Box Score By: Martin Timmerman

The Waterloo Warriors punched their ticket to the OUA playoffs with a slim 63-62 come from behind win over the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday afternoon. Guelph held a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Warriors stuck with the game plan and got the baskets they needed down the stretch to earn the sixth and final playoff spot in the OUA west.

With both teams needing the win to make the playoffs, play was very tentative in the first, taking over two minutes before the first field goal and a low scoring 14-11 lead for Guelph after the first quarter.

Waterloo narrowed the gap to three midway through the second quarter before Guelph went on a 10-0 run and a double digit lead. At half time, Guelph was up 31-24.
 
In the third quarter, Guelph extended the lead to 10 points on three different occasions, but Waterloo scored the last six points of the quarter to narrow the gap to just 4 points at 44-40 for Guelph.
 
With 7:08 remaining a Wells Davis (Mississagua/) three pointer gave Waterloo their first lead since the opening minutes of the game. Zach Angus and Dan McCarthy followed with three pointers of their own and another Guelph basket made it a six point lead again. Guelph would extend it to 8 at 59-51 before Waterloo tightened the defense and started another comeback.
 
In the final minute, Mike Helsby (Waterloo/) gave Waterloo a single point lead with a field goal and free throw. Zach Angus quickly restored the Guelph lead. On the next time down the court Waterloo found Brendan Smith (Kamloops/Sa-Hali S.S.) alone under the hoop for two and another lead. To close the game, a steal by each team gave Guelph the ball with 15 seconds remaining. Kareem Malcolm got off a contested shot for Guelph but it missed the mark and Waterloo rebounded with no time remaining.
 
With the win, Waterloo ends the regular schedule with a 6-15 record and sixth place. Guelph falls to 5-16 and seventh place.
 
Mike Helsby (Waterloo/) led the Warriors with 14 points, seven of them in the final quarter. Wayne Bridge (North York/Eastern Commerce) with 12 and Matt Glibota (Sault Ste Marie/) with 10 rounded out the double digit scorers. Zach Angus had 26 points for Guelph and Dan McCarthy added 12 points.
 
With the sixth place finish the Warriors will face the McMaster Marauders in OUA west quarter-final action next Wednesday in Hamilton.  McMaster who will be playing their final regular season game cannot move up or down from the third spot in the OUA west.