BRAMPTON - It was a basketball game that the George Brown Huskies let slip away.
The Sheridan Bruins, defending Ontario Colleges Athletic Association champs, won the battle in overtime defeating the Huskies, 99-89, in a quarterfinal playoff loaded with turnovers, questionable plays, key players fouling out and lots of excitement.
For Sheridan, it's off to the Final Four. As for George Brown, still a chance to win a bronze medal something they last won in 1989 but the Huskies will need to win three consecutive games in 48 hours for that to happen.
Vadim Halimov, OCAA Player of the Year and showing signs of fatigue throughout the game, stunned the crowd after connecting on a pump-fake off-balance shot with 15 seconds left in regulation play to force extra time.
But, it was all Sheridan in OT out-scoring George Brown, 19-9.
"Defensive errors, too many mistakes and turnovers and we just didn't have enough to pull it off in OT," said an exhausted Halimov after the game.
Halimov, who set three OCAA records this season and won five major league awards, scored the first points of the game and grabbed four rebounds in the opening two minutes. But George Brown struggled in the first half missing as Sheridan led 21-19 after the opening quarter and 43-31 at halftime.
The Huskies had a bit of a meltdown in the second quarter of a physical and emotional game that had moments of a track meet with both teams hustling down the court and players with butterfingers having difficulty controlling the ball. Sheridan had a 10-0 run with 3:51 to play until the intermission.
Different story in the third quarter as George Brown out-played and out-scored Sheridan, took control of the game with a 17-2 run followed by a 22-6 edge and exchanged a 15-point deficit for a seven-point lead with one 10-minute quarter left. For Sheridan, 11 turnovers and a huge cold streak.
"My guys played a heck of a game, told them I was more proud of their effort, passion and energy in this game than the 15 wins in the season," said Huskies head coach Jonathan Smith. "They battled, represented George Brown well, forced a team that is one of the best in the country and also learned."
Halimov, who fouled out in the closing seconds of OT, finished with 30 points a number he has scored in a dozen games this year. Toss in 16 rebounds. He was 8-of-11 from the free throw line but only two-of-eight from three-point range.
Also for the Huskies, Curtis Baanee had 15 points, Akai Nettey added 14 and Dejazmatch James scored 12 points.
