A picture perfect season was completed at the OCAA championships.

The Fanshawe Falcon's men's basketball team followed their undefeated regular season (14-0) with a flawless showing at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) championship, held at Durham College from March 1 to March 3.

The ‘Cinderella' team of the tournament, who knocked off number one ranked Humber College in the semi-finals, the St. Lawrence Vikings met the Falcons in the championships gold medal game. Fanshawe won the final contest 71-65 claiming the provinces top prize.

Head coach Glen Johnston, the OCAA coach of the year in his 31st season at the helm, said he was very happy and proud of his team's performance.

“It feels like a millions bucks, it does not get better then this,” Johnston said on the court after the game. “I couldn't be any prouder, even when times were tough, the other guys came back very strong, we held together and won it at the end with some clutch shooting. That is basketball, you go to the foul line and make your foul shots and you got a shot. We weren't perfect but we were good enough.”

The Falcons got off to a good start in the gold medal game, opening up a 34-25 lead heading into halftime.

Never conceding victory to the Falcons, St. Lawrence got hot in the second half, hitting various outside shots to claw their way back into the contest, eventually making the score 49-48 with eight minutes to play in game.

Facing adversary and shifting momentum, the Falcons looked to their leading scorer, team leader, and OCAA player of the year, Pat Sewell for a spark.

“My shot wasn't falling early on in the game but I broke free a couple times and went to the hole, and the shots started falling, which was great,” said Sewell, who was named tournament MVP.

St. Lawrence continued their scrappy play and efficient outside shooting and were within one point, 62-61, with 40 seconds remaining until OCAA Rookie of the Year, Jabari Cooper nailed a three pointer at the top of the circle, which visibly deflated St. Lawrence and provided the Falcons with some breathing room.

Cooper said that he was just doing his part in a total combined team effort.

“Everyone was hitting big shots and I just had to step up and do just whatever I had to do to get that three to go down,” Cooper said.

Adrian Pykta hit four clutch-free throws in the games final minute to help ice the game and seal the Falcons victory. Pykta, who was named player of the game in the gold medal contest and was selected to the OCAA championship All-Star team, was a member of the last OCAA championship squad from Fanshawe in 2003.

“I had the same feeling four years ago but this is a little different, four years ago we were the under dogs and this year we were the favourites,” Pykta said. “We had to prove ourselves that we are the team to beat and that is what we did.”

The Falcons defeated Cambrian College 77-49 in their opening round match of the tournament advancing them to the semi-final. The Falcons met Algonquin College in the semis and defeated the Thunder 77-60 to earn the victory.