It wasn’t the semifinal and final the University of Victoria Vikes wanted to be in, but it was important in another way for a bright young Vikes team that is emerging.
The sa国际传媒 West champions defeated Quebec-champion McGill 77-68 in the consolation-side semifinals of the U Sports men’s basketball national championship tournament Saturday in Edmonton to advance to Sunday’s consolation final against the Atlantic-champion Dalhousie Tigers.
“We have a lot of young players who can use this experience as the stepping stones and building blocks [for what pundits are predicting could be coming for them],” said Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp.
“It’s a measuring stick as to where they are at this point in their careers against the best in the country. The aim Sunday is to win and finish fifth in the country in an experience that will be invaluable for them.”
But the future is only part of the story in varsity. The other is the graduating fifth-year players, chief among them star UVic guard Scott Kellum, named a first-team all-Canadian. Kellum led the Vikes with 17 points Saturday with forwards and fellow fifth-year players Matthew Ellis and Jason Scully adding 15 points and three points, respectively, in their penultimate games in blue and gold.
“Those veteran guys led a team that has struggled to make the playoffs [since UVic’s last appearance at nationals in 2015], and was off most radars at the beginning of the season, to the No. 2 seed in the country entering nationals,” said Beaucamp.
“It was such a great season that these guys really wanted to win today to have one more opportunity to play again as a team,” said Beaucamp.
UVic was 17-1 in the regular season and is now 4-1 in the playoffs. Sophomore shooting-guard Diego Maffia had 14 points for UVic against McGill and sa国际传媒 West top-rookie Elias Ralph 10 points. Graduating player Jamal Mayali of McGill led all scorers with 31 points.
The Vikes lost their opening-round quarter-final 94-77 to the dynastic Carleton Ravens.
