October 7, 2006
VOYAGEURS HUNT DOWN HUSKIES FOR NIKE TOURNAMENT TITLE
MONTREAL - The Laurentian Voyageurs basketball team claimed the Concordia Stingers Nike Tournament championship on Saturday night, courtesy of a 92-89 double overtime victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Seven Voyageurs scored in double figures in the win with Brady Bolan being named the tournament's MVP and Ryan Vetrie named to the tournament all-star team.
For the second consecutive night, the Voyageurs were forced to battle a lopsided foul count that saw the Laurentian men on the wrong end of a 28-14 ratio. The Voyageurs fought hard all game long holding a narrow one point lead at the half, 29-28. The Voyageurs and Huskies continued to exchange baskets and stingy defence in the second half and despite the Huskies being in double bonus for the last eleven minutes of the game the Voyageurs managed to hold on and keep the score knotted at 69 at the end of regulation time.
In the first overtime period, the game plan did not change for either team with the Huskies and Voyageurs continuing there tough play. The two teams were still unable to settle the game and with the score notched at 78 they headed to a second overtime period. This time the Voyageurs would find a way to squeak by the Huskies finishing the game with a 92-89 victory and claiming the Concordia Stingers Nike Tournament title.
\"It was a great win for us. We showed a lot of character by not giving up at any point during this game\" said head coach Virgil Hill. \"Our pre-season conditioning proved to be very valuable as the guys were able to go the distance while playing extended minutes.\"
\"Hats go off to the Saskatchewan team, they are a great team and are going to have a great chance to represent Canada West at nationals this year\" added Hill.
In the win seven players scored in double figures for the Voyageurs with Brady Bolan (Sudbury, Ont.) leading the way for the second night with 14 points and seven rebounds while Craig Bauslaugh (Waterloo, Ont.), Jason Brown (Saginaw, Mich.) and Alex Whiteman (Kamloops, B.C.) chipped in with 13, 12 and 10 points respectively. Darrel Drake (Saginaw, Mich.), Lucas Wiebenga (Tilbury, Ont.) and Brody Bishop (Prince Rupert, B.C.) added 11 points each.
On top of claiming the tournament title two Voyageurs earned individual honours with Bolan being named the tournament's most valuable player and Ryan Vetrie (Victoria, B.C.) being named to the tournament all-star team.
The Voyageurs will now look to build on this tournament win as they prepare for their next tournament at the University of Ottawa on October 20-23. Before that the Voyageurs will take part in the annual Co-Ed Intrasquad game on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 7 p.m. and the alumni game on Saturday, October 14 at 3 p.m. All games are scheduled for the Ben Avery Gymnasium with the team requesting that people bring a canned food good on Tuesday night to donate to the student food bank on campus.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian University Athletic Marketing and Media Relations Officer)
(Photo: Brady Bolan vs. Western during 2005-06 season. Photo by: John Sabourin.)
For the second consecutive night, the Voyageurs were forced to battle a lopsided foul count that saw the Laurentian men on the wrong end of a 28-14 ratio. The Voyageurs fought hard all game long holding a narrow one point lead at the half, 29-28. The Voyageurs and Huskies continued to exchange baskets and stingy defence in the second half and despite the Huskies being in double bonus for the last eleven minutes of the game the Voyageurs managed to hold on and keep the score knotted at 69 at the end of regulation time.
In the first overtime period, the game plan did not change for either team with the Huskies and Voyageurs continuing there tough play. The two teams were still unable to settle the game and with the score notched at 78 they headed to a second overtime period. This time the Voyageurs would find a way to squeak by the Huskies finishing the game with a 92-89 victory and claiming the Concordia Stingers Nike Tournament title.
\"It was a great win for us. We showed a lot of character by not giving up at any point during this game\" said head coach Virgil Hill. \"Our pre-season conditioning proved to be very valuable as the guys were able to go the distance while playing extended minutes.\"
\"Hats go off to the Saskatchewan team, they are a great team and are going to have a great chance to represent Canada West at nationals this year\" added Hill.
In the win seven players scored in double figures for the Voyageurs with Brady Bolan (Sudbury, Ont.) leading the way for the second night with 14 points and seven rebounds while Craig Bauslaugh (Waterloo, Ont.), Jason Brown (Saginaw, Mich.) and Alex Whiteman (Kamloops, B.C.) chipped in with 13, 12 and 10 points respectively. Darrel Drake (Saginaw, Mich.), Lucas Wiebenga (Tilbury, Ont.) and Brody Bishop (Prince Rupert, B.C.) added 11 points each.
On top of claiming the tournament title two Voyageurs earned individual honours with Bolan being named the tournament's most valuable player and Ryan Vetrie (Victoria, B.C.) being named to the tournament all-star team.
The Voyageurs will now look to build on this tournament win as they prepare for their next tournament at the University of Ottawa on October 20-23. Before that the Voyageurs will take part in the annual Co-Ed Intrasquad game on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 7 p.m. and the alumni game on Saturday, October 14 at 3 p.m. All games are scheduled for the Ben Avery Gymnasium with the team requesting that people bring a canned food good on Tuesday night to donate to the student food bank on campus.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian University Athletic Marketing and Media Relations Officer)
(Photo: Brady Bolan vs. Western during 2005-06 season. Photo by: John Sabourin.)
