Men’s basketball: Wolves look to regroup after loss to Colts

After another big win against the George Brown Huskies, the Algonquin Wolves men’s basketball team couldn’t carry that momentum into its home matchup against the Centennial Colts on Oct. 31.

The Colts defeated the Wolves 101-79 in Ottawa. The Colts built an early lead and Algonquin struggled to respond.

Head coach Frank Costello said the Wolves struggled to respond to Centennial’s pressure after falling behind early.

“We started flat, and it led to a big lead, and we couldn’t recover. We didn’t handle the pressure well at all,” Costello said.

Costello said Centennial is a strong team that exposed some of Algonquin’s weaknesses.

He also pointed to the team’s shooting struggles, noting that none of the Wolves’ main players could find their shots.

Centennial’s defensive pressure disrupted Algonquin’s game plan.

Costello said the game gave players a chance to recognize what it takes to compete against strong teams.

Wolves Guard Aydin Gilani said the team showed positive moments on both ends of the court, but struggled to maintain that level of play throughout the game.

“I think we had a few good possessions offensively and defensively where we worked well together and showed what we are capable of,” Gilani said.

“We had moments where we played good team basketball, but unfortunately we weren’t able to build on those moments consistently enough to secure the win.”

Gilani said the Wolves struggled to establish their rhythm early in the game.

“I think rebounding was one of our biggest struggles throughout the game,” Gilani said.

He added that bringing more energy and intensity from the opening tip will be important moving forward.

Gilani identified ball movement and communication as areas for improvement.

While the team moved the ball effectively at times, he said the Wolves needed to do a better job of pushing the pace and creating opportunities for one another.

Looking ahead, Gilani said the team plans to use the loss as a learning experience.

“We need to put more emphasis on rebounding, starting games with more energy and maintaining our team play,” Gilani said.

He added that building on the team’s positive possessions and staying consistent throughout all four quarters would put Algonquin in a better position to win future games.

Costello emphasized the importance of playing collectively rather than relying on individual performances.

“We are a good team if we play well, but we are just an average team if we don’t play as a unit,” Costello said.

The Wolves is on the road for two games this weekend, beginning with the Seneca Sting on Friday, before facing the Georgian Grizzlies on Saturday.

Costello acknowledged the challenge ahead for Algonquin.

“It is not going to get easier,” he said.