Recap The Court

Jacob Smith

For the third time in four years, the TMU Bold and Carleton Ravens will meet in the OUA playoffs. Two of those three times have come in the semifinal including this one between the four seed Bold and first seed Ravens. Carleton is still undefeated, TMU finished the regular season 17-5, now they’re going at it in Ottawa for a shot at the Critelli Cup final. We’ve got one interesting matchup, let’s start by looking at the undefeated Ravens.

Going back to their meeting in the regular season, two things especially worked really well for the Ravens. Kyana-Jade Poulin attacked screens really well to get into the paint and use her length to finish at the rim, and when that was denied, the post up with Jacqueline Urban on Haley Fedick was a great asset to give the Ravens a second attack.

Carleton wanted to get into the half court quick and when they got the ball to the top of the key if a drive from Dorcas Buisa wasn’t there they set up the screen game with Kyana-Jade usually looking towards the middle of the floor with a paint touch from Jacqueline the third option. Going into this matchup TMU may look to take away the screen game more which puts Carleton into a high low type of offence working the ball around the perimeter until they can dish it into Jacqueline with her back to the basket.

If the openings aren’t there from screens, playing through Jacquline in the post is what Carleton will have to lean on to pull the guards away from Kyana-Jade and Dorcas. Condense the defence inside towards the paint where Dorcas and Tatyanna Burke can find their spots and shooters like Noelle Kilbreath can take kick out threes in the opposite corner.

On the side of the Bold, a major key is going to be creating space for Catrina Garvey to attack. Garvey’s three point shooting opened up more of the Bold offence as the Ravens were stretched out, and having her catch with space to shoot or catch and rip to the basket is the first step in creating flow for the Bold offence against the pressure Carleton applies.

Having Kaillie Hall work the ball up and immediately get it to Catrina on the elbow off a pin down screen where she can attack inside and hit Kaillie lifting from the same side corner after she goes inside and clears out, or hit Jayme on the opposite elbow three. Creating drive and kick situations where they put defenders in a situation to choose between lifting with someone like Kaillie or Jayme, or stopping a driving Catrina will create openings for shots and more off-ball movement amongst the shifting Ravens defence.

TMU can put Carleton in situations defensively where they are stressed out of their individual matchups, and that starts with getting their ball handlers space to work off the catch and read what’s open. Whether it’s drive and kick for a Jayme three or a Kaillie catch and rip towards the basket, or a kick out and swing pass to Haley Fedick at the top of the three point arch, constant ball movement helps TMU get out of Carleton’s pressure.

Everything is on the line between the two teams who’ve combined for the last three national championships.