Vancouver Island UniversityB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 basketball team made history, and more importantly, they achieved their ultimate goal and won the Canadian college championship.
The VIU Mariners defeated the G茅ants de Saint-Jean by a 60-54 score Saturday, March 18, in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association gold-medal match in Hamilton.
It was the first time VIUB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 basketball team has won a national title since the Malaspina Mariners did it in 1998, and itB次元官网网址檚 also the first time since B次元官网网址�98 that any B.C. team has won the title.
SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 final came down to the fourth quarter. The Mariners trailed going into the final frame, but they were OK with where they were. Coach Tony Bryce said his players refused to lose.
B次元官网网址淭here was just an unbelievable amount of resilienceB次元官网网址次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e had people playing on blown ankles and torn hamstrings. Just a tough group that gritted it out. It was pretty special.B次元官网网址�
By the fourth quarter of the final game of the tournament, both teams were beat up, but the Mariners tried to take advantage and further wear down the opposition. They outscored the G茅ants 16-4 in the final quarter.
B次元官网网址淭he girls executed a game plan beautifullyB次元官网网址次元官网网址� Bryce said. B次元官网网址淲e never seemed uncomfortable. There was just an element of confidence there that we were going to be OK.B次元官网网址�
With six seconds left and a six-point lead, the coach gave his team some final instructions. Then he sat down and B次元官网网址渂roke downB次元官网网址� over the final seconds until the buzzer sounded.
Harriette Mackenzie led VIU with 17 points, 19 rebounds and five blocks in the final and Chloe Scaber was chosen player of the game. Ranika Guyton and C.J. Buckley each scored 12 points. Mackenzie was selected tournament MVP and Guyton and Buckley were first-team all-stars.
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Bryce said he thinks some of the B次元官网网址渞efuse to loseB次元官网网址� mentality and the ability to stay calm in the clutch came from the experience of last yearB次元官网网址檚 nationals, when the Mariners lost in overtime of the gold-medal match.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not where we are without that senior group from last year and I hope they feel a part of this is theirs as well, because theyB次元官网网址檝e helped me develop this program to where itB次元官网网址檚 at,B次元官网网址� Bryce said.
That place is at the top of Canadian womenB次元官网网址檚 college basketball, a height the coach always believed was achievable.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not easy. Something has to go right,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a real good feeling and I think itB次元官网网址檚 well-earned and well-deserved. I donB次元官网网址檛 think good things happen to good people B次元官网网址� I think good things happen to good people that work their [tail] off and thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e all about.B次元官网网址�
VIU Mariners men earn bronze at national championships
Vancouver Island UniversityB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 basketball team ended the season with a podium placing.
The VIU Mariners men captured bronze at the CCAA championships in Calgary this past week. VIU defeated the St. Clair Saints 109-100 in the third-place game Sunday, March 19.
Landon Radliff scored 31 points, Akoi Yuot had 30 points and 15 rebounds and Richard Henderson scored 27 points to go with 13 rebounds for the MB次元官网网址檚.
Yuot was named a first-team all-star and Henderson was a second-team all-star.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
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