MBB: Vikes repeat as conference champions with win over Wesmen
March 3, 2023
VICTORIA - The Victoria Vikes captured their second-straight Canada West title with a 95-80 win over the Winnipeg Wesmen, March 3 inside CARSA Performance Gym.
"[Winnipeg]'s a really tough team and answered us punch-for-punch over the first three quarters," commented Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp on the win. "I thought we were resilient and kept playing at the same rate the whole way through. We got a couple stops in the second that really led to the separation."
The Vikes close the Canada West playoffs with a 20-3 overall record, while the Wesmen move to 17-6 on the year with the setback. Both teams will represent Canada West at the U SPORTS Final 8, March 10-12, in Halifax, N.S.
"We have a great young group. They're working week by week to try and improve, and it was a great experience for us to be in a game like this; it will be valuable for us in the future," noted Wesmen head coach Mike Raimbault.
Newly-minted Canada West Player of the Year Diego Maffia led the way for the Vikes with a 20-point performance, adding four rebounds and a team-high nine assists in the win. Four other Vikes finished with double-digit nights in Renoldo Robinson (18), Elias Ralph (18), Dominick Oliveri (14), and Ethan Boag (12).
Mikhail Mikhailov led the Wesmen's offensive effort with 22 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field. Shawn Maranan tallied 17 points and recorded team-highs in assists (5) and steals (2) in the runner-up showing.
The Vikes finished 34-for-72 (47.2%) from the field, while the Wesmen went 30-for-72 (41.7%) on the night. Victoria finished with the advantage in three-pointers with 15 to Winnipeg's seven.
The Wesmen put the first points of the game on the board with a jumper from Mikhailov. Immediately met by a Vikes three-pointer, Robinson scored the first basket for the home side, giving Victoria a 3-2 lead in the first minute of play.
Building a lead over the Wesmen, a Vikes three from Diego Maffia with 6:35 to play gave Victoria a 10-point lead, 23-13. After holding Winnipeg scoreless for the final two minutes of the frame, the Vikes held a 29-18 lead over the Wesmen after the first quarter.
A Wesmen jumper from Ryan Luke followed by a jumper from Mikhailov brought the Vikes' lead back to single-digits, 37-28, with 5:45 until halftime. At the half, the Vikes remained in front, 48-39.
After trading baskets for the majority of the third quarter, the Vikes knocked down three-straight three-pointers in the final two minutes to take a 75-61 lead into the final quarter of play.
After edging the Wesmen, 20-19 in the fourth quarter, the Vikes took the win by a score of 95-80.
The two sides await seeding for the national tournament to determine their opening matchup.
"[Winnipeg]'s a really tough team and answered us punch-for-punch over the first three quarters," commented Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp on the win. "I thought we were resilient and kept playing at the same rate the whole way through. We got a couple stops in the second that really led to the separation."
The Vikes close the Canada West playoffs with a 20-3 overall record, while the Wesmen move to 17-6 on the year with the setback. Both teams will represent Canada West at the U SPORTS Final 8, March 10-12, in Halifax, N.S.
"We have a great young group. They're working week by week to try and improve, and it was a great experience for us to be in a game like this; it will be valuable for us in the future," noted Wesmen head coach Mike Raimbault.
Newly-minted Canada West Player of the Year Diego Maffia led the way for the Vikes with a 20-point performance, adding four rebounds and a team-high nine assists in the win. Four other Vikes finished with double-digit nights in Renoldo Robinson (18), Elias Ralph (18), Dominick Oliveri (14), and Ethan Boag (12).
Mikhail Mikhailov led the Wesmen's offensive effort with 22 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field. Shawn Maranan tallied 17 points and recorded team-highs in assists (5) and steals (2) in the runner-up showing.
The Vikes finished 34-for-72 (47.2%) from the field, while the Wesmen went 30-for-72 (41.7%) on the night. Victoria finished with the advantage in three-pointers with 15 to Winnipeg's seven.
The Wesmen put the first points of the game on the board with a jumper from Mikhailov. Immediately met by a Vikes three-pointer, Robinson scored the first basket for the home side, giving Victoria a 3-2 lead in the first minute of play.
Building a lead over the Wesmen, a Vikes three from Diego Maffia with 6:35 to play gave Victoria a 10-point lead, 23-13. After holding Winnipeg scoreless for the final two minutes of the frame, the Vikes held a 29-18 lead over the Wesmen after the first quarter.
A Wesmen jumper from Ryan Luke followed by a jumper from Mikhailov brought the Vikes' lead back to single-digits, 37-28, with 5:45 until halftime. At the half, the Vikes remained in front, 48-39.
After trading baskets for the majority of the third quarter, the Vikes knocked down three-straight three-pointers in the final two minutes to take a 75-61 lead into the final quarter of play.
After edging the Wesmen, 20-19 in the fourth quarter, the Vikes took the win by a score of 95-80.
The two sides await seeding for the national tournament to determine their opening matchup.