Tag: men’s basketball

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Leading the team is his last year

In his last year, Fosu has been regarded as a leader on the team.

Stingers forward Michael Fosu talks about being a fifth-year player on the basketball squad

Concordia Stingers men’s basketball forward Michael Fosu is now competing in his fifth year with the team. But before that, he played one year with the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds.

Fosu, who played basketball in CEGEP for Vanier College, initially chose to go to New Brunswick to play with one of his teammates from Vanier. However, just a year in, he decided to come to Concordia.

“It’s a great school, don’t get me wrong,” Fosu said. “People are nice over there, but [for me] it was about winning. I wanted to make the playoffs. That’s what we’ve been able to do here.”

The fifth-year Stinger also went to Lucien Page, a French high school here in Montreal. With a strong knowledge of French, Fosu found himself in Concordia’s French Studies program, from which he is set to graduate from this year. However, he said his field of study had no bearing on his decision to come to Concordia. His decision was purely from a competitive standpoint.

Having been with the Stingers for four years, Fosu has seen many players come and go. He recalled Zach Brisebois and Taylor Garner, among others, as being his favourite teammates to play with.

osu played a year of university basketball in New Brunswick before coming to the Stingers. Photos by Brianna Thicke.

“My first year here is the only year where I can say that I played with veteran guys who know the game of basketball,” Fosu said.

He also explained he had a great relationship with the team’s head coach at the time, John Dore.

“He was more like a father figure to me,” Fosu said.

Fosu also explained the community within the basketball program was one of the major reasons he knew Concordia was the right team for him, describing the overall atmosphere as one of a “family.” As soon as he set foot on campus, he said it was easy for him to joke around with his older teammates—which is something he tries to do now with the younger guys on the team.

“Of course they are rookies,” Fosu said. “But at the same time, we let them know that they are a part of the family. “

That same team spirit is the reason why the transition between Dore and current head coach Rastko Popovic has been so effortless. Popovic was an assistant coach with the women’s and men’s teams before being promoted to head coach of the men’s team. Having known the guys on the team for a while, Popovic looked to Fosu to provide leadership for the team.

“I am a man of few words,” Fosu said. “I am a guy who leads by example.”

Fosu also noted that, during his collegiate career, a few players have come in and out of the program without ever being able to sustain the level of play that’s demanded. This is a reality that has drastically changed over the course of the last year or so.

“The new guys coming in are so mature for their age,” Fosu said. “I can’t wait to see what they’ll do in the future.”

When talking about the new Stingers players, Fosu referenced Olivier Simon and Roman Power as guys who have already shown promise in their first year.

For Fosu and the team, the goal is to win a championship—just like every year. However, optimism is high due to the current crop of young players who will help solidify the Stingers as serious competitors—not just this year, but for the years to come. Fosu is excited to be a part of that process despite that this is his last year.

Fosu’s experience has made him a major contributor to his team, having started eight games out of nine this season and averaging 8.7 points per game. He also plays 22 minutes per game, which ranks him fourth amongst his teammates—a testament to the depth Popovic has been able to assemble.

Fosu also believes this year’s team is the one most likely to contend for a title in years.

“This is the most talented team we’ve had since I got here,” Fosu said. “We’ve always been one step away from really winning it all, but this year, hopefully with the young guys, we can get to the championship.”

There is no doubt in his mind the program is in good hands.

“If I have an opportunity to be an assistant coach, I will take it,” Fosu said. “I want to stay involved in the game.”

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Stingers upset top-ranked McGill Redmen 51-44

Photo by Andrej Ivanov

Despite the sloppy play by both teams, Concordia held on to a 51-44 victory

The Concordia Stingers Men’s basketball team put on a defensive clinic against the visiting McGill Redmen 51-44, in Saturday’s afternoon’s annual Shoot for the Cure charity game at Loyola.

Coming off a Feb. 5 away loss against McGill when Concordia dropped two games below a .500 record on the season, the Stingers looked to get back in the playoff discussion as they took on the top-ranked McGill squad.

Points came at a premium as both teams struggled to get anything going offensively in the first quarter. Sloppy turnovers and clumsy basketball plagued any sort of offensive consistency either team attempted to impose.

Halfway through the first quarter, both teams combined for a total 15 points and a gaudy six turnovers. Unfortunately for both sides, the lackluster shooting persisted for the remainder of the quarter, and the Redmen took a slight 14-13 advantage exiting the first quarter.

Despite the offensive woes, the Stingers commitment on defensive side of the ball was apparent throughout. Concordia’s second-year forward Ken Beaulieu was a breath a fresh air: his pesky defense resulted in four steals and countless successful shot contests.

The second quarter provided even less offence than the beleaguered opening frame, with the quarter’s first points scored by either team coming with just over two minutes into the quarter. Turnovers and missed shot attempts continued to dominate the narrative as the teams entered the half at a 24-23 stand still, with McGill holding the slight lead.

After the half, Concordia’s defensive pressure was in full effect and managed to hold the visiting Redmen to a woeful six points and sub 30 per cent shooting from the floor. Fifth-year Stingers player Mukiya Post erupted down the stretch hitting a huge momentum-shifting three-pointer to give the Stingers some much needed breathing room after a pair of Michael Fosu free throws.

In the fourth, the Redmen stormed back as McGill’s Regis Ivaniukas hit a deep three-pointer to tie the game at 39-39 with 5:17 left in the game. After a late Concordia timeout, the Stingers went on to close out the game on a businesslike 10-3 run, handing the previously 8-2 Redmen their third loss of the season.

The Stingers, presently third in The Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) will be looking to turn this win into a trend as they pay a visit to the second-ranked Bishop’s Gaiters on Friday, Feb. 13 in Lennoxville.

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Frustrating loss for the Stingers at home

Late turnovers in the fourth quarter cost Concordia the game

Concordia’s men’s team hosted the Laval Rouge et Or on Thursday night’s double-header in an exciting back-and-forth game. The Rouge et Or finally won the game 79-77 thanks to costly turnovers by the home team late in the game. The Stingers committed 22 turnovers all together in the game.

The game’s first points came on a slam dunk by Stingers forward Ken Beaulieu. A few seconds later, Rouge et Or center Boris Hadzimuratovic hit two free throws. The Stingers respond with a 5-0 run which included another slam dunk by Beaulieu to give Concordia the early cushion.

As the first quarter was drawing to end, the Stingers would increase their lead on a three-pointer by guard Mukiya Post. Concordia’s quick start was evident and the score at the end of the first quarter was 22-14 .

The Rouge et Or had a strong start to the second quarter as they scored the first points of the second quarter on a basket by forward Antoine Beaumier. Beaumier’s basket started a 4-0 run for Laval to give his team much-needed life. Laval would score eight unanswered points midway through the second, led by Dezutter who scored five points on the run.

Late in the half, Stingers guard Aamir Gyles stepped out from beyond the arc and hit a three-pointer to maintain Concordia’s advantage. The maroon and gold went into halftime with a five point lead as the score was 43-38.

Like the second quarter, Laval had a fast start to the third quarter as they opened the quarter with a 7-0 run and took their first lead of the night. The quarter went back and forth between the two teams and it seemed as neither team could miss.

The Stingers took back the lead on a three-pointer by point guard, Ricardo Monge midway through the third. Not to be outdone, the Rouge et Or then came storming back and took an eight point lead.

By the time the buzzer sounded for the end of the third quarter, both teams had put on an offensive explosion. The Stingers had erased the Rouge et Or’s big lead and trailed the visiting team by just two points, 64-62.

The Rouge et Or scored their first points of the final quarter with five minutes left in the game on free throws by Thibaud Dezutter which tied the game. The Stingers then scored six unanswered points and looked to be in control. However, the Rouge et Or did not give up and rallied with 12 seconds left in the game to tie it at 77 with a basket by forward Alexandre Leclerc.

Just as it looked like the game was headed to overtime, Leclerc got the ball back for his team and drew a foul. A pair of free throws would settle the game and stun Concordia.

After the game, Stingers head coach John Dore was disappointed with his team’s performance and timely turnovers.

“We had far too many turnovers which really hurt us in the end,” Dore said.

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Men’s basketball team crushes UQAM

The Stingers jumped out early and never looked back as they crushed the Citadins 72-57

When the men’s basketball team played host to the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins on Thursday night, it was a different story. The Stingers dominated the Citadins in Thursday’s affair and won by 15 points, 72-57. Five different Stingers had double-digit points including guards Aamir Gyles and Mukiya Post, who both had 13 points in the win. The big difference in the game was the way Concordia capitalized off of the Citadins 17 giveaways, scoring 27 points off turnovers alone.

Concordia got off to a fast start and scored the opening points in the game with baskets by forward Mike Fosu and Aamir Gyles. However, the Citadins went on their own 4-0 run to tie the game on baskets by forward Alexandre Bernard and guard Davidson Joseph.

The teams exchanged points throughout the first quarter until Concordia was able to take control late in the opening act. Concordia ended the frame winning 14-7.

The second quarter began as a stalemate. At one point it seemed as if neither team would get any points in the second. The first points of the quarter came only with 5:34 left when Gyles hit a two-pointer. Then a few seconds later, Stingers forward Ken Beaulieu went airborne for a slam dunk to wake up the crowd.

The Citadins would get their first points of the second quarter with 4:17 left on a basket by guard Jean-Yves Kazadi. As they did in the first quarter, Concordia pressed the tempo of the game late in the quarter to take control. The Stingers responded with a 4-0 run which included a one-handed slam dunk by Ken Beaulieu. Concordia was up 12 points at halftime, 24-12.

The Stingers kept the pressure on the Citadins to start the second half and began the third quarter on a basket by Beaulieu which sparked an 8-0 run to increase their lead. The Citadins’ Joseph provided a little push-back for his team by scoring six points in a minute and 19 seconds for his team.

The Stingers continued to score baskets but a key moment in the game occurred with 3:45 seconds left in the quarter as the Stingers had back-to-back slam dunks by center Jean-Louis Wanya and Beaulieu. Any hope and momentum that the Citadins thought they had vanished once and for all. Concordia took a commanding 20-point lead to end the third quarter, 53-33.

Concordia would start the final frame with a bang when Post went beyond the arc for a three-pointer. The Citadins did close the gap to 11 points with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter on free throws by Alexandre Bernard, but the game had already been decided at that point.

Despite the convincing win, Stingers head coach John Dore believed that there are still aspects of the game that his team needs to improve on.

“We played solid defence in the first half but we committed too many fouls and turnovers,” Dore said.

 

 

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Stingers win overtime thriller against Gaiters

Concordia manages to edge-out Bishop’s with a 86-84 performance in a nail-biting finish

Thursday’s game between the Stingers and the Gaiters was a thriller which needed overtime to find a winner. In the end, the Stingers prevailed and squeaked out a 86-84 victory. The Stingers played without two of their key players: guard Mukiya Post and forward Mike Fosu were both out with injuries. However, rookie point guard Ricardo Monge led the charge and scored a career high 23 points.

The Stingers got the first points of the game on a basket by center Jean-Louis Wayna, but the Gaiters captured the early momentum, responding with a 7-0 run. The Stingers would tie the game three times: once at 12, once at 16, and again at 18-18. From the start, both teams knew that they were in for a close battle. In the first quarter, Concordia did an excellent job shooting three-pointers, Monge, forward Ken Beaulieu and forward Xander Jean all had threes in the opening quarter.

The Gaiters scored the first points of the second quarter on free throws by guard Kyle Desmarais. However, the Stingers started the second quarter on a hot streak, going on a 7-0 run of their own. Concordia went into halftime leading the game 38-33, but the back-and-forth tempo was sure to set up an exciting second half.

Concordia took control of the third quarter, and at one point they led by 12 points after a 9-0 run. Like they had all game, Bishop’s did not back down: by the time the third quarter ended, they had cut the Stingers’ lead to seven points, 61-54.

The fourth quarter was dominated by the Gaiters and the Stingers lost their lead. The Gaiters scored the first points of the fourth quarter on a basket by Majid Naji which started a 6-0 run for the team. With just over four minutes left, Bishop’s tied the game at 65. The two teams exchanged baskets for the rest of regulation and Concordia had the lead entering the final minute of play. Then Naji hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 73 with 23 seconds left.

The Stingers started overtime with an arcing three-pointer by Monge. Desmarais continued to power the Gaiters offense and responded with a two-pointer. With just over a minute left, the Stingers took a one point led on a basket by forward Matt McLean. Stingers forwards Gabe Riche and Wayna got two late baskets to ensure the victory.

 

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Concordia bested by Bishop’s and lose 76-69

The men’s basketball team could not complete the comeback on Thursday night’s game

The men’s basketball team hosted the Bishop’s Gaiters on Thursday, Nov.13. For the second straight week, the Stingers rallied in the second half and scored 44 points. However, their comeback fell short on Thursday as the Gaiters prevailed with a 76-69 victory.

Stingers guard Aamir Gyles drives to the hoop against the Gaiters on Thursday night. Photo by Brianna Thicke.

The Gaiters came out firing; Bishop’s had a 7-0 run to start the game and their first basket came on a three-pointer by guard Karim Sy-Morrisette. The Stingers would score their first basket of the game with only 6:44 left in the first quarter on field goal by guard, Mukiya Post.

Concordia later went on a roll of their own scoring six unanswered points to bring the game to within one, but the Gaiters would answer and score 11 unanswered points to regain a commanding lead.

Trailing 20-12 heading into the second quarter, things would not get better for the Stingers.

The Gaiters scored first in the quarter on a basket by Desmarais and later increased their lead thanks to a three-pointer by Majid Naji. It was all Bishop’s the first half. The Stingers would get a string of free throws by Frank Mpeck, Aamir Gyles and Jean-Louis Wanya late in the quarter but by the time the buzzer sounded for half, the Stingers were down by 18 points and losing 43-25.

The crowd saw a different Stingers team in the third quarter. A quick three-pointer by Ken Beaulieu gave the home side some signs of life. Although the Gaiters would score nine points in response to maintain their big lead, this game was far from over.

Stingers forward, Mike Fosu would hit a three-pointer which would start a Stingers run. Beaulieu then had a steal and would go end-to-end for a slam dunk, firing up the crowd. The Gaiters did not score a basket for four minutes which allowed the Stingers to get back into it.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair and the Gaiters would strike first on a basket by center, Mike Andrews. Stingers responded on two baskets by Fosu and Beaulieu, but Desmarais would add to Bishop’s lead with a three-pointer. Not to be outdone however, Post would answer with a three of his own to keep it a ten point game.

The Stingers would score 10 unanswered points late in the game and were down four points after a basket by Beaulieu. The four points is the closest they would get, due to mistakes late in the game. The Gaiters were perfect on free throws during the game.

After the final whistle, Stingers head coach John Dore praised his team for not giving up until the end, but realized that they put themselves in a bad spot.

“This team has a lot of heart and character but we cannot fall behind like that again,” said Dore.

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Concordia completes thrilling comeback

Stingers win home opener 80-70 against the Rouge et Or

The men’s squad hosted the Université de Laval Rouge et Or on Thursday, Nov. 6 in their regular season home opener. The Stingers entered the game after a shaky 6-6 preseason record. However, the Stingers showed plenty of desire, scoring 43 points in the second half to win 80-70.

The first quarter was very high scoring, with 46 points scored by the two teams. The Rouge et Or won the tipoff to start the game and scored first on a three-pointer by guard Karl Demers-Belanger. The Stingers responded with three straight baskets to take an early lead, two of which were scored by Ken Beaulieu. The Rouge et Or would storm back and score 18 unanswered points to take the lead, ending the quarter with a score of 26-20.

Photo by Briana Thicke.

The Stingers scored first in the second quarter on a three-pointer by first-year point guard Ricardo Monge. The Rouge et Or would continue to increase their lead as Demers-Belanger and then forward Thibaud Dezutter would hit back-to-back three-pointers. Seconds later, the Stingers would respond with another three-pointer by Monge. The Stingers entered the locker room at half-time down 43-37.

Laval came out firing in the third quarter, with center Boris Hadzimuratovic scoring the first points on a two-pointer. A minute later, forward Antoine Beaumier would hit two free throws.

The Stingers finally got their first point of the quarter with seven minutes left on a basket by fifth-year forward, Gabe Riche. At the end of the quarter, the Stingers went on a run and scored six straight points which included four free throws by forward Mike Fosu. Stingers were now down three points entering the last quarter.

The fourth quarter was a textbook demonstration of great shooting and defending by the Stingers. Beaulieu started the quarter with a two pointer and then a free throw which tied the game at 62. Concordia would break the tie on their next possession with guard Mukiya Post hitting two free throws.

The Rouge et Or would make things interesting with four minutes to go as they were only down by two. The Stingers then took control and responded with another six-point run. The defining moment of Concordia’s impressive second-half play was when Beaulieu stole the ball and ran down the court for a monstrous slam dunk that electrified the fans.

Stingers head coach John Dore was impressed with his team’s effort in the game.

“We executed well offensively and dominated defensively especially in the fourth quarter,” he said.

Dore also had great praise for Beaulieu and expects the rookie to be a big factor for the Stingers.

“He will be the most exciting player in our conference,” said Dore.

After the home opening win, Monge added how good it felt to be on the court in front of the home crowd.

“It is really exciting to win our first home game.”

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Stingers basketball prep for season

Men’s team hosted Queen’s University in their preseason game

On Friday, Oct. 17, the Concordia Stingers hosted the Queen’s Gaels in a preseason match. The Stingers entered the game with a preseason record of 3-3 and are looking to play their first regular season game on Nov. 6. The Stingers prevailed on Friday, beating the Gaels 73-61.

The team won the opening tipoff and veteran guard Mukiya Post quickly scored the first basket of the game. It was a sign of good things to come as Post scored a total of 20 points in the game.

The Stingers played great defence for most of the first half and held Queen’s to six points in the first quarter. Concordia had a big lead early as the offence exploded for 26 points in the first quarter.

Photo by Nikolas Litzenberger.

Concordia looked to be already in midseason form as they controlled the tempo early in the game. They got the first points of the second quarter on a layup by centre Jean-Louis Wanya. The Stingers continued playing solid defence, with Wanya making a big block preventing the Gaels from getting a basket for five minutes. The Stingers led 37-19 at halftime.

The Gaels scored the first basket of the second half. The Stingers committed a lot of fouls in the second half which allowed the Gaels to outscore them and gave the Gaels a chance to mount a comeback.

Luckily for the home crowd, the Stingers came out strong in the final quarter and outscored the Gaels 20-17 to preserve the win.

“We were hot and cold today. We executed on some plays but on others we had trouble,” said Stingers Head Coach John Dore.

Last year, the Stingers finished in third place in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) division with a record of 8-8 and then lost to Bishop’s in the semi-finals.

This year’s team will rely heavily on Post who led the RSEQ in scoring last season. On defence, Concordia’s new 6’10” centre Wanya will be counted on to grab rebounds and block shots.

Dore stated that his team’s goal is simple: go undefeated and win the RSEQ championship.

The Stingers added a lot of new players this year including point guard Ricardo Monge, who described the difference between playing college basketball and university basketball.

“I have to make some improvements and learn quickly so that I can adapt to the new pace of the university game,” he said.

Concordia’s starting forward and captain Mike Fosu explained how the team is looking to forge their new identity every time they take to the court.

“Toughness. We want teams to know that Concordia is tough to play against.”

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Stingers men’s basketball team gets 2013 rolling with a win and a loss

Photo by Madelayne Hajek
Photo by Madelayne Hajek

The Concordia men’s basketball team returned from the winter break with a dominant performance against the McGill Redmen on Thursday night. The Stingers lost to the Redmen once this season and were looking to get even by winning on the road.

The game started off with both sides exchanging baskets early. Concordia started to turn up the pace and slowly took over the game with their high-tempo performance. McGill managed to stay within a couple of points. Stingers guard Kyle Desmarais’ buzzer-beating three-pointer from half court was the difference at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Concordia kept up the pace and found success on both sides of the court. Concordia’s man-to-man defence was effective against McGill’s offence. The Stingers were dominant on the boards as well. They finished the game with 46 rebounds, almost twice as many as McGill.

The visiting Stingers team started to pull ahead halfway through the quarter. Seven straight points in one minute and a half put the maroon and gold ahead. McGill narrowed the score line, but Concordia’s high-powering offence allowed them to take a 38-31 lead into the halftime break.

The Stingers exploded in the third quarter, managing to score 27 points. When the score was 41-35 in their favour, Concordia went on a 10-0 run giving them a 16 point lead. They led by as much as 19 points in the quarter. By the end of the frame Con U had a comfortable 18 point lead.

It was all but over in the final quarter. The Redmen were unable to string a few baskets together and mount a comeback. McGill and Concordia traded baskets and each added 18 more points to their total. The Stingers won the game with a final score of 83-65.

Concordia’s play on defence was a big factor in the victory. The team finished with numerous blocks and steals, but the difference was on the boards. The Stingers outrebounded McGill 46-28.

“It started with our defence,” said head coach John Dore. “That’s what helped us on offence. We got a few steals, a few blocks and really outrebounded them.”

“For once, we were talking on defence every time,” said Stingers forward Kafil Eyitayo, who had 17 points and eight rebounds. “We were doing the little things right. Of course there were some lapses, but overall I think we came up big.”

In his first game back from injury, Desmarais finished with a game-high 19 points and picked up eight rebounds and three steals in the 29 minutes he played.

“It was the toughest five months of my life,” he said. “The knee feels good. I still got to work on my cardio and rhythm a little bit, but other than that, it feels amazing.”

Two days later the Stingers lost to the UQAM Citadins at home 71-69. A UQAM jump shot with eight seconds left in the game gave the Citadins the win. Stingers guard Jean-Andre Moussignac led the team with 18 points.

Concordia will hit the court again on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 4:00 p.m. against the first-place Bishop’s Gaiters. This is a home game at Concordia Gymnasium.

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Concordia starts season with win over UQÀM

The Stingers played against UQAM last week. Photo by Andrew Dobrowolsky

The Concordia Stingers needed an inspirational fourth quarter rally to defeat the Citadins at the Centre Sportif UQÀM.

In the Wednesday night season-opener, the Stingers were largely outplayed for the first 40 minutes. A 33-9 scoring run, led by forward Evens Laroche and guard Jerome Blake, helped Concordia squeak by with a five-point victory.  While the win was nothing short of spectacular, the team was none too thrilled with their game.

“We didn’t play defense for three quarters,” said assistant coach Ernie Rosa, in his 19th year with the team. “Our offense was stagnant and we didn’t work as hard as we could have.”

The Stingers played against UQAM last week. Photo by Andrew Dobrowolsky

It was a tale of two completely different games.

Laroche put his team ahead in the first minute of the game with a layup off the rush. But that would be their only lead in the first half as the Citadins shot a decent .469 from the court, outscoring the Stingers 37-25 at the half.

Matters worsened when the Stingers offense couldn’t turn Citadins turnovers into scoring plays. They soon found themselves down 60-41, with one last quarter to play.

“The thing I told the guys is ‘hope, you have to be hopeful’,” said Laroche, last year’s all-Canadian standout. “Even if you’re losing by 15, you have to be hopeful that you can win the game.”

The men in maroon and gold did just that.

Laroche came through in the clutch, stealing a Citadins pass early in the fourth quarter. He also drew praise from his coaches.

“At the end of a game, he’s a guy you want on the floor with the ball,” said Rosa. “He’s a guy who wants to win at any cost.”

It was a sweet victory for Laroche who, just a few months ago, was uncertain whether he would be ready for the season-opener.

Laroche, in his fifth and final year of Canadian Interuniversity basketball eligibility, injured his knee during a daily workout. After an MRI revealed a serious case of patellar tendonitis in his right knee, his season was in jeopardy.

“When I came here and they told me I couldn’t play, it was frustrating,” said Laroche.

After a month-long rest, at his doctor’s behest, Laroche did what he usually does: train hard.

That meant putting in extra hours at the gym to get back in form. He credits daily stretching, icing, and much rest between workouts for his recovery.

It wasn’t long before he was ready for his first action of the 2012-13 season. Much like the Stingers’ comeback victory against UQÀM on Wednesday, Laroche too had a sweet comeback of his own.

 

The Stingers opened the season 1-0 and are preparing for their home-opener against the Laval Rouge et Or on Nov. 15. Tip off at Concordia Gymnasium is at 8 p.m. following the women’s game.

 

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Disappointing weekend in Halifax

HALIFAX (CUP)—After a blowout loss in their first game to StFX, the Concordia Stingers quickly found themselves in a spot they had hoped to avoid: the consolation bracket. Even there the Stingers couldn’t find success.

Evens Laroche goes up for a shot in concodia’s loss to StFX. Photo by Nick Pearce

A day after getting blown out by an impressive Alberta squad, the Ryerson Rams showed grit and determination over the Stingers in the consolation semifinals, pulling out an 84–80 victory Saturday afternoon at the Halifax Metro Centre. The Rams claimed their program’s first-ever win at the CIS championships.

The Stingers, the RSEQ champions, were eliminated from the tournament with a winless 0 – 2 record. It was a frustrating setback for head coach John Dore.

“We did not play how we were capable of playing in either game that we played here,” said Dore. “It’s a disappointing end to the season, and, you know, we’ve got our work cut out for us if we want to play at this level.”

Although their hopes for a national title have passed them by, Rams head coach Roy Rana said getting a consolation victory still matters to his group.

“Maybe for others it wasn’t that important of a game, but for us it was. I thought we kept fighting. We didn’t get off to a great start tonight, but I’m proud of the kids. They came up big,” he said.

The Rams would not have gotten here if not for an earlier upset of the defending OUA champion Lakehead Thunderwolves in the semifinals.

A Ryerson victory over Concordia did not seem possible until an 18–0 run to end the third quarter put a charge in the Rams. With the score 61–45 for Concordia midway through the third quarter, Ryerson turned up the defensive pressure and got hot on the offensive end. A combination of three point plays and easy fast break baskets paced the run eventually leading to victory.

The theme of runs carried throughout the game. From the start, Concordia came out firing, opening up a 17–4 lead early on. The Rams, led by OUA first team all-star Jahmal Jones, did not panic and played their game, pulling back to within six by the end of the first quarter. This run, along with the electric 18–0 stretch later in the contest, made the difference in the game.

In the end, the game came down to the wire, but poor clock management by the Stingers doomed them. After Concordia players let precious time tick off the clock before committing a foul, Jones hit two clutch free throws to extend the lead to 84–80, essentially icing the game.

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Mighty Stingers looking to quash potential playoff upset

Concordia will face Laval in the opening round of the playoffs on Wednesday. Photo by Navneet Pall

Concordia wrapped up its season with two blowout wins on the weekend after falling out of the CIS top 10 for the first time since late November.

Concordia will face Laval in the opening round of the playoffs on Wednesday. Photo by Navneet Pall

The Stingers finished first in their conference with a 14-2 record, but suffered a loss to last place Bishop’s on Feb. 10, clearly weighing on the minds of those who vote for the top 10.

If Concordia is looking to send a message to the country, now is the time to do it. Feeling overlooked by the rest of the CIS, the Stingers will have a chance to prove themselves on a national stage—that is, if they can make it out of their conference.

The RSEQ playoffs begin Wednesday against Laval, with Concordia looking to return to the CIS national championship tournament for the second straight year.

Concordia has been dominant against the Quebec schools this year, but a streaking McGill team that seems to be peaking at the right time poses the greatest threat to the Stingers. Right now the teams seem to be on a collision course to meet in the RSEQ finals on Saturday.

However, with the RSEQ playoffs operating on a single-game elimination format, there is no room for error. Overlooking an opponent, like what happened a few weeks ago against Bishop’s, can send even the most talented teams home earlier than expected.

Concordia coach John Dore isn’t taking anything for granted. “At this stage it’s like starting a new season,” he said. “It’s basically a two-game season to see who makes it out of Quebec. I’m happy how we played to close out the season. We’ve approached things one game at a time all year and that’s not going to change.”

If Concordia were to make a return trip to nationals, it would certainly be an underdog in the tournament. Despite the intra-conference success, Concordia has yet to beat an out-of-conference opponent ranked in the CIS top 10. The road to a championship, barring a major upset, will also run through the Carleton Ravens, who completed their season with a perfect record.

Dore is refusing to look that far ahead though, saying his team’s focus is on Wednesday and nothing else.

This year’s playoffs will also be the final time guard Decee Krah and forward James Clark will step on a basketball court in Stingers uniforms. Both players are in their final year of eligibility and a championship would no doubt be the perfect way for them to end their tremendous collegiate careers.

The regular season is over. All of the practices, days at the gym and long bus rides amount to this. A series of do-or-die games for players to achieve the ultimate goal: winning the final game of the season.

And it all starts Wednesday.

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