GUELPH, Ont. – Looking to hand the No. 4-nationally ranked Brock Badgers their first loss of the season before heading into the holiday break, the No. 10-nationally ranked Guelph Gryphons went toe to toe with the unbeaten Badgers Saturday afternoon at the GGAC. However, the Gryphs ultimately came up just short in their final regular season game of 2021.
Despite being without 2019-20 OUA 2
nd-Team All-Star,
Burke Bechard, the Gryphons still put forth a strong effort that saw them leading the Badgers in the fourth quarter, but in the end, it was Brock pulling away late for a 75-67 win.
Going back and forth all game, the biggest lead that either side was able to create was only seven points, with most of the contest being played with neither side having more than a one possession advantage.
With both teams battling through the first 35 minutes, the entire game came down to the final five minutes of play. After the Gryphons went on to create a six point lead just shy of the halfway point of the final quarter, thanks to a three-pointer and a couple of nice assists from
Trinity Papamandjaris, the Badgers began to show their medal down the home stretch. Quickly going on a 15-2 run, Brock went out in front by seven in the span of about three minutes.
Despite the Gryphon's best efforts to get right back into the contest, each and every push they made was fought off by Brock as the Badgers kept their record unblemished.
Although in a losing cause,
Reece Mungar led the Gryphon's attack with a tremendous game before having to leave due to an injury late. Mungar tallied a game-high 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting from the field.
MacKeely Shantz wasn't far off from recording a triple-double performance for Guelph picking up seven points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Getting into double-digits, Gryphon's guard
Renee Armstrong finished the game with 13 points.
Now 3-3 on the season, the Gryphons will head into the holiday break. Guelph will return to action on January 14 of 2022 when they play host to the Algoma Thunderbirds.
