MBB: CAPERS lose consolation final

Antigonish, NS – The Saint Mary͛s Huskies defeated the Cape Breton University Capers in the consolation game of the 40th annual StFX Invitational basketball tournament, presented by Pizza Delight, Saturday evening on Coach ͚K͛Court at Oland Centre.
In the first quarter, on the strength of seven straight points from Nico Brauner (Hettenhain, Germany), the Huskies led 18-12. Johneil Johnson (Lake Echo, NS) gave Saint Mary͛s a 13-point advantage with a steal and lay-up.
Dennis Joiner (Blaine, US), who had seven points in the quarter, cut the lead to 25-15 after the first stanza.
In the second quarter, after consecutive three-point plays from Paul Watson (Mississauga, ON), the Capers trimmed the Huskies͛ edge to 29-23.
Saint Mary͛s led 35-28 at halftime.
Nikita Kasongo (Chateauguay, QC) opened the second half for the Huskies with a thunderous one- handed dunk. After a 12-4 surge to the start the third quarter, keyed by eight points from Kasongo, the Huskies were up 47-32.
Johnson, who scored 10 points in the third, sparked another spurt – this one 13-4 – to give the Huskies their largest lead – 60-36.
The Huskies outscored the Capers 25-8 in the third quarter.
In the first four minutes of the fourth, the Capers sliced the deficit to 14 – at 63-49 – with help from a pair of baskets and interior defense from Shacqier Locke (Mississauga, ON), but they could get no closer. Sparked by a pair of driving baskets from Kemar Alleyne (Toronto, ON), the Huskies pulled away. Johnson, off the bench, led the Huskies with 17 points, while adding seven rebounds. Brauner and Kasongo also collected seven boards, while scoring 14 points apiece. Alleyne also hit double digits, with 13.
Osman Omar (Mississauga, ON), off the bench, led the Capers, with 15. Watson provided 14 points, nine rebounds and four steals, while Joiner added 13 points. Ibrahim Gosselin-Diawara (Longeuil, QC) contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Alleyne and Watson were named tournament all-stars, along with Alex Carson and Sascha Kappos of the Dalhousie Tigers and Thomas Legallais of the StFX X-Men. Tristan Ross of the X-Men was named tournament MVP as StFX won the championship with an 81-69 victory over Dalhousie.