CROSS TOWN SHOWDOWN

The city's two Ontario Colleges Athletic Association men's basketball teams are set for a cross-town showdown tomorrow night. Fresh from their first win ever as an OCAA team after 16 straight losses dating back to last season, the Algoma University Thunderbirds will play host to the Sault College Cougars in an 8 p.m. game at the George Leach Centre. A second-year entry in the OCAA, the Thunderbirds are 1-4 in the West Region, having upended the Fanshawe Falcons last weekend. The Cougars also knocked off previously unbeaten Fanshawe last weekend. Led by forward Greg Sirie, centre Adam Hawdon and guard Jason Trinier, the Thunderbirds will be riding plenty of emotion for the showdown with Sault College. "We're feeling pretty good about ourselves but going up against a team like Sault College is an awfully big challenge," said Algoma head coach Ray Barsanti. "There's no weakness on that team." Thomas Cory, head coach of the 3-2 Cougars, isn't taking Algoma lightly. "The fact that they beat Fanshawe speaks for itself," said Cory. "Algoma's got a big team and they rebound well." Friday's men's game will be preceded by a women's contest between Algoma and the Sault. The Cougar women, who are playing a partial schedule as a first-year, non-conference OCAA team, dropped a pair of games to Algoma earlier this season.