Ottawa’s Carleton Ravens sweep 2023 U SPORTS Basketball Championships

The Ottawa-based Carleton University Ravens have swept the 2023 U SPORTS Basketball National Championships, supported by many former OBA players and coaches.

Women’s Championships

The Women’s National Championship game was an all-Ontario affair in Sydney, NS, with the no. 1 ranked Carleton Ravens (Ottawa, ON) facing the no. 3 ranked Queen’s University Gaels (Kingston, ON). The Ravens prevailed with a convincing 71-59 win. Kali Pocrnic (Lincoln Prep – OSBA & Team Ontario) led the Ravens with 20 points in the Final.

Full Game Recap (U SPORTS)

Many OBA-alum competed and coached on both Carleton & Queens:

Carleton Ravens

Tatyanna Burke Winona, ON Scarborough Blues
Teresa Donato Ottawa, ON Ottawa Elite
Zerina Duvnjak Kitchener, ON Huron Heights SS / Tri-City Soldiers
Emma Kiesekamp Merrickville, ON Ottawa Elite
Tamia Laborde-Sutton Vaughan, ON Excel Hoops / Redmond Basketball Academy (OSBA)
Sierra Peck Belleville, ON Centennial Secondary
Kali Pocrnic* Oakville, ON Lincoln Prep (OSBA)
Kinly Rice Douglas, ON Opeongo High School
Jacqueline Urban* Ancaster, ON Lincoln Prep (OSBA)

* indicates Team Ontario alumni

Coaching Staff: Michelle Abella, Assistant Coach (Team Ontario)

Queens Gaels

Amy Hagman* Orillia, ON Southwest Academy (OSBA)
Haley Barbieri Vaughan, ON Bill Crothers (OSBA)
Isabella Gaudet* Ottawa, ON Capital Courts Academy (OSBA)
Ally Smith Orillia, ON Lo-Ellen Park Prep (OSBA)
Lireesa Gokhool-Jefferson Vaughan, ON Bill Crothers (OSBA)
Emma Weltz Timmins, ON Southwest Academy (OSBA)
Michelle Istead* Ottawa, ON St. Francis Xavier CHS
Laura Donovan* London, ON Southwest Academy (OSBA)
Isabella Belvedere* Bolton, ON Caledon Basketball Academy (OSBA)
Mikayla McFarlane Kingston, ON Kingston Impact / Frontenac SS
Julia Chadwick* Ottawa, ON Durham Elite (OSBA)
Abbey Hetherington Kingston, ON Kingston Impact / LaSalle SS

* indicates Team Ontario alumni

Coaching Staff: Wumi Agunbiade, Assistant Coach (Team Ontario)

 

Men’s Championships

The Men’s National Championship game was hosted in Halifax, NS, with the Carleton Ravens (Ottawa, ON) facing St. Francis Xavier University X-Men (Antagonish, NS).

Aiden Warnholtz, Connor Vreeken and Wazir Latiff all scored 20+ points for the Ravens, leading them to a high-scoring overtime victory, 109-104. Carleton’s domination of Canadian university men’s basketball continues – This marks their fourth title in a row and their 12th in the past 13 tournaments.

Full Game Recap (U SPORTS)

As with the women’s final, there were many familiar OBA faces on both teams in the men’s game:

Carleton Ravens

Jacob Knight Vaughan, ON Vaughan SS (OSBA Junior Series)
Wazir Latiff Vaughan, ON Vaughan SS (OSBA)
Evan Meyer Oshawa, ON Canada Topflight Academy West
Emanuel Milon Ottawa, ON Fort Erie International Academy / TRC Academy (OSBA)
Connor Vreeken* Kingston, ON Frontenac Secondary School / Ottawa Elite
Aiden Warnholtz Ottawa, ON Canada Topflight Academy

Coaching Staff: Davidson Sanelus, Assistant Coach (Team Ontario) & Zachary Angelini (Lincoln Prep – OSBA).

St. Francis Xavier X-Men

Gatluak James Windsor, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
Keyonte Beals North Preston, NS Orangeville Prep (OSBA)
Antoine Vernon Hamilton, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
Marcus Upshaw* Burlington, ON Ridley College (OSBA)
Jeremy Coria Mississauga, ON St. Joan of Arc HS
Deon Ejim Brampton, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
Zion James Brampton, ON Hodan Nalayeh (OSBA)
Steven Levnaic Stoney Creek, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
Bennett Grumbach Toronto, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
Michael Utsalo Brampton, ON Bill Crothers (OSBA)
Avan Nava* Mississauga, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)
David Muenkat Brampton, ON TRC Academy (OSBA)

Coaching Staff: Tyrell Vernon, Head Coach (TRC Academy – OSBA), Denton Anthony, Assistant Coach (OBA)