THE ROAR OF THE COUGARS

There's a roar coming from Sault College, home of Cougar men's basketball team. Winners of three games in a row, the Cougars have a 4-2 record. Their two losses -- both on the road -- have been narrow ones, 93-90 to Lambton and 69-68 to St. Clair. Since then, the Sault College men have reeled off successive wins over Niagara, Fanshawe and their crosstown rivals at Algoma University -- and are in a torrid battle for first place within the West Region of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. With the OCAA regular-season schedule now on hiatus until the New Year, the Cougars have competed six of their 12 games. While the Cougars have six games remaining in the New Year, both Niagara and St. Clair have eight to play and Lambton nine. Niagara and St. Clair both have 3-1 records, while Lambton is 2-1. Fanshawe, meanwhile, is now 3-3 after beginning the season with three straight wins. Rounding out the West Region standings heading into the semester/exam break are Redeemer at 1-4 and Algoma University at 1-5. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDS: The Cougars of this season don't have the size of the team that finished 9-3 during the regular season and made it to the provincial playdowns last spring. Gone via graduation are 6-foot-7 power forward Jacob Robinson and 6-foot-5 centre Mike Cundari, who controlled the boards with sheer muscular force last season. But veteran forward Tim Walker has stepped up as the Cougars' new chairman of the boards this season. Besides being one of the OCAA's top scorers with 101 points in six OCAA games, Walker has used his lanky 6-foot-4 frame and athletic ability to become one of top rebounders in the West Region. Walker plays tough underneath at both ends of the court. Time and time again he has taken away rebounds from taller, heavier opponents. And scoring-wise, Walker's been collecting the points through resilient inside work. BENCH STRENGTH: The biggest difference between the Sault and its crosstown rivals at Algoma is the bench strength of the Cougars. Cougars' head coach Thomas Cory can start any five of nine players and not miss a beat. And to be sure, players 10 through 16 on the Cougars would get worthy playing time with the Thunderbirds. Which is not a slam on the program that is being built at Algoma. Greg Sirie, Jason Trinier, Adam Hawdon, Paul Raycroft and Jamie Wabigwan are all good players. It's just that Algoma doesn't have near the depth that the Sault has. When Sault College can sit injured standouts Robbie Green (78 points in five OCAA games) and Chris Muncaster as they did in last Friday's win over Algoma and not be affected, it gives an indication of the type of team the Cougars have. Impressive off the bench when called upon this season have been rookie forward Jeff Rennison, a Korah grad, as well as Reynord Bobb and Nathan Whalen. Bobb is as electrifying an offensive player as there is in the OCAA West Region, while Whalen has displayed choice ball-handling skills. Like Rennison, both Bobb and Whalen are rookies.