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T-Birds Best Bears in Thrilling Final UBC 92 - Alberta 90

The T-Birds edged the Bears in a very well played Final, as Chris Dyck hit for 27 points and the Pacific Champs took 48 rebounds compared to 33 for the Bears. UBC held off a charging and game Bears team down the stretch, as the Green and Gold won the 4th quarter 24-17. Justin VanLoo, who had a sparkling weekend for the Bears, counted 25 pts. and Alex Steele chipped in with 20. Brent Malish led UBC with 17 big rebounds, and Harvey Bradford, battling hard for Alberta, grabbed 11. Both Alberta and UBC will go on to represent Canada West in the CIS Nationals in Ottawa , March 14-17.

Horror Show , Part 2 Brandon 97 - Calgary 83

In the movie 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', Paul Newman asks Robert Redford, 'Who are those guys?', referring to a posse chasing down the legendary robbers. Many of the Dinos fans were muttering the same question after a second consecutive night of strangely inept play by a home team, which showed during 14 previous games that they should be ranked among the best in the CIS. In this Final Four for Canada West, the Dinos finished fifth, and thank goodness it wasn't a Final Eight ! Apparently overwhelmed by the import of the occasion, the Dinos got lost on the way to the party, and, on Saturday they absorbed another pummeling, this time from the #3 ranked Brandon Bobcats, who were led by a wily, but not exceptionally athletic 5th year post. Adam Hartmann, who played all 40 minutes, scored 29 pts. against the vaunted Dinos forwards and claimed 7 rebounds in demonstrating that guile can often trump physical prowess. The quick winger, Dany Charlery, had 11 boards as the Bobcats owned the Dinos off the glass, 55 to 39. A more contemporary movie provides a useful summary of the Calgary experience in this game as well as Friday's debacle. In 'No Country For Old Men', when the sheriff, played by Tommie Lee Jones, is asked by his deputy if this (killing) isn't a a horrific mess, he replies " If it ain't, it'll do 'til the real thing comes along." The home team, obviously reeling from the shocker the previous night, suffered through a second nightmarish evening of horrible shooting, untimely turnovers, hesitant offense, and
an inexplicable absence of the fire and drive they had shown in most of their previous 24 Canada West games. 29% from the floor, 20 turnovers, and, when Brandon lost their two posts to foul trouble in the 3rd quarter, the mini-lineup of the Bobcats actually extended the lead, when Calgary could not get an inside hoop to save their playoff lives. The Bobcats will have a good shot at a wild-card berth in the Nationals, but will have to wait until next weekend to get the final nod.

Notes ...

> Congratulations to the Dinos for a great season ... we alumni, fans, old coaches, parents, students, friends, and family share your pain, but we also enjoyed reveling in your accomplishments. As my two (U of C grad) daughters would yell ' D-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-o-o-s !

> Fans and observers need to remember that these are student athletes, who have had a marvelous season, and, who wanted nothing more than to give a triumphant performance for the record crowds this weekend. Assistant Coach Matt Skinn, looking ashen faced from the experience lamented, " We weren't even close to our game. We just didn't do any of the things that got us here."

> Big losses always seem more intense than most of the wins, and this Dinos team will have to suffer through a period of mourning before they can reflect on one of the best seasons in team history. In sport there is a finality to losing big games that cuts to players' and coaches' souls, and all concerned would be best reminded that these people put it all on the line. To quote U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt ... "To the Man in the Arena - It is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at best, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Theodore Roosevelt, 1910