Canada West playoff basketball always demands resilience - and the Manitoba Bisons delivered when it mattered most.
Entering the Play-In matchup as the #5 seed, the Bisons faced the #12-seeded Brandon Bobcats in what was their third consecutive meeting. Manitoba had won the previous two contests in regulation, but defeating a determined and scrappy Brandon squad three straight times - especially in sudden-death playoff basketball on a neutral court - was no small task.
The Herd needed to be mentally sharp and physically strong to secure their place in the quarter-finals. Thanks to a dominant fourth quarter, they did exactly that.
Manitoba set the tone early, building a 20–15 lead after the opening quarter. Tito Obasoto sparked the offence, scoring nine of the Bisons’ 20 points while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.
The second frame was tightly contested. Brandon briefly grabbed a 29–27 lead, threatening to shift the momentum. The Bisons responded with composure, finishing the half on a 9–0 run to take a 36–29 advantage into the break.
Brandon stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Manitoba 26–17 to take a 55–53 lead into the final frame. Turnovers proved costly, as the Bisons committed 10 in the quarter compared to just two by the Bobcats.
When the season was on the line, the Bisons responded.
Bisons opened the fourth quarter with 11 straight points to seize a 64–55 lead. Cleaning up their turnovers and locking in defensively, the Herd extended the run to 17–3, building a commanding 70–58 advantage with just over three minutes remaining.
From there, Manitoba closed out the game with poise, securing a 79–68 victory and advancing to the quarter-finals.
Mason Kraus led the way with an impressive double-double, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Daren Watts delivered a strong second half, scoring 13 of his 17 points after the break, while Tito Obasoto contributed 14 points.
The Bisons dominated the glass, outrebounding Brandon 47–25. Cieran O’Hara was outstanding, pulling down 19 rebounds - including eight offensive boards at crucial moments that helped swing the game’s momentum.
Manitoba shot 43.5% (27-of-62) from the field and 75.9% (22-of-29) from the free-throw line. Three-point shooting proved challenging at 13.6% (3-of-22), but the Herd compensated with physical play and rebounding dominance. Brandon finished 36.9% (27-of-62) from the field, 29% (9-of-31) from beyond the arc, and 84.6% (11-of-13) from the line.
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FULL STORY
⭐ Bisons Top Performers
Mason Kraus
20pts • 10 rebs • 3 asts • 1 stl
Daren Watts
19pts • 4 rebs • 1 ast
Tito Obasoto
14 pts • 5 rebs • 3 asts
Ramogi Nyagudi
10 pts • 4 rebs • 3 stls
Cieran O’Hara
19 rebs • 3 pts • 3 stls
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Box Score
