THUNDER BAY – It’s open audition time with the Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Rashean Simpson should probably expect a call-back – and maybe even a starring role.
The rookie forward played so little in the opening half of the season, appearing just twice, the OUA men’s basketball team looked into whether or not they could preserve his year of eligibility and start him fresh next fall.
When the league denied the request, first-year coach Ryan Thomson decided to give the Mississauga native a shot.
It paid off on Friday night, albeit in a losing effort, Lakehead (2-21) falling 89-72 to the visiting Laurier Golden Hawks (11-12) at the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse.
Simpson came off the bench and poured in 14 points, including four three-pointers, and while he couldn’t help the Wolves outlast their opponent, he did lead all Lakehead players in scoring.
Not bad for a guy who in six previous appearances had managed but a single three-pointer.
“It feels great,” Simpson said. “Coach Ryan came in and he told me he wants to see what I could do, what I could provide to the team.
“So I want to keep my confidence up, stay aggressive and not really let the past get to me.”
He knows he’s playing for playing time in 2018-19.
“That’s for sure. I’m excited for the future here, it looks pretty bright. I’m just trying to make sure I get my spot,” said Simpson, a walk-on who played his high school ball with the St. Martin Mustangs.
“I think I can bring outside shooting ability. And I’m a very vocal player. That’s not it, but I think I can bring more as the years come.”
Thomson sees a work in progress, one he's willing to dedicate a little time to thanks to the potential payoff.
“He’s a really, really good shooter. That was obviously the first thing I noticed about Ray. But he’s also a really bright kid, both on and off the court. Him being able to understand what he needs to do to be successful as well as what we need to do to be successful is kind of why he’s getting a shot. And he’s making the most of it,” Thompson said.
Simpson and the Thunderwolves found themselves in a back-and-forth contest in the opening half, against a team that’s secured fourth place in the OUA West and is fine-tuning its game for the postseason.
The Wolves claimed the sixth of six early lead changes on a Michael Poirier shot from beyond the arc to take a 19-18 advantage through 10 minutes, but the Golden Hawks responded in the second, erasing a seven-point Lakehead lead thanks to three straight baskets by Ben Stevens, a stretch that included a powerful two-handed dunk.
Laurier jumped in front by five at the half and put it away in what proved to be a disastrous third for the Thunderwolves, the Golden Hawks outscoring Lakehead 28-12 to take a 65-44 lead after 30 minutes.
Lakehead won the fourth 28-24, but never climbed to within 17.
“Our energy was bad from the start,” Simpson said of the third. “It started a couple of practices ago. We kept it going, which wasn’t good. We needed momentum and we didn’t bring it.”
Trevaun Kokko and Ali Sow each had 18 for the Golden Hawks, who had four players in double digits. Mor Menashe added 12 for the Thunderwolves.
Lakehead and Laurier wrap up regular-season play on Saturday, the Wolves celebrating senior’s night. Tip-off is 8 p.m.
