Dec. 31 2007

The Calgary Dinos claimed third place in the MTS Wesmen Classic at the University of Winnipeg with a convincing 99-79 shellacking of the home team on Sunday afternoon at the Duckworth Centre. Ross Bekkering broke out for 25 pts. and led a strong 4th quarter charge to stifle Winnipeg, who got a game high 36 pts. from the incomparable Erfan Najaspour, their 5th year super guard.

Robbie Sihota and Hennry Bekkering both had 20, and Jeff Price added 16 for the Dinos , who led 46-38 at the half. Winnipeg had no answer for the inside game of Calgary, who shot 50% from the field against 40% for the Wesmen, and cashed in 14/18 free throws (77%) compared to only 5/10 from Winnipeg. The Dinos won the battle on the boards 48-38 led by 12 from Ross Bekkering, and 11 each from Sihota and Henry B., as all three starting forwards record double-doubles.

Next Dinos action will be at Alberta on January 4th and 5th to open up the second half of Canada West league play.

Dec. 30 2007

“Up-Up-Up the ladder … D-o-o-w-w-n-n the snake!” As high as the Dinos were after beating #2 Acadia on Friday night at the MTS Wesmen Classic in Winnipeg, they are reeling after a 75-72 loss to the previously unranked Brock Badgers on Saturday.

After an excruciatingly slow start, allowing Brock to seize a 22-10 1st quarter lead, the Dinos made a 4th quarter run to get as close as 71-70, but the Badgers’ Scott Murray hit a trey with 30 seconds left, and a Robbie Sihota 3 pt. attempt to tie rattled out at the buzzer.

Neither team shot the ball particularly well with Brock at 38% from the floor and Calgary a tepid 37% as the Dinos relied on 22 pts. from Jeff Price, 17 from Henry Bekkering, and a double-double from Robbie Sihota, who notched 13 pts. and grabbed 12 boards. Murray led both teams with 24 points including 5 treys, as the Badgers put up 12/40 from beyond the arc, while the Dinos managed only 4/19. Calgary out-rebounded Brock 52-31, but were missing offensive contributions from Cody Darrah and Tyler Fidler, who were a combined 1 of 11 from the shooting guard spot, and Ross Bekkering, who played only 18 minutes and drew a technical foul in frustration after having rung up only 8 pts.

So as much as the Acadia win was a big plus for the Dinos for CIS rankings, the Brock loss will prevent them from gaining ground on Eastern schools. Calgary meets Winnipeg in Sunday’s 3rd place game, and return home Monday to prepare for the resumption of league play next weekend at Alberta.

Dec. 28 2007

The 7th ranked Calgary Dinos out-rebounded, out-shot, and out-played the #2 Acadia Axemen in chalking up a 79-69 win in the first game of the MTS Classic at the University of Winnipeg Friday. The Dinos dominated the game and were up by 22 at one point in the second half, led by a sparkling effort from point guard Jeff Price, who dealt out 11 assists against only 1 turnover, and notched 14 pts. of his own.

Henry Bekkering was the high scorer with 20, and he also grabbed 8 boards, while Robbie Sihota had 16 pts. and 9 rebounds, and Ross Bekkering contributed 15 pts. and 9 boards in only 21 minutes. Calgary had 38 rebounds to 34 for the Axemen, from Wolfeville, Nova Scotia, who were last year’s Atlantic Champions. Acadia was led by Leonel Saintil, who netted 19 points and had 7 rebounds. Josh Lovestone and Tyler Fidler were impressive off the bench for the Dinos, with Fidler snaring 5 rebounds and Lovestone playing strong defense.

In one semi-final Saturday Calgary now faces the Brock Badgers (St. Catherines, ON) , who turned aside the powerful Brandon Bobcats 74-66 Friday in a come from behind win against the #5 ‘Cats. Late games tonight have Winnipeg against Royal Military College, and manitoba facing Minot State, ND.