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Basketball (M) Christina Flores-Chan

Back on the court, Rams look to extend fall winning streak

"It's buzzing in here," Rams men's basketball player Tyler Sagl says, as the team warms up for their first practice of 2022.

He's right; the renewed energy in the gym is palpable.

The winter portion of the season has started, and after nearly two months off sports, the athletes are training at the Mattamy Athletic Centre again, balls are bouncing, and there is eagerness and excitement in the air to get back to work.

"We finally get to practice as a group again," Sagl says, eyeing the court, where his teammates are running drills. "I think we're going to make a killing in this second half."

In December, the Rams finished the first half of the season with three consecutive wins, standing at .500 by the winter break and redeeming themselves after a rough 0-3 start against the Queen's Gaels and Nipissing Lakers.

The shaky first few games were anticipated, though. 

The Rams had undergone a sort of rebuild throughout the canceled 2020 season, with veteran players being recruited to play professionally or pursuing different career paths. By the following September, more than half the roster was made up of new faces. 

At the beginning of the season, head coach David DeAveiro had said that November basketball would likely "not be pretty", while the group focused on finding their identity on the court, getting to know one another and the way they gelled as a team. DeAveiro also said that he was confident that the team would be performing better "by the time Christmas [rolled] around". 

Now, picking up where they left off, the Rams will look to continue their winning streak and clinch an OUA playoff spot by March.

The team's first opponent of 2022 is the York Lions.

The Lions have a 1-5 record this season, ranking second last in the division in points and scoring, to the Rams's current spot in the top five in those same categories. 

Equipped with strong shooters and the ability to find scoring opportunities, the Rams can take advantage of their offensive talent against a team that consistently struggles to put up points, but it's their defence that they'll be working on to secure a win this Wednesday. 

The Rams rank last in the league in defence, giving up the most points per game. 

"You can't win a championship without being a good defensive team," DeAveiro says, once practice ends and the guys are trickling into the locker room.

"We've come a long way on our defence but there's room for improvement," the coach adds, "so these next few weeks before the playoffs is going to be our time to focus on tightening up on that aspect."

The Rams are scheduled to play the Lions this Wednesday (Feb. 9) at 8 p.m at home, and you can watch at OUA.tv or support the team at the MAC. Tickets are available online, and health and safety protocols will be in place.
 
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Players Mentioned

Tyler Sagl

#4 Tyler Sagl

G
6' 5"
2

Players Mentioned

Tyler Sagl

#4 Tyler Sagl

6' 5"
2
G