Both U of S basketball teams are off to their respective U Sports Championships and that’s no April Fools joke, thanks to two athletes named as the Canada West Conference players-of-the-week!
Summer Masikewich and Marquavian Stephens received the salutes for their efforts. Masikewich scored 28 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and blocked six shots over two games at the P-A-C last weekend as the Saskatchewan women’s team won their third straight Canada West title and fifth in the last six seasons. On the men’s side, despite losing to host Alberta in the semi-finals, Stephens was brilliant as he poured in 49 points and saved his best for crunch time as the Huskies won the bronze medal game over Regina to advance to nationals. Stephens forced overtime with a late three-point shot and made five free throws in extra time. Both U of S teams are in U Sports Championships next weekend, the women at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and the men in Edmonton at the U of Alberta. Following is the news release from the Canada West Conference…..
BB: SSK sweeps weekly honours in final conference playoff games
SSK’s Masikewich and Stephens earn CW Player of the Week honours
The newly minted defensive player of the year brought the energy at the most crucial juncture of the season. Masikewich hit the hardcourt with a one-track mind Friday: to seal her team’s fate as CW Champions.
And that she did. Her defensive prowess was evident right off the tip, as she forced the Lethbridge offensive into difficult shots, or took them away altogether. The Calgary, AB product posted four blocks, three steals, eight rebounds, three assists and 17 points in the team’s semi-final victory.
In the championship final, Masikewich was again locked in. She provided the attention to detail her team needed on both ends of the court to give the Huskies the edge they needed to call themselves champs. She posted nine rebounds, two blocks and 11 points in the bout.
Masikewich and her Huskies are now preparing for the U SPORTS Championships at Queen’s University from March 31-April 3, where they’ll be looking to defend their national title.
March 18: 17 pts, 8 rebs, 3 asts, 3 stls, 4 blks in 62-51 W vs LETH
March 19: 11 pts, 9 rebs, 2 blks in 68-59 W vs WPG
Meanwhile, another Saskatchewan Huskie showed up big in his team’s Final Four match-ups over the weekend.
Marquavian Stephens was determined to lead his underdog Huskies to the finals, putting up 20 points, four assists and a steal Friday evening, but it was not enough to overtake the conference’s top-ranked Alberta Golden Bears. Stephens worked efficiently in the contest, going four from seven from beyond the arc.
The loss didn’t discourage the Flint, MI product. He hit the floor for Saturday’s bronze medal game with even more zest, never saying die in a game that saw Regina lead most the way. Stephens helped his team claw back within one possession then hit a three in the dying moments to send the game to overtime.
He was unshakable in overtime, sinking five free throws with the pressure of a nationals berth on the line.
Stephens claimed that berth for his Huskies, ending the night with 29 points, four rebounds and an assist.
Stephens and the Huskies are now getting ready for the U SPORTS Championships, set for April 1-3 at the University of Alberta.
March 18: 20 pts, 4 asts, 1 stl in 90-74 L vs ALB
March 19: 29 pts, 4 rebs, 1 stl in 97-93 OTW vs REG
