Matheson and Callaghan lead Mystics over Mounties

(Halifax, NS) The Mount Saint Vincent Mystics defeat the visiting Mount Allison Mounties 97-75 at the A. Garnet Brown Memorial Gymnasium Saturday evening. 

Leading the way for the Mystics, Isaac Matheson (Bedford, NS) and Adam Callaghan (Sydney, NS), both finished with a team-high 19 points. Matheson chipped in with a well-rounded performance as he tallied seven rebounds and five assists. Callaghan finished with five rebounds and two assists. The Mystics were supported by Jaydan Smith (Beechville, NS) as he finished with 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. 

Kaden Augustin (Nepean, ON) came off the bench for the Mounties to finish with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Jonas Munroe (Moncton, NB) finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and one steal. Keith Rowen (Ottawa, ON) rounded out the Mounties' support, as he finished with 10 points, seven assists, and five assists. 

The Mystics got off to a hot start in the first quarter as Callaghan hit a three-point shot, followed by and-1 drive, and lay-up off his own offensive rebound. The Mounties would respond to the Mystics' early barrage with their own flurry as Munroe knocked down a three-pointer, followed by a Simon Tector (Halifax, NS) lay-up. The Mounties would get instant offence from Augustin as he drained a triple upon his entry into the game. A few possessions later, the Mystics would have a highlight play as Callaghan would steal the ball, then moved it forward to Matheson, who would proceed to have a quick give-and-go with Jay. Smith for the easy transition lay-up. In the final minutes of the quarter, the Mystics would cap off their strong first quarter with a step-back iso jumper from Demeric Mercer (Halifax, NS), followed by a three-pointer by Jay. Smith. The Mystics closed the quarter with a 27-23 lead. 

Out of the break, the Mystics looked to their bench as Isaiah Cromwell-Wright (Dartmouth, NS) hit a post-hook over the Mounties' defender. The Mystics also looked to Mercer for a spark off their bench as he crashed the offensive glass and tipped in the missed jumper. The Mounties would also rely on their bench as well in this quarter, as Augustin had nine points in the second quarter. As the starters returned to the court for the Mystics, they would have consecutive key plays as Matheson would hit a contested lay-up followed by a Jaxon Smith (Beechville, NS) three-pointer. The Mounties would respond as RaShawn Ferguson (Nassau, Bahamas) would crash the glass and finished with a lay-up. The Mystics would end the quarter on a run, as Jay. Smith would hit a contested lay-up followed by three-pointer, that was assisted by Callaghan. The Smith connection would close the quarter for the Mystics as Jaydan would find his brother Jaxon with a no-look pass for an uncontested lay-up right before the halftime buzzer. The Mystics would take a 55-45 lead into half. 

As both teams came out of the break, they would exchange quick baskets. First, Jax. Smith would finish a lay-up, assisted by Matheson. Ryan Norris (Ottawa, ON) would respond for the Mounties with a deep triple from the wing. Munroe would follow the deep connection with a strong take to the hoop, as he drew the foul for the Mounties. The Mystics would have an answer for the Mounties' run as Callaghan would grab the defensive rebound, and pushed the ball up the floor in transition. As he made it to the three-point line, he crossed up his defender and finished with a scoop lay-up. Norris would hit a tough lay-up in traffic, a few possessions later for the Mounties. Jax. Smith would answer the call for the Mystics, as he received an outlet pass from his teammate over the defence for the transition finish. The Mystics' marksmen would hit a three that led to a Mounties' timeout. The Mystics would extend their lead at the end of the quarter as Cromwell-Wright came up with the steal, that led to another Callaghan triple. The Mystics took a 79-59 lead into the fourth. 

Callaghan would open the scoring in the final frame, as he connected on his third triple of the game. Sebastian Tector (Halifax, NS) would hit from deep for the Mounties. The Mystics would hold court as they received support from Garrett Malloy (Sackville, NS) off the bench. He connected from deep and found Cromwell-Wright in transition with a perfectly-timed bounce pass. The Mystics would defeat the Mounties by a margin of 97-75. 

The Mystics move to 13-0. They will travel to Moncton next weekend as they return to the court on Saturday, February 1st. Tip-off is at 4:00pm. The Mounties fall to 1-11. They will travel to Charlottetown as they face off with the Holland Hurricanes. Tip-off is at 4:00pm.