Mustangs 65 Algoma 54

Ryan Barbeau 22pts 3 rbs
Quinn Henderson 10pts

More to come...

Former London OUA/CIS Official Don Cline Remembered

Don Cline, centre, shows a picture of himself refereeing a Western basketball game to Robert Collins, left, the former PUC director of community and recreation services, and longtime Free Press sportswriter Bob Gage in this January 2002 photo. (QMI Agency file photo)

For link to article CLICK HERE

A love affair with family and basketball

REMEMBERED: Don Cline

By MORRIS DALLA COSTA, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

In the upcoming days, there will be a mountain of tributes from around the world for London's Don Cline.

His sudden death Sunday at age 64 has left not only the basketball community stunned, but those who knew the personable referee off the court.

His public epitaph will be one that denotes his status as one of the best and most respected amateur basketball officials in the world.

A more personal epitaph will be one that he would have found more important, a man focused on family and a devoted husband and father.

Bill Smith, a man who played when Cline refereed, officiated with Cline and was a scorekeeper when Cline worked games, nailed the man with the same certainty Cline whistled a foul.

"On and off the court, he was always a gentleman and a gentle man," Smith said Tuesday.

Those few words defined a man who had reached the pinnacle of success in his sport and in his life.

Cline died of an apparent heart attack.

"It was totally unexpected," said Jocelyn, Cline's wife of 39 years. "It happened so suddenly with no health issues.

"We're just on autopilot right now, one foot in front of the other. It's been heartening to see and hear, the calls, all the nice things people have said about Don. It will hard later on but it helps now."

Cline leaves two daughters, Emily, 27, and Becky, 29. Becky is on her way back from France where she works at the Juno Beach Centre.

"He was such a terrific father to the girls," Jocelyn said. "He participated in their lives. A relative in England said his girls were his prized possession (and) I included myself in that, and Don's dog Heidi in that."

Cline retired from officiating in 2002 with an eye-popping international and national resume.

He worked two Olympic Games (1984 in LA and 1996 in Atlanta), three Olympic qualifiers, three Pan American Games, two men's world championships, three women's world championships, 22 Canadian men's university championships, plus countless London and Ontario high school championships.

"He never ever, no matter what the circumstances, lost his cool. No matter how close the game, how aggressive teams were playing back and forth, he never lost his cool," Smith said.

Through all the years of adrenaline-pumped games, Cline never lost the respect of the players he officiated.

"As a player, you are never going to agree with all his calls. It's just natural," said John Stiefelmeyer, a former Western Mustang and MVP of the 1991 CIS championship team. "He was the guy if you knew he was reffing your game, you knew you were going to get a very fair referee. He was the type of individual who would always, after the game, if you wanted to talk to him, he would talk to you.

"He would always come to our practices before the season started and explain any rule changes. Sometimes the referee was just the referee but there was a face to Don. Forget the referee piece, you could always talk to him."

Stiefelmeyer recalled an OUA championship game against Guelph that Cline worked. It was a close game and Stiefelmeyer fouled out on a call by Cline.

"The game was on TV and I went and watched the foul," he said. "I knew I didn't foul him. We eventually won but after I said to him 'Don, there's no way I touched him.' He said 'John, from my view I had to call it' and he went through the whole explanation and by the end, you still didn't agree but you respected him because he would talk to you."

Keeping a potentially volatile situation calm was one of his strong suits.

"He was one of my mentors," said Ted Gibb, who at 63 still referees and assigns high school and college games. "Don was an interesting guy. He took professionalism to an extreme. Don knew everyone. When we did games together he would go over and shake hands and introduce me to the coaches and call them all by name. When the two captains came out at the start of the game, he'd call them by name.

"But once the game started it was 'coach' and 'No. 14' and occasionally, if he really felt he needed to say something to the coach or players to keep something under control, he would very quietly address them by name. He'd say 'Paul, I need you to get yourself under control. Let's get back to basketball.'

"And invariably, the game calmed down."

Larry Rooks has been a friend of Cline's for many years. They played basketball together at Beck Collegiate and after university, worked together in the PUC recreation department.

"He was very quiet," Rooks said. "But he loved his two girls. He took pride in what he did and he never tooted his own horn. He had reached the pinnacle of officiating, not only in Canada but worldwide, and you would never know it."

Rooks nominated Cline for London's Sports Hall of Fame several years ago and readily admits he's "miffed" Cline has not been inducted.

"He should have been in when he was alive," Rooks said.

An oversight that should be rectified with the next vote.

And just one of several tributes suitable for a gentleman and a gentle man.

Mustangs go 0-3 at Laurentian Invitational

5th yr Pg Ryan Barbeau

The Mustangs fought hard but came up short in all three games this past weekend at the Laurentian Invitational in Sudbury. "We were right in all three games and had our chances to win all three." commented Coach Campbell. "We made too many mistakes in critical times during each game. We must continue to improve in our execution at both ends of the floor if we want  to closeout and win games".

Mustangs Captain 5th yr point guard Ryan Barbeau was selected a tournament all-star. Ryan led the Mustangs offensive attack in each game including an incredible 41 point effort in the tournament finale. "Ryan had an outstanding tournament. His 41pts in the Laurentian game were the most I have seen scored by a Mustang since Jim Grozelle's 50 pts in 2003." said Campbell.

Note:
- 3rd yr forward Adam Jespersen and 1st yr forward Larry Blyth did not play during the Tournament due to injury.
- 1st yr Forward Greg Morrow was also sidelined for the last two games of the tournament after playing vs Cape Breton on Friday with back trouble.
- During Friday's Cape Breton game 2nd yr Forward Nathan Diloreto and 2nd yr guard Quinn Henderson collided late in the game on a loose ball and were down for several minutes. Diloreto suffered a head laceration and Henderson received eight stitches in his mouth. Both returned to action for the last two games.

Game Recap
Oct. 21st  Cape Breton 81-Mustangs 77
Ryan Higgins 17pts , Ryan Barbeau 15pts , Quinn Henderson 14pts , Greg Morrow 12pts

Oct. 22nd Bishop's 71-Mustangs 59
Peter Scholtes 20pts, Ryan Barbeau 13pts

Oct. 23rd Laurentian 95- Mustangs 87 OT
Ryan Barbeau 41pts , Peter Scholtes 17pts, Quinn Henderson 10pts

Laurentian Invitational All-Tournament Team

Onnex Blackwood - Bishop's Gaiters

James Dorsey - Cape Breton Capers

Isiah Pasquale - Laurentian Voyageurs

Alex Ratte - Laurentian Voyageurs

Ryan Barbeau - Western Mustangs

Game Day: vs Cape Breton @ Larentian U. 6pm

Mustangs participate in the Laurentian Invitational tournament this weekend and will take on the Cape Breton Capers tonight at 6pm. Saturday the Mustangs take on Bishop's at 4pm and Sunday vs the host Laurentian at 1pm.

Stay tuned for updates.....

Former Mustang Great Andy Wedemire Blogs From Glasgow

The Glasgow Rocks Andy Wedemire goes up strong for two

Click Here for link of Andy's blog

Wittenberg 83 Mustangs 51

Team Captain Peter Scholtes 

On-line Click Here 

Story by Ray Kim - Mustangs Athletics

Tired Mustangs fall to Tigers in men's exhibition basketball

LONDON, Ont. – Coming off a hard fought win against the Transylvania Pioneers last night, the Western Mustangs did not have enough firepower to keep up with the Wittenberg Tigers on Tuesday night at Alumni Hall, losing the game 83-51.

6 foot 7 centre, Alex Brandt led the Tigers to victory by scoring a game high 21points, adding 6 rebounds.  Ryan Barbeau once again led the Mustangs in scoring with 11 points in 27 minutes on the floor.

Western started off cold, shooting only 10.5% in the first quarter. The Mustangs trailed 19-6 after the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the Mustangs struggle, committing 6 turnovers, which turned into 10 points for the Tigers. Western faced a 39-14 deficit at the half.

Wittenberg pulled away in the second half to be up 31points after the third quarter 61-30. Western was outscored 22-21 in the fourth quarter to make it an 83-51 final.

The Mustangs fall to 1-4 on the preseason with the loss and will now travel to Sudbury this weekend to play in the Laurentian Tournament.

Game Day: vs Wittenberg NCAA D3 7pm Alumni Hall

Mustangs 72 Transylvania 63

Story by Mustangs Athletics Ray Kim

On-Line Click Here

Barbeau's clutch performance leads the Mustangs to victory in exhibition basketball action

LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs men’s basketball team battled the Transylvania Pioneers (KY) on Monday in exhibition action at Alumni Hall, coming out on top 72-63.

After opening the pre-season with 3 losses, the revamped Mustangs were looking for the “W”.  The Mustangs started with some great energy and in the first quarter, rookie Ryan Higgins from Fergus, Ontario led the team with his strong play. Higgins showed some potential doing a little bit of everything, closing out on shots, knocking down open jumpers, blocking shots and scrambling for the ball. Transylvania led after one, 24-22.

Both teams were sluggish coming out of the second quarter, turning the ball over many times and missing shots. The two teams went into halftime with Transylvania leading 34-32.

In the third quarter, Mustangs’ 2nd year guard Quinn Henderson helped his team keep up with the Pioneers by scoring 7 of his teams’ 12 points in another low scoring quarter for both teams.  The Mustangs had cut the lead to 1 after three quarters, trailing 45-44 heading into the fourth.

The final quarter saw the Mustangs battle to take the lead. Heavy defensive pressure led by Jermaine Bernard, Peter Scholtes’ rebounds and Ryan Barbeau’s clutch baskets allowed Western to take and maintain the lead. Barbeau scored 10 of his game high 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a contested three. The Mustangs ended the game with a 72-63 victory.

The Mustangs will be looking for back to back wins tomorrow night when they take on Wittenberg College at 7 p.m at Alumni Hall.

Game Day: vs Transylvania (NCAA D2) 7pm Alumni Hall

The Mustangs take on NCAA Division II Transylvania from Kentucky tonight at 7pm Alumni Hall.

Calgary 83 Mustangs 75

Ryan Barbeau had a career high 39 pts

Mustangs Topped by Dinos 83-75 in Exhibition Basketball

10/15/2011 12:08:00 AM
Article by Mustangs Athletics - Chris McLachlin

LONDON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs hosted the University of Calgary Dinos tonight at Alumni Hall in men’s exhibition basketball play and the Dinos outscored the Mustangs 83-75.
Mustangs’ 5th year senior Ryan Barbeau scored five of his game-high 39 points in the first quarter, but it was the Dino’s who jumped out to the early lead 20-13 after the first. Jarred Ogungberri-Jackson paced the Dinos with six points in the first quarter.
The seven point edge in the first quarter proved to be the difference, as the two sides battled up and down the court the rest of the way.
The second quarter saw Calgary only add one point to their lead as the Western offense started to click and the two teams went into halftime with Calgary leading 41-33.
In the third quarter Barbeau caught fire, scoring 18 straight points for the Mustangs as the team scored 21 in the quarter, while the balanced Dinos attack scored 20 to make the score Calgary 61, Western 54 after three.
In the fourth quarter the Calgary defense adjusted their focus to Barbeau and second year Forward Peter Scholtes picked up the slack, pouring in nine of his 20 points in the final frame. Although the Mustangs fought hard and got the deficit within three points in the final minute, the Dinos made critical free throws and shots down the stretch to come out on top 83-75.
The top scorers in the game were Barbeau with 39 for the Mustangs while Ogungberri-Jackson and Tyler Fidler each had 18 for the visiting Dinos.
The Mustangs continue their exhibition schedule on Monday night when the host the Transylvania Pioneers at Alumni Hall at 7:00 PM. The following night they will host the Wittenberg College Tigers.

Game Day: Mustangs vs Calgary 7pm Alumni Hall

This will be a great early test for the Mustangs. Calgary is coming off a 76-71 victory over Windsor last night.

Curtis looking to make London Lightning's Roster

London Free Press Article by Steve Green

On-line Link Click Here

Three Canucks seek two spots

BASKETBALL: The London Lightning expect to name 10 of 12 players by Thursday

By STEVE GREEN, THE LONDON FREE PRESS

Last Updated: October 11, 2011 8:08pm

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Former Western Mustang Matt Curtis keeps the ball away from Nick Lother at London Lightning camp in London on Tuesday. Curtis and Lothar, along with former Fanshawe star Pat Sewell, are battling for two roster spots guaranteed to Canadians. (DEREK RUTTAN, The London Free Press)

With a 50-50 chance, the odds were pretty good for the four Canadian players invited to the London Lightning's inaugural training camp.

And with one of them having been cut, those odds are even better with the bulk of the final roster for the National Basketball League of Canada team expected to be announced Thursday.

"It's been tough, it's been a good workout," said Londoner Pat Sewell, a South grad and a former Canadian college player of the year with Fanshawe. "The boys are huge, but physically I think I've made my presence known. I've been getting boards, but my shot's not really falling, which is a little frustrating."

Former University of Windsor guard Isaac Kuon was one of two cuts made by head coach Micheal Ray Richardson as he looks to name at least 10 players on his 12-man roster $- including the league-mandated two Canadians - by Thursday. Even with his prospects that much brighter, Sewell is taking nothing for granted.

Asked if he felt confident, he said, "I am and I'm not. I mean, nothing's ever written in stone, but I'm more confident now than I was on the first day. I'm just still trying to get back to my own game. I've been out almost a year and a half now and good competition like this is hard to find."

Former Western Mustangs guard Matt Curtis and former Winnipeg Wesmen guard Nick Lother are the other two remaining Canucks. Lother, 23, is laid-back about his chances, much like Sewell.

"This is the highest level of basketball I've ever played," he said. "Some of these players have played all over the world and have a lot of experience. I'm just one of the guys who's all ears, who's taking it all in and just listening to what they and the coach have to say.

"I'm just doing whatever is asked of me and making sure I'm listening."

Two-a-day practices at the downtown YMCA - one at 6 a.m., the other in the afternoon - are something new for Lother, but it's not the biggest adjustment he's had to make.

"The guys are a lot bigger here, stronger, faster. It's important to understand that everyone on the floor can make plays, so you don't always have to do it yourself. My job is just to move the ball around and give other guys the opportunity to make plays."

Making the Lightning, Lother said, "would be one of my proudest moments" and it would be due in no small part to his Wesmen coach Mike Rainbault.

"He kind of rekindled my love for basketball."

Should Lother make the roster, one of his off-court duties will be speaking at local schools, a natural fit for Lother, who was an educational assistant in the Winnipeg school system.

"I love working with kids; I think they're great," he said. "I think it's important to share with them how to reach their goals and do things right."

But should Lother be the odd man out Thursday, it's been a blast.

"The guys are all saying how surprised they are at the talent we have up here," he said. "And I never really thought I had to work that much harder to prove myself just because I'm Canadian. I'm just lucky to have this opportunity and thankful to have it and I'm just enjoying the experience.

"Ultimately, it's the coach's decision and I'm just trying to play my best and put myself in a position to make the team, If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out and I'll just go home."

Centre Jeremy Saffore out of Tennessee-Chattanooga was the other player released, with six-foot guard DeAnthony Bowden (Creighton) and 6-foot-8 swingman Tyler King (Duke, Villanova) expected to join the team and get a late look from Richardson.

Andrew Wedemire with Glasgow Rocks

Former Mustang great Andrew Wedemire with his new team the Glasgow Rocks

The official Glasgow Rocks home page Click Here