Dinos to Face Vikes In Quarter-Finals

at  Victoria Vikes 90  UBC Thunderbirds 83 - A tense finish sees Victoria  nab the win and 1st place in the Pacific with 3 point shooting being the major difference in the 2nd half.  A sparkling performance from 4th year transfer Michael Acheampong led the way for UVic, who cranked up their offense tonight in front of a big crowd on Kathy and Ken Shields Court, after having been shut down in Vancouver last week.

This game was not the defensive tour de force for UBC which we saw last week, as Vic’s shooters got loose on drives to the hoop and with 3 point shots off of dribble penetration.  Acheampong, a saviour for UVic, slashed to his left time and again and hit some big outside shots, finishing with 28 points.  McKinnon was harassed by 2 defenders in the 1st half, but saw more open space in the 2nd, and scored 23.  The Vikes also got 16 pts. and 8 assists from  Zac Andrus and 14 points, 7 boards by Terrell Evans. In contrast to last week’s chilly 26% from the floor, victoria lit it up for 31/58 - 53% in this deciding game.

The T-Birds took a 6 point lead on 2 occasions in the 4th quarter, but lost it, as Acheampong hit a pair of treys to pump some life back into Victoria. Terrell Evans had a few nice rebounds in the final  frame, and his energy also lifted the home side.  UBC’s Tommy Nixon led his squad with 21 points,  Kamar Burke had  18 plus 10 rebounds, while Nathan Yu and Doug Plumb both scored 17.  The Vikes hit  13/25 from beyond the arc, while the ‘Birds were 8/13.  From the free -throw line Victoria hit 15/20, and UBC was 17/23 .  BOX SCORE

So, UVic claims the top spot and will host the Calgary Dinos in the Quarter-Finals, while UBC travels to meet Alberta.

Canada West Playoff Schedule -  

Quarter-Finals  -  We are all set now with the match-ups for the 1st round, the best of 3 quarter-finals, at the home of the higher placed team.  3 series will run next Friday-Sunday, while UFV- and Lethbridge are going a day earlier, Feb. 23-25.  Fraser Valley’s late season surge gave them the 2nd place tie-breaker (2 wins head to head) over UBC , who drop to 3rd and will have to travel to Edmonton to play the Prairie #2 team, the Golden Bears.

Calgary Dinos (Prairie 4)  at  Victoria Vikes  (Pacific 1)  Feb. 24-26

Lethbridge Pronghorns (Prairie 3)   at  Fraser Valley Cascades  (Pacific 2)  Feb. 23-25

UBC Thunderbirds (Pacific 3)   at Alberta Golden Bears  (Prairie 2)  Feb. 24-26

Trinity Western Spartans (Wildcard)  at Saskatchewan Huskies  (Prairie 1)  Feb. 24 - 26

Notes - 

1. •UBC Coach Kevin Hanson on the raised level of alumni interest surrounding the T-Birds-Vikes games.  “I have had about 50 alumni and supporters giving me advice on how to go and get the ball (off the offensive glass),” Hanson reported. “So hopefully we rebound well and they can take the credit  for it. But more than ever we have worked on (rebounding) technique, on boxing out and the desire it takes to just go and get it.”  (Howard Tsumura
   

rom his on-line story in The Province)

  

1. •   MRU Cougars 82  SAIT  Trojans 70 on  Friday night in their  final ACAC game between the 2 Calgary rivals before  MRU switches to Canada West             next Fall.
   

1. • CIS Scores Friday - 
   

            Acadia 90  UPEI  74

            Ryerson  79  Ottawa 62

            Lakehead 100  Guelph  78

            Carleton  99 Toronto  64

           Concordia  63 Bishops  58

            UQAM  74  Laval  60