THUNDER BAY – When Mor Menashe arrived in Thunder Bay four years ago, he could barely speak a word of English.
The Israeli-born guard would often translate his homework into his native Hebrew just to understand it, but eventually mastered the language and became an academic all-Canadian.
He also excelled on the basketball court, becoming the heart and soul of the Lakehead Thunderwolves, a team leader in trying times.
And he did it with a smile.
It would have been easy for Menashe to throw in the towel this season, a campaign that saw Lakehead (2-22) drop its first 10 games and its final nine.
Menashe, who is searching for a professional contract, on Saturday wound down his university career, scoring 19 points in the Wolves 74-55 loss to the visiting Laurer Golden Hawks at the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse.
He said it took a while to sink in that this was it for the Lakehead chapter of his basketball life.
“At the start of the game I wasn’t super excited or super nervous the way that I thought I would be,” he said.
“But I have to admit, after the standing ovation at the end when I realized there is no more playing here, I started seeing all those four years through the injuries, the losses, the wins the good moments. It’s been really emotional. I wish we could have gotten the win for the people who came to support us and for the guys for next year and the coaches. It was super emotional. It’s been a long ride, but it’s been great.”
Interim coach Ryan Thomson, who said he hasn’t made any decisions about next year, said Menashe has been everything the program could ask for.
“Off the court he’s one of the best people I’ve ever met. On his recruiting trip I remember I wasn’t a big fan of his, because he talked so much,” Thomson said.
“But as soon as he got here we kind of bonded over him not knowing how to get anywhere and needing a bike than then riding that bike still.”
Menashe, who missed his sophomore season with a broken wrist, was one of three players honoured prior to the game, a collection that included forwards Mike Theodore and Noel Jones.
He said he owes a lot to his time at Lakehead.
“I grew a lot as a person,” Menashe said. “I know it sounds like a cliché, but it really happened and I’m thankful for that.”
While the win was first and foremost when play started, Menashe said he was happy with his own play in the finale.
“I think I played with no pressure. I knew it was the last game and I just wanted to have fun from the last moments on the floor, a home game with everybody that I love. That’s it. I’m happy that I played well.”
The Wolves hung with the Golden Hawks for about a quarter, trailing 16-13 after one. Laurier stretched their lead to nine at the half, then rolled over Lakehead in the third, outscoring them 29-19 to go ahead by 19 and put the game away.
Ali Sow led all scorers with 27 for Laurier, who wrapped up OUA play at 12-12, good for fourth in the OUA West and a first-round playoff date against the McMaster Marauders (10-14).
