Lakehead University Sports – Press Release
Lakehead Thunderwolves
After producing successful individual scorers as Dan Zapior and Kiraan Posey in the past decade, the Thunderwolves men’s basketball program, led by two consecutive national calibre recruiting classes, has built a roster of unprecedented depth and adaptability. Seven players have opened the OUA season with averages of 7.3 PPG or more with guards Greg Carter and Cam Hornby, forward Andrew Hacker, and post Yoosrie Salhia having each led the team in scoring in individual games.
Salhia, a sophomore from Toronto established himself as an impact player last season and has continued his strong play in 2009-10 with averages of 13 PPG and 9.7 RPG.
Point guard Greg Carter of Ottawa will be counted on to manage the game against his two hometown opponents. Averaging 11.3 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3 APG and 2.3 SPG, Carter’s well-rounded game and stifling defence has been a major factor in the Wolves’ early success.
Backcourt running-mates Cam Hornby (9 PPG), Joe Jones (8.3 PPG), and Jamie Searle (7.3 PPG) have all hit big shots this season for Lakehead and will need to provide solid all-around efforts against Carleton and Ottawa.
In the front court, senior Andrew Hackner has emerged as a clutch shooter for the program after building a reputation for playing hard-nosed defence. Hackner has shot a sizzling 19-33 (57.6%) from the field while connecting on 11-19 (57.9%) of his three-pointers for 8.5 PPG. Freshman post Ryan Thomson has earned big minutes in the rotation, tallying 9.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG and going 8-17 (47.1%) from long distance.
MBB Preview: Unbeaten Wolves host national powerhouses Carleton and Ottawa
Thunder Bay, Ont. – Having amassed a flawless 6-0 conference record to start the season, head coach Scott Morrison’s CIS No. 10 ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves men’s basketball team will face their toughest tests of the OUA season when defending CIS champions, the Carleton Ravens and perennial contenders, the Ottawa Gee-Gees travel to Thunder Bay for Friday and Saturday night games at the C. J. Sanders Fieldhouse. Tipoff both nights goes at 8:00 p.m.
CIS No. 1 ranked Carleton leads the OUA East Division and, like Lakehead, are 6-0, joining the Wolves as the only undefeated teams in the conference. Ottawa, at 4-2, are tied for second in the OUA East with Toronto, a team Lakehead knocked off earlier this month in a one-point game. With Friday’s contest presented by Rock 94/Dougall Media and Saturday’s event supported by the Lakehead University Student Union, the atmosphere at the Thunderdome should be electric.
Coach Morrison is looking forward to the challenges of this weekend’s home stand – the last of the opening half of the 2009-10 seasons.
“Carleton has not skipped a beat after graduating two all-Canadians and will bring a balanced attack and deep line-up to Thunder Bay,” he says. “We are looking to play our best all-around game of the season to date and focus on one possession at a time to ensure we have a chance to compete in the 4th quarter.
Ottawa has an experienced and talented perimeter group that will pose challenging match-ups on both ends of the floor. We know with an exam break looming, we can leave everything we have on the floor and stay focused for one more tough OUA East battle.”
