Josh Whyte scored 19 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead UBC to victory over Acadia.(Photo Credit: Sean Kilpatrick)
by Armaan Ahluwalia
The first day of the CIS Final 8 has now come and gone with tones of action taking place at the Metro Centre. There was some great basketball and some memorable moments and its not even close to being finished just yet. Day 1 was not really full of too many surprises but it had a bunch of thrills and some great basketball.
#1 UBC vs. #8 Acadia.
#1 UBC vs. #8 Acadia.
If there was a David vs. Goliath in this tournament this would be it. Unfortunately the outcome was all but expected. The Thunderbirds coming of an impressive victory over the Huskies in the Canada West Finals and the #1 ranking in the country. The Acadia Axemen were just lucky enough to get here to say the least.
This game started out with the makings of a classic. UBC only lead by 3 after the 1st quarter. By halftime it was only a 5 point deficit for the Axemen who were keeping pace with the Thunderbirds. This game was turning heads as this gritty Acadia team was giving problems to the #1 ranked team in the country. By the 3rd quarter’s end the Thunderbirds were up by 7 and they never looked back heading into the 4th quarter. They just took control and ended up winning by 19 points. Final Score 96-77.
A lot closer game if you take out the 4th quarter which did not go Acadia’s way, possibly because of the talent on the UBC team which started to show in the final stages of the game. Acadia’s Klassen had 22, Sears 19, McLaughlin 16 and Boutilier 8. UBC’s Doug Plumb lead the way with 20 points, Malish 17, Burke 13, Whyte 19. In the end the Thunderbirds out rebounded Acadia 50-28. The deeper bench helped UBC as they rotated often and with success. They move on to play TWU in the semi final.
#4 Lakehead vs. #5 Trinity Western University.
This game started out with the makings of a classic. UBC only lead by 3 after the 1st quarter. By halftime it was only a 5 point deficit for the Axemen who were keeping pace with the Thunderbirds. This game was turning heads as this gritty Acadia team was giving problems to the #1 ranked team in the country. By the 3rd quarter’s end the Thunderbirds were up by 7 and they never looked back heading into the 4th quarter. They just took control and ended up winning by 19 points. Final Score 96-77.
A lot closer game if you take out the 4th quarter which did not go Acadia’s way, possibly because of the talent on the UBC team which started to show in the final stages of the game. Acadia’s Klassen had 22, Sears 19, McLaughlin 16 and Boutilier 8. UBC’s Doug Plumb lead the way with 20 points, Malish 17, Burke 13, Whyte 19. In the end the Thunderbirds out rebounded Acadia 50-28. The deeper bench helped UBC as they rotated often and with success. They move on to play TWU in the semi final.
#4 Lakehead vs. #5 Trinity Western University.
This was the most predicted upset of the day. Well the 4 vs. 5 seed is never really an upset but it has the makings for a great game thats for sure. The Thunderwolves OUA champs are not a flashy team and the TWU spartans are considered to be one of the top teams in a tough Canada West conference.
TWU started out strong in the first leaving the quarter with a 20-6 lead. From that point on it was pretty much the spartans game from there on in. The spartans had a huge height advantage over the Thunderwolves and it was made apparent early on. The second quarter was better for Lakehead but TWU lead going into half 39-28. Lakehead managed to have a very strong 4th quarter but was still unable to take the lead. TWU showed some signs of weakness as they found it hard to close out the final quarter when it should have been easily done.
This game was the spartans from the start as they dominated a favourable matchup. The Spartans leading scorers were Jacob Doerksen and Kyle Coston who both scored 20 points, Calvin Westbrook 16, Tyrell Mara 11. Lakehead was lead by Ryan Thompson with 18, Jamie Searle 15, Venzal Russell 13. The Thunderwolves were out rebounded by the Spartans 52-35. They move on to play UBC in the 1st semi final.
#3 Saskatchewan Huskies vs. #6 Dalhousie Tigers
TWU started out strong in the first leaving the quarter with a 20-6 lead. From that point on it was pretty much the spartans game from there on in. The spartans had a huge height advantage over the Thunderwolves and it was made apparent early on. The second quarter was better for Lakehead but TWU lead going into half 39-28. Lakehead managed to have a very strong 4th quarter but was still unable to take the lead. TWU showed some signs of weakness as they found it hard to close out the final quarter when it should have been easily done.
This game was the spartans from the start as they dominated a favourable matchup. The Spartans leading scorers were Jacob Doerksen and Kyle Coston who both scored 20 points, Calvin Westbrook 16, Tyrell Mara 11. Lakehead was lead by Ryan Thompson with 18, Jamie Searle 15, Venzal Russell 13. The Thunderwolves were out rebounded by the Spartans 52-35. They move on to play UBC in the 1st semi final.
#3 Saskatchewan Huskies vs. #6 Dalhousie Tigers
This was anticipating to be the most intense game of the evening. They were right this was a great game. The Huskies coming up just short in the Canada West Finals against UBC. The Tigers winning the AUS against an exhausted Acadia team in thrashing style.
The Huskies went on to win but it was not easy. The first half was back and forth through out as both teams were trading baskets all the way through the game. There was a lot of intensity as the crowd was filled with masses of Tiger fans and a small but loud section of Huskies fans. The atmosphere was electric the entire game. I’m not sure what was said in the Huskies locker room at half but they sure started playing a lot better. The Huskies started rebounding better and capitalizing on Tiger turnovers. The 4th quarter belonged to Jamelle Barrett who dominated. The Huskies managed to shut down Farine and the offensive machine he is.
Jamelle Barrett lead the way for the Huskies with 27 points, Michael Lieffers had 19 points and 17 rebounds, Rejean Chabot 19 points, Nolan Brudehl 14. The Tigers were lead by Joseph Schow who would not quit and managed 24 points and 13 rebounds, Simone Farine 22 points, Juleous Grant 10 points who was quiet in the 2nd half. The Huskies move on to play the Carleton Ravens in the 2nd semi final.
#2 Carleton Ravens vs. #7 Concordia Stingers.
The Huskies went on to win but it was not easy. The first half was back and forth through out as both teams were trading baskets all the way through the game. There was a lot of intensity as the crowd was filled with masses of Tiger fans and a small but loud section of Huskies fans. The atmosphere was electric the entire game. I’m not sure what was said in the Huskies locker room at half but they sure started playing a lot better. The Huskies started rebounding better and capitalizing on Tiger turnovers. The 4th quarter belonged to Jamelle Barrett who dominated. The Huskies managed to shut down Farine and the offensive machine he is.
Jamelle Barrett lead the way for the Huskies with 27 points, Michael Lieffers had 19 points and 17 rebounds, Rejean Chabot 19 points, Nolan Brudehl 14. The Tigers were lead by Joseph Schow who would not quit and managed 24 points and 13 rebounds, Simone Farine 22 points, Juleous Grant 10 points who was quiet in the 2nd half. The Huskies move on to play the Carleton Ravens in the 2nd semi final.
#2 Carleton Ravens vs. #7 Concordia Stingers.
This game had much anticipation about it as well as everyone knew what Carleton was able to do after going 22-0 and then losing a close game to Lakehead in the OUA finals. Many people were not too sure what to expect from the Stingers as Quebec Basketball doesn’t get much coverage.
This game like the one before it started off with a back and forth swing as both teams traded baskets and after half time the lead was only one 34-33 for the Ravens. The ability of the Ravens to go with some bench players helped the Ravens as a majority of the Stingers played long minutes. The 3rd quarter was much of the same basket trading as the Ravens increased their lead to 2 points heading into the 4th. The 4th quarter was where the Ravens experience took advantage and they pulled ahead to win by 7 points. 73-66.
The Stingers were led by Decee Krah with 21 points, Kyle Desmarais 17, Evans Laroche 10, Zach Brisebois 9. The Ravens were led by CIS player of the year Tyson Hinz who had 19 points, Elliot Thompson 15, Willy Manigat 14, Thomas Scrubb 8. Their ability to spread the scoring helped them pull away. They meet Saskatchewan in the Semi finals.
This game like the one before it started off with a back and forth swing as both teams traded baskets and after half time the lead was only one 34-33 for the Ravens. The ability of the Ravens to go with some bench players helped the Ravens as a majority of the Stingers played long minutes. The 3rd quarter was much of the same basket trading as the Ravens increased their lead to 2 points heading into the 4th. The 4th quarter was where the Ravens experience took advantage and they pulled ahead to win by 7 points. 73-66.
The Stingers were led by Decee Krah with 21 points, Kyle Desmarais 17, Evans Laroche 10, Zach Brisebois 9. The Ravens were led by CIS player of the year Tyson Hinz who had 19 points, Elliot Thompson 15, Willy Manigat 14, Thomas Scrubb 8. Their ability to spread the scoring helped them pull away. They meet Saskatchewan in the Semi finals.
Armaan Ahluwalia is a writer with the Dal Gazette and www.1inthestands.blogspot.com. Follow him on twitter @therealbrindian.
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