Saskatchewan dethrones Carleton in U Sports women’s basketball final; Victoria routs Calgary for men’s title
Gage Grassick led the Saskatchewan Huskies to victory in the U Sports women’s basketball Final 8 championship game with an impressive performance, scoring 35 points and hitting seven three-pointers. The Huskies defeated the Carleton Ravens 85-66 to claim their third national championship, denying the Ravens a chance to win their third consecutive title.
Tea DeMong also contributed to the Huskies’ win with 13 points, while Andrea Dodig added 12 points and Courtney Primeau led both teams with nine rebounds. Grassick, who was named the U Sports women’s basketball player of the year and MVP of the tournament, showcased her skills in the final game with seven rebounds and seven assists.
The Huskies’ deadly accurate shooting, with a 48.3 per cent field goal percentage, helped them build a 45-31 halftime lead over the Ravens. They finished the game making 10 of 24 three-pointers, while Carleton made eight of 26 attempts. Teresa Donato led the Ravens with 24 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Saskatchewan’s strong performance.
In the men’s final, the University of Victoria Vikes secured their first title in 28 years with an 82-53 victory over the Calgary Dinos. Renoldo Robinson led the Vikes with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Geoffrey James added 17 points and Ethan Boag contributed 12 points. Shadynn Smid had 11 points and a game-high 17 rebounds for the Vikes.
The Vikes, playing without star player Diego Maffia due to a knee injury, built a comfortable 40-23 halftime lead over Calgary. Head coach Murphy Burnatowski expressed his elation at seeing his team lift the championship trophy after a fairy tale season. The win was also a form of revenge for the Vikes, who had suffered a loss to Calgary in last month’s Canada West semifinal.
One of the keys to Victoria’s victory was containing Calgary’s Nate Petrone, the U Sports men’s basketball player of the year, who was limited to 10 points in the game. Sam Maillet, named the U Sports men’s defensive player of the year, highlighted the team effort in stopping Petrone and praised the Vikes’ defensive strategy.
Overall, the U Sports women’s and men’s basketball Final 8 championship games showcased thrilling performances and marked a historic moment for both the Saskatchewan Huskies and the University of Victoria Vikes. The victories were a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaches, culminating in well-deserved national titles for both teams.
