Put away those pucks and skates. sa国际传媒鈥檚 sporting future may be on the court, where it has rapidly become a factor in world basketball.
University of Victoria Vikes men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 basketball coaches have a matching set of silver medals from the U-16 FIBA Americas to show for it.
sa国际传媒, with Craig Beaucamp as head coach, won the silver medal in the boys鈥� competition Sunday to equal what Canadian co head-coach Dani Sinclair of UVic did in leading the Canuck girls鈥� team to the same result last week in Argentina.
The world No. 1 United States defeated world No. 3 sa国际传媒 111-60 in the championship game of the boys鈥� FIBA Americas in Formosa, Argentina.
The placing qualifies sa国际传媒 for the U-17 FIBA world championship next year in Belarus.
鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 a disappointing ending, but overall I鈥檓 really proud of the group,鈥� said Beaucamp, in a statement.
鈥淔or them to qualify for the worlds and get a silver medal is still a great accomplishment and we look forward to next year.鈥�
Luka Sakota of Etobicoke, Ont., led sa国际传媒 with 17 points.
sa国际传媒 topped its pool and then advanced to beat Puerto Rico 81-66 in the semifinals.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an exciting time to be in Canadian basketball because there is a ton of talent," said Beaucamp, during the player-camp selection process.
鈥淓very age group in this country has a ton of potential. [U-16] is the first international step for these players.鈥�
Beaucamp will enter his 15th season of guiding the Vikes this fall. With the legendary Ken Shields and late Guy Vetrie, he is one of only three coaches to guide the UVic men鈥檚 team since 1976. Beaucamp is 211-88 all-time at UVic in sa国际传媒 West regular- season play and five-time conference coach of the year with two sa国际传媒 West championships and three consecutive appearances in the U Sports Final 8 from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
Beaucamp has been highly active for Basketball sa国际传媒 in summer international play and was assistant coach with the U-18 national team in 2006, 2007 and 2016 and with the Canadian team to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Beaucamp was also a guest coach with the men鈥檚 senior national team from 2013 to 2016.
