Recap The Court

Jacob Smith

The Ravens are undefeated, the Marauders come in as the eight seed. Two teams entering the Ravens nest with sights on the OUA semifinals. Let’s talk about how each side gets it done.

The Marauders are coming off playing three games in five days ending in their first round victory over the Western Mustangs at home. In that game the Marauders had 16 assists on 22 made baskets, and going into a matchup against one of the best defences in the OUA, moving the ball and playing a team game is as important as anything.

If you go back to the Marauders regular season game against the Ravens, what got them good looks was their off ball movement. Pin down screens, pick-and-pop, flare screens, getting someone going off the ball and playing off the catch either taking a lane to the basket or popping out if the coverage is soft enough and shooting a three. The Ravens play great individual defence led by Dorcas Buisa on the primary ball handler, so for the Marauders to be able to get separation, they’ll need to create it by screening defenders and being quick off the catch to attack downhill or pass out for a catch-and-shoot three.

The Ravens offence should have one primary goal in mind offensively, which is get downhill. Use Dorcas ability to get the ball up quick to open up early lanes inside and work off that with the shooting of Noelle Kilbreath and Tatyanna Burke surrounding. The Marauders defence has struggled against guards who look to get inside early in the play, and the Ravens have excelled offensively over the past few years at working through a drive-and-kick offence where Dorcas can decide to kick out or pivot for a mid range jumper. Carleton should have all eyes on the paint when they get past half court, and get the ball to the block where they can work from there.

Defensively for McMaster, it starts with Deanna Mataseje and ends with Cassie Joli-Coeur. Those two are the most important, and the answer on the floor as Deanna is matched up with Dorcas and Cassie inside with Jacqueline Urban. Deanna’s ability to create steals can help prevent drives to the rim from the Ravens and Cassie will be the centrepiece for keeping Jacqueline off the offensive glass and limiting the Ravens second chance opportunities.

The key for Carleton stopping McMaster is to stay within their structure. Apply pressure on the ball handler like they do and communicate through screens to keep up with the movement of the Marauders. Switching properly, watching for the pop out three, challenging vertically against Cassie’s jumper, Carleton needs to play sound team defence and they should be able to slow down the Marauders offence.