Lakeland Ices MacEwan's Hot Flashes

A weak first quarter was all Lakeland College needed to split a weekend series with the Griffins. The Griffins struggled to reach double digits, and failed to do so until the second quarter; they've been outscored in the first by 170-146 by their opponents, all season. To have continued success they must get out to quicker starts in the coming weeks of the season.

Although the first didn't lack it's action, which included a dust up courtesy of catalyst, Janis Assers. He and Lakeland top scorer Kadeem Willis went nose-to-nose and briefly exchanged words before both were separated by teammates.

Unfortunately for the Griffins, the act of passion didn't translate into points and by the end of the first half they trailed 44-26. Despite a solid showing in the second half MacEwan, a lack luster first half left no foundation to build on.

Another glaring problem in MacEwan's offense was their rally-killing turnovers.  The Griffins would rack up 23 turnovers at the final buzzer, to Lakeland's 17.

Photo by Aleah Elliott

Though a bright spot of this game had to be the consistent play of Saeid Deria, who played with a vengeance, despite what the scoreboard said. He contributed a pair of steals and four key boards, Coach Magdanz supported the idea of using him more at the 4. That would require a little more muscle on his 6'4 frame, although his high ceiling will be a point of interest for the young forward throughout the season.

Player of the game, Denzel Williamson-James would shoot 9-17 (.529) for both games against Lakeland College. He's playing like the Griffs go-to scorer averaging a team-leading 12.9 points per game.

Another standout was guard Tyler Wise, who broke out with 26 points in the away half of the weekend. Interestingly enough, Wise has grown into quite the shooter. He has a sparkling .478 shooting percentage when he jacks up more than ten shots a game; in his 26-point performance he's put up a whopping 19 shots. It's intriguing how his shooting prowess becomes instrumental in the Griffins offense.

Through Fresh Eyes : Lynden Nummi

Often times when a beat writer sees a loss, it's normal to mirror the mannerisms of the players and the entire staff. But in a loss to Lethbridge  MacEwan's performance highlighted a name that might as well be a low light; he stands a proud 5'7. This instantly struck a chord with me, I remember my freshman year of highschool and watching the six footers duck under doors and touch the ceiling for no reason with regularity. Never got why that was such a common happenstance, anyway! I was getting organized, I had a new photographer and I was showing her the ropes during the pregame introductions. Heard our PA announcer emphasize the first syllable of a number that has been stuck with my entire youth; 'Fiiiive!' I was always basketball savvy, since 1999. Then again I regularly mistook Vince Carter for Michael Jordan; hey I was young. I had speed, hands and a shot but the muscle tone of Tayshaun Prince and Nate Robinson's height. Ultimately, I have never tried out for a basketball team in my life.

A familiar sight on Saturday's Matinee game at MacEwan (Photo by Aleah Elliott)

No lie, before tip-off he was all up in my psyche but from a fan's standpoint he was the enemy. Although as Lethbridge started run, after run he became impossible not to marvel at. The Griffs defense was the raw salmon to Lynden's sushi knife, needless to say, he was slicing and dicing all afternoon. The adage 'The Bigger They Are . .' rang true for the duration of his time on the floor. Scoring was but a single facet of Nummi's game. Along with the rest of a scrappy Lethbridge team. Friends, this kid is a bulldog. He will tear you apart and do so by any means necessary.

 His 14 points; which was already tied for second on the team, and was 7-14 from the field. But his 5 steals put me over the top, he exacerbated a MacEwan offense that was already plagued with sloppy ball distribution.

But like many a player in the early season, his performance was his first big showing in this 2012/13 season. In his previous 3 games he failed to sink more than three field goals. In short, this little big man will be trouble for teams in the South, you have been warned 1st Place, RDC.

Luckily for us Griffs fans, this kid won't grace the floors of our gyms again this season, barring a playoff match up.

From Latvia With Love: Janis Assers

Janis Assers means Latvian for modest. No, that's not right it means a monstrous Center on the floor and down to earth kid off the court. Surprise! Both of those are dead wrong, that was me trying to be funny. You're welcome world. Jokes aside, the basketball season opened Friday night and it was a great showing by your Grant MacEwan Griffins. I commend you if you were a lucky few witness of this, if you're not I don't condemn you. Instead I encourage you to check out the season schedule

Photo by Aleah Elliott

Big man Janis Assers stands out, a big man, wears a funny hat, and on the court, spells trouble for the opposition. A 24-year old out of a small coastal town in the former Soviet State, plays a game that I would never describe as timid or shy. Aside from his dominant demonstration of the conventional and textbook definition of a centre, he excels outside of the key, using is speed and quickness to baffle defences. That my friends is Assers's bread and butter. When Janis 'takes his talents to other areas of the court' he can be unstoppable, just ask St. Mary's. Looking at Asser's previous game at RDC, it wouldn't be difficult to write him off as the 'average' centre. 

vs. RDC (Oct. 26)

6 PTS (2-4 FG), 2-2 FT, 4 TO

vs. St. Mary's (Nov. 2)

27 PTS (11-18) 5-5 FT, 0 TO

Quite unlike the stereotypical center  Assers hits his free throws, insert Shaq joke here. Numbers only say so much, his attitude is what in my mind, makes him an All-Star. That attitude? He doesn't want to be an All-Star at the expense of his mates. Janis is not at all ignorant to the fact that individual stats matter, and that his were stellar. He equates his night-by-night offensive output as "catching a wave" and tonight just riding that wave right to Player of the Game status. He's not ignorant, he knows a career high 27 points changed the complexion of the game. But he hardly attributes his performance to personal offensive prowess; instead is ultimate goal is for his performance, to benefit the performance of his teammates. He credits new look head coach; Eric Magdanz for his ability to make every cog in the Griffins offensive machine. According to Jannis, he was just the 'hot hand' in Friday's game, coach Magdanz has an innate ability to sense who's dropping dimes and who's jacking threes. He continues to re-iterate, "everyone has a chance to be the star" and this phenomenon is simply an "element . . . of coach's plan." The result of this plan was a career night for the 3-year veteran from Ventspils, Latvia.

For this Griffins beat writer, this means that postgame interviews at MacEwan will feature a plethora of talent. Have a great season everyone.

Griffins Open Season at Home to St.Mary's

The new look Griffins will grace home floor for the first time on Friday, under the leadership of new head coach, Eric Magdanz. Like the troops he leads into battle, Magdanz embraces the idea of player development being a priority in his coaching style. Righty so, for a team geared for being promoted to the CIS. Magdanz takes over for a Griffins team that finished fourth after reaching the ACAC Bronze Medal game but ultimately falling to NAIT by a lopsided 97-67.

Their season opener away from home at Red Deer college ended in a loss, but it gave Griffs fans something to look forward to this season, some Griffins playing their inaugural game in the ACAC.  An energetic team is fun to watch regardless of their place in the standings --see Denver Nuggets. This collective energy should surely fill seats. This year’s fresh roster includes all the ingredients to successful team, size, depth, energy and a collective ability to shoot. Although, early in the season defense seems to be a hole the Griffins will be looking to fill. Last week at RDC they allowed the Kings to hoist 76 shots, to their 58, RDC’s top scorer Robert Pierce would take 11 of his team’s field goal attempts. By the final buzzer he’d made mincemeat of the Griffins defense, shooting a stellar 0.636 and leading Red Deer’s offensive charge with 29 points.

Obviously to take the next step in contending, the Griffins have to keep points off the board. But like any team-- from championship to cellar dweller-- a team gets to where they’re at in time.

Despite their problems keeping points off the board, there are a couple players that can make their numbers in the box score sparkle; such as Tyler wise who dropped 19 points in the loss to RDC, including 2 from beyond the arc. Tough to say early on whether or not he will be the one leading the Griffs offensive charge, but he's on my radar for sure for Friday's contest against

St. Mary's.