on net and poking away at Laurier's offense. Even though both offenses were running full steam, neither was able to get past the goaltending as shots bounced off pads and back into play, keeping the score 2-0 until 15:47 into the period when #17 Carly AuCoin of the Laurier Golden Hawks snuck one by Jensen Murphy to cut the goal deficit to 1, 2-1 Brock. Brock answered right back near the end of the game as #10 Annie Berg scored her first of the season, unassisted to make the score 3-1 and secure a Badger victory.



Jensen Murphy was almost unstoppable in net for the Badgers and played a massive part in their victory, saving 33 shots and only letting one in shortly after a Laurier power play, nothing could get past Murphy and she allowed the offence to play without much worry of conceding. Laurier's goalie Cohen Myers finished with 32 saves and 3 goals allowed.

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