2012 CIS Men’s Basketball
National Championship Bronze Medal Game
Scoreboard:
X-Men 89-86
X-Men 89-86
UFV Cascades lose a nail biter to St Francis Xavier, 89-86, at CIS National Championships
The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s basketball team lose a nail biter to the St. Francis Xavier University X-Men, 89-86, to finish the 2012 season fourth in Canada. The Cascades record for the 2011-12 campaign is 17-9.
The game started off fast paced with both teams shooting, a very typical start for a bronze medal game, at a championship. First year forward Jordan Blackman, Abbotsford, BC, led UFV with five first quarter points, the Cascades matched the high powered X-Men offense and the game was tied at 16 after the first stanza. In the second quarter St Francis Xavier held the Cascades to 19 points, while scoring 30 points to open up a double digit lead of 11 at the break. Kyle Grewal, Surrey, BC led UFV at the half with 13 points and 6 total rebounds. Blackman’s seven points and James York, Richland, Washington five points came at key points of the half to keep UFV in the game.
The third quarter opened with UFV knocking down the X-Men lead to six points but could not get any closer to the X-Men as they were able to go on a six point run to end the quarter up by 11. The Cascades kept pace with St. Francis shooting 37.5% in the quarter scoring 25 team points. The fourth quarter started with St. Francis holding onto the double digit lead and building up a 16 point lead with seven minutes remaining.
The Cascades kept fighting their way back knocking down the lead several times with one minute left, UFV trailed by three points. The Cascades Sheldon Bjorgaard, Abbotsford, BC had an opportunity to bring UFV all the way back and tie the game but his shot missed with 15 seconds remaining. UFV had one last opportunity to tie the game with 3.4 seconds remaining but the X-Men did not let UFV get off a final shot.
The Cascades kept fighting their way back knocking down the lead several times with one minute left, UFV trailed by three points. The Cascades Sheldon Bjorgaard, Abbotsford, BC had an opportunity to bring UFV all the way back and tie the game but his shot missed with 15 seconds remaining. UFV had one last opportunity to tie the game with 3.4 seconds remaining but the X-Men did not let UFV get off a final shot.
“I thought St Francis Xavier played a great game, they had some players step up and make some big shots. We fought back, and had a chance on the last possession, but we needed to play better for the first 30 minutes to beat a quality team like the X-Men, said UFV head coach Barnaby Craddock.
“A great season for the guys on this team. We will miss Sheldon and Mike who were a big part of our success. But with the rest of the roster returning we hope this experience will help us be even more prepared for the rigors of Canada west conference play. I hope in the back of our teams minds, is the goal of putting in the hard work to earn a berth to nationals again next season. Thanks to all those people at UFV and in the Fraser Valley that supported our program throughout the year.”
Kyle Grewal led the Cascades with a career high 35 point performance. Kyle’s performance today is a new single season high for a Cascade in the CIS and he joins elite company of men who have posted a double double of 30 or more points and 10 or more rebounds in a CIS “Final Four” medal round game, with a team high 14 boards to go with his 35 points.
Joel Friesen, Abbotsford, BC and York each added 11 points and Jasper Moedt, Abbotsford, BC and Jordan Blackman, Abbotsford, BC scored 10 points each as five different Cascades were in double figures.
ST FX 16 30 25 18 = 89
UFV 16 19 25 26 = 86
Top Scorers: STFX: J Dunn 28 points/ UFV: K Grewal 35 points
Team Rebounds: STFX: 11+23=34/ UFV: 14+28=42
For further information on UFV Cascades athletics contact David Kent, 604-309-7658 david.kent@ufv.ca
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