Lancers able to answer the bell

The punches from the Dakota Lancers came in bunches.

By the time the bell rang at the end of Thursday night’s heavyweight bout, it was the Lancers left standing after a heated 102-91 decision in the AAAA boys’ provincial basketball semifinals at Investor’s Group Athletic Centre.

The Lancers advance to the provincial championship for the second year in a row and will face the Maples Marauders back at IGAC on Monday (8 p.m.).

“It’s all about our defence, not giving up,” said forward Jed Godfrey-Ehichoya, who scored 17 points and added seven rebounds. “Coach told us ‘never give in.’ If they score, get back on defence, get the ball back, score back. It’s all about perseverance.”

Godfrey-Ehichoya was one of four Dakota players to reach double digits in points on this night, as the team’s vaunted depth was on full display.

Daniel Rom, the province’s top-ranked player, starred with a sensational 41-point, nine-rebound performance that included pouring in 16 points in the fourth quarter. Alexandre Jean provided 16 points, and Lucas Pujante chipped in with 14.

“None of us are selfish. We look for each other. If it were one person doing one thing, I don’t think we would have won this game,” said Godfrey-Ehichoya. “We all have to play as a team. Team chemistry, that’s what gets the win.”

“It’s not unusual for us to have three, four or five guys in double figures,” said Lancers head coach Dean Favoni, “and as good as Daniel Rom is, when you have other people that he can defer to and can score, it’s hard to key on him all the time. We try to diversify it that way.”

St. Paul’s led 20-16 after the first quarter, but Dakota’s offence woke up in a big way after that, taking a 50-41 lead into halftime and holding a 73-63 advantage after the third frame.

Joaquin Ong led the response for St. Paul’s with 26 points and three rebounds. Akoko Nyagudi poured in 20 points, while Angelo Daniels supplied 10.

“Anytime you’re playing (head coach) Jeff Laping and St Paul’s, you’re in for a tough game. I’m sure, over the course of my time, he’s got me more than I got him, and I have an incredible amount of respect for him and what he does,” said Favoni.

“I thought Joaquin, we did a reasonable job, not as good as we thought we’d like to do on him — he still got more than we were wanting to give him — but he played a great game today. But honestly, I thought our guys really competed and got buckets at key points just to hold them off to stop their runs.”

The message Godfrey-Ehichoya and the rest of the Lancers are taking into their second straight final?

“Never give up.”

In the second semifinal, the Maples Marauders survived the Churchill Bulldogs in a 107-97 overtime victory.

Churchill rallied back from down 13 in the fourth quarter to force extra time, but 17 points collectively from Maples in the bonus five-minute period were enough to push them over the finish line.

Maples guard Veer Brar shone with 33 points and four rebounds. Like the Lancers, the Marauders’ depth was key, as six players reached double digits.

Pritpal Uppal had a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Andrey Yamborko (19 points), Scotland Lora (13), Surkhab Gill (13) and Thaddeus Mabilangan (13) also reached double digits.

Kobe Alejo led the Bulldogs with 22 points, while Brook Bekele supplied 16 and Philip Ofime scored 15.

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