Collingwood Crowd Carries Cavs over Blues

Dec 7th, 2023

Collingwood Cavaliers vs. Port Moody Blues

Written by Cam Yates

Pre-game notes

The weather outside may be typical December gloom but Collingwood’s Morven campus is abuzz with energy for the opening round of the 2023 No Regrets Tournament. Students, dressed in white for the home Cavaliers’ annual spirit game, are piling into the gym armed with blue noise boppers, makeshift signs, and excitement aplenty to cheer on their preseason #3 ranked AA squad as they take on the visiting Port Moody Blues. Elaborate pre-game handshakes, video introductions, and even a player-crowd TikTok collab take place before the teams get ready for a lunch time tip-off. 

1st quarter

Collingwood guard Amir Mojarradi opened the scoring in transition for the Cavs early in the game. The lightning-quick Mojarradi suited up for the Qatari U16 National team at the FIBA Asian championships in September - he'll be looking to push the tempo for the Cavs. The Blues start in a zone defense but quickly switch to man-to-man. The Cavs mascot starts a premature but enthusiastic “scoreboard” chant at 2-0.

The Cavs move the ball well against the zone - a deep 3 by Mojarradi opens up a 7-0 lead for the home side. This is quickly followed up by the Cavs James Holm with a huge two-handed dunk to raucous applause! But the Blues quickly respond in transition to get on the scoreboard. #20 William Park adds another bucket on the ensuing possession to make it 9-4. 

Midway through the 1st quarter, a full hockey line substitution from the Cavs to bring in five fresh bodies - this is a new look from Collingwood coach Andy Wong this year in order to utilize the Cavs depth and implement a faster-paced style of play. The Cavs are already missing a key piece in their 6’8 senior forward Avi Barha to a sprained ankle earlier this week - let’s see if their depth can pull through when needed.

Moody’s Marty Bajarunas scored a driving layup for the Blues, followed by a steal by Park and he was fouled for a trip to the charity stripe. The Blues have settled into the game and are stringing together some stops and buckets. 12-8 Cavs.

At the other end, multiple efforts by the lanky #22 Julian Hinders at the basket! The physicality is ramping up as Collingwood’s Finn Murphy and Park are getting tangled up… teammates pull the players away and the refs have a word with the players.

Another transition bucket for the Cavs, this time from up-and-coming grade 10 guard Sam Li! His backcourt mate Tony Li traps the inbound with Sam… Li squared to get the steal and Sam gets fouled for free throws! The home side in control 18-9. The Cavs full court press was getting steals but also causing fouls against the Cavs… another foul sent the Blues #10 Alex Gour to the free throw line in the penalty with 1:48 remaining. 

The Cavs’ Brek Ball executed a driving layup! The stocky grade 11 guard, listed at a generous 5’8, brings a ton of heart and toughness that coaches Wong and Ross are very excited to have on their squad this year.

At the end of the 1st quarter, the Cavs are in the driver’s seat with a 21-11 lead.

2nd quarter

The Blues #10 Gour seems to be the Blues go-to guy… a hard driving layup and a double charge attempt leads to a blocking foul and free throws to open the 2nd quarter.

A steal and breakaway for Hinders! Dunk it is yelled from the crowd… a humble layup to finish the play might disappoint some of the crowd but two points is still two points.

A steal and drive by the Cavs senior guard #3 Alex Yu - timeout Port Moody! The Cavs pressure defense is starting to wear down the Blues. 31-15 Collingwood

The Blues respond out of the timeout with a nice up-and-under drive by guard Kobe Li (fitting name). The Blues went back to a 2-3 zone defense out of the timeout but the Cavs immediately got it to Murphy in the dunker’s spot who scored an open layup. In the following possession the Cavs move the ball well to find sharpshooter Cy Bosa for 3… the ball rattles around… and around… it drops! The Cavs are blowing this game wide open.

Back-to-back transition layups by the senior 6’3 guard Holm… and yet another steal by Holm on the inbound for a drive and he is fouled for free throws. Another timeout by Port Moody with 4:13 left in the 2nd quarter. 42-17 Cavs.

The Blues won’t go down without a fight - Gaur with a hustle play for a loose ball and he dove into the caution tape lining the entrance to the McCord gym! The Collingwood faculty nod their heads in approval at the effort.

Brek Ball with a drive and no look pass to Tony Li who cans a 3! 56-22 Cavs heading into halftime.

HALFTIME

The Collingwood dance squad comes out to put on a wonderful performance at halftime. The visiting Wentworth campus elementary school kids have a combination of mesmerization and befuddlement on their faces at all the fanfare that takes place in their older siblings’ campus 10 minutes away… don’t worry kiddos, this isn’t an everyday thing.

3rd quarter

Most of the starters were back in for the Cavs, with grade 11 swingman Sam Calder in for Bosa. The Cavs pick up where they left off with their pressure man-to-man defense forcing turnovers. Mojarradi scored a layup in transition, assisted by Holm… he follows it up with a clean swish from deep! The Blues responded by putting together a couple of transition buckets of their own.

A bit of chippiness leads to a technical foul on Mojarradi, who protests his innocence to the referee. The ref wasn’t buying it though. 

The Cavs’ guard Yu comes up limping, nursing his ankle… the Cavs certainly don’t want to see another starter potentially miss action from a blowout game.

Mojarradi isolates with a slick right-to-left cross and pull-up from the elbow… he steals the inbound and was sent literally flying down the hallway during the scramble for the loose ball. This game is getting very chippy with players getting tangled up.

The referees have tightened up their calls to keep the game under control and the game is slowing down considerably. The Cavs are struggling to balance their pressure defense while avoiding fouls. This 3rd quarter has seemingly taken as long as the entire first half. However, kudos to the refs doing their best to make sure the scrappy play didn’t escalate.

4th quarter

The game flow improved in the 4th quarter and the results are similar to the first half as Collingwood kept up the pressure. The crowd roars its approval as the Cavs’ young sensation Sam Li cans a 3 to put the Cavs over the 100-point mark and the Cavs maintain a comfortable lead throughout.

Final score: Collingwood 107, Port Moody 54. 

Player of the game: Collingwood’s James Holm.

Collingwood will have a chance to scout their next opponent as the AAAA #9 preseason ranked Lord Tweedsmuir Panthers warm up to take on Victoria’s Belmont Bulldogs, a familiar squad to grace the No Regrets Tournament.