Eagles face adversity during basketball season opener in Scarborough
Men’s and women’s teams will have to wait until next week for their first league wins after a pair of tough losses.
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off their regular season on the road at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on Sunday November 3 against Scarborough (UTSC). Each team came off big wins in exhibition play (women’s team 34-29 vs Humber and men’s 86-39 vs Sheridan) and were looking to carry momentum into their season openers.
Men’s team falls short in back and forth battle
There’s plenty of bad blood between these two teams. UTM took down UTSC in the finals of back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023, and UTSC escaped with a one-point win in last year’s semi-finals. Simply put, this was a highly anticipated matchup to kick off the season.
Coming into the game with only 9 available players at tip off, the Eagles played with a “next man up” mentality. UTSC jumped out to a quick early lead, pushing the tempo, and building on the home crowd’s energy. But the Eagles stayed composed. Despite some early foul trouble, they found rhythm offensively with strong takes from big man Andreas Jankovic and forward Amro Matti. The first half remained a back and forth affair, with both teams going on runs, but never letting the game get away from them. The game was all tied up going into the second half.
The second half saw UTSC jump out to an early lead after a series of contested pull ups and easy transition buckets. The Eagles found a spark from first-year player Zayd Mahmood off the bench, who was getting to the rim offensively and making some big blocks on the defensive end.
With time winding down, first-year guard Kent Lingat came off a screen and converted on a huge 4-point play to give the Eagles a one-point lead with less than 3 minutes to play. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to capitalize on the momentum, and a poor spell of mental errors and rushed shots late in the game allowed UTSC to take control of the clock and hang on for the win.
With a mix of a returning veterans and young new pieces, the UTM Eagles look poised for a strong season. They understand this was not their best performance, and they recognize it’ll still be a long road before they return to championship glory.
Women’s team sees too little too late
Coming into the season’s first game against UTSC, the UTM women’s team knew they would be in for a challenge. With a rebuilt roster and many new faces, the team’s mosaic of skills had yet to be established.
Despite UTSC’s aggressive start, UTM was undeterred and kept to their game plan. The first quarter ended with UTSC leading 16-2, but UTM was quick to adapt and find a balance between their diverse skill sets. By halftime, they had narrowed the gap, showing their resilience and determination.
Strong efforts from captain Fathema Shaikh and returning player Kaitlin Parsons helped UTM’s offensive strategy begin rolling. Shaikh knocked down a series of three-pointers throughout the game, leading the Eagles with 17 points.
UTM’s defensive game was not to be underestimated. Despite UTSC’s strong shooters, UTM regrouped and put up a strong fight. Dior Thorpe, a first-year forward, showcased her strength in the post, securing 9 rebounds and numerous steals. Her performance was a testament to the team’s all-round skills and determination.
Despite their effort, the Eagles fell short, losing 53-35. There were plenty of positive takeaways from the game, and the women’s team will learn from and reflect on the result before next week’s game. The Eagles will look to improve their rhythm and balance, utilizing their talent and skill sets going forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds as our Eagles look to regain league supremacy!
