Golden Shield men finally snap 23-month losing streak

The Cambrian men’s basketball crew are not about to submit an invoice for the overtime they worked on the weekend. They have already received payment enough.

Snapping a winless skid that extended back to February 2013, the Cambrian Golden Shield needed an extra session to register a 102-99 win over the Redeemer Royals last Friday night at home.

Eric Lavergne-Giroux netted 27 points to lead the way, with no less than four Cambrian athletes hitting double digits. Kevin Cole (16), Mohammed Swaray (14) and Thomas Cooper (12) all contributed offensively, offsetting a game high 31-point performance from Redeemer guard Oliver McMayoni.

Cambrian surprised the Royals out of the gate, racing out to a 25-14 lead after the opening quarter, but were reeled in by half-time, leading only 42-39. The teams were tied 84-84 as the final buzzer sounded, with Cambrian coach Luc Giroux finding court time for all 13 players that were dressed.

The Royals were not about to be caught off-guard again the next evening, outscoring the Shield 32-7 in the opening ten minutes and cruising to a 102-57 victory.

McMayoni and Rayvon Higdon scored 17 points apiece for the winners, with Cambrian receiving scoring from 12 different athletes, led by Lavergne-Giroux with a dozen.

With a record of 1-7, the Cambrian men have escaped the basement of the OCAA West Division, a couple of points ahead of the winless Fanshawe Falcons, but also trailing both Redeemer and the St. Clair Saints by a mere two points.

The Golden Shield will close out the first half of their schedule on the road this weekend, battling the Sault Cougars on Saturday.