20 Acton/Georgetown, Friday, July 6, 2007 SPORTS & LEISURE Bulldogs on verge of sweeping Buzz aside Payback could come as soon as Friday night EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Separated by just two points in the final Ontario Lacrosse Association's Jr. B regular-season standings, there hasn't been much to choose between the Oakville Buzz and the Halton Hills Bulldogs in the first two games of their openinground playoff series-- until the third period rolls around. The fifth-place Bulldogs can eliminate the defending Founders Cup-champion Buzz tonight at the Glen Abbey Rec Centre beginning at 8 p.m. NIC GRASBY after grabbing a 20 lead in the bestof-5 matchup in Georgetown Wednesday night with a 10-7 win. In each of the first two games, the 14-4-2 Buzz has battled the 14-6-0 'Dogs evenly, holding a 7-5 lead late into the second period of Wednesday's tilt, but Oakville has been shut out in the final frame both times. With memories of elimination at the hands of the Buzz in the past two post-seasons, the Bulldogs aren't exactly making bus reservations for a second-round playoff series, perhaps even against the undefeated Green Gaels of Clarington. "Oakville has a good quality team and we expect nothing but the best from them in the next game," said 21-year-old Bulldogs' goalie Manny Hundal of Mississauga. "Both wins we have were hardfought that could have gone either way and I just hope we can keep it going. Three years ago when I was with Mimico, we were up 2-0 and Barrie came back and took the series, so if there's one thing I've learned is that it's not over 'til the third-period buzzer goes." Oakville captain Josh Ruys said that a lack of Jr. B experience and conditioning likely are the reasons for his team's third-period letdowns. "(Halton Hills) have a few returning players and you can see it in their eyes that they're determined to win and that they hate us. I guess that's when you know you have a good rivalry going," Ruys surmised. The largest crowd of the season for a home Bulldog game was entertained by a see-saw affair Wednesday, as the teams were tied at three after 20 minutes. Halton Hills took a 5-3 advantage before the Buzz tallied four straight in a sevenminute span, but that was all for Oakville's offence. Nic Grasby led the Bulldogs with two goals and two assists. Brandon Goodfellow, Andrew Marcoux and J.J. Laforet added two goals apiece, with singles going to Braden Artem and Mike Burke. Hundal, picked up by Halton Hills midway through the season, shared playing time with all-star selection Spencer Robson and Nic Spence, but has earned the starter's role for now. If a fourth game is required, it will be played at Georgetown's MoldMasters SportsPlex Sunday starting at 7 p.m. (Eamonn Maher can be reached at emaher@independentfreepress.com) Braden Artem, assistant captain of the Halton Hills Bulldogs, crashes into Oakville goalie Cam Watts during game two of their Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B playoff contest on Wednesday at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Artem closed out the scoring for the host Bulldogs in another strong third period for the club, in which no goals were allowed for the second consecutive outing, and the 10-7 victory has the Buzz on the brink of elimination. Halton Hills can sweep the best-of-5 matchup tonight (Friday) in Oakville with a win at the Glen Abbey Rec Centre. Game four, if necessary, would be played in Georgetown Sunday. Photo by Eamonn Maher Putnam chips in to Canadian junior golf team triumph Georgetown's Ryan Putnam was a member of the Canadian team that earned its second victory in five tries against the U.S. in the Canadian Junior Golf Association's Mizuno North America Cup held this week at the Weston Golf & Country Club in Toronto. The 18-year-old Putnam dropped his final-round singles match on Wednesday 3 & 2 to Zac Blair of Ogden, Utah, but the Canadian team had already built a comfortable lead thanks to a dominant team fourball performance on Tuesday in w h i c h Putnam was RYAN PUTNAM on one of the victorious Canuck tandems in the Ryder Cup-type event. The North America Cup will return to South Carolina in 2008. Meanwhile, Putnam has also qualified to compete in the Golf Association of Ontario's Junior & Juvenile Boys' Championships July 24-27 at the Bayview Country Club in Thornhill. Three other North Halton junior members, Luke Ovenden, Tyler McNiven and Ryan Thomson, all 16 years of age, will vie for the GAO boys' juvenile title after finishing in the top 12 at a qualifier on Tuesday at the Glenway course in Newmarket. Ovenden had the top local placing with a three-over-par 73, tying for third spot. ··· Samantha Spencer had the best result out of a number of young Halton Hills golfers who competed in CJGA Junior Linkster Series events this week. Spencer, 11, was runner-up in the girls' 10-12 division at the event held Tuesday at the Acton Golf Club after a round of 91, ending up just one shot behind champ Madison Easterbrook of Burlington. Callum Biehn finished fourth in the boys' 9-10 age group at the Acton tourney with a 17-over-par 85, while brother Ryan placed in 10th in the boys' 11-12 draw after a 91. 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