Friesen’s buzzer beater the talk of Canada West
UFV Cascades still pumped about ‘ miracle shot’ that put them in first final four tournament
Two days remain until the UFV Cascades men’s basketball team makes history, competing for the first time at a Canada West final four tournament.
The Abbotsford- based Cascades take on the University of Victoria Vikes on Friday evening in Saskatoon, home of the host University of Saskatchewan Huskies, with the winner advancing to the Canada West gold- medal game and earning an automatic berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships the following weekend in Halifax.
And yet, with 48 hours or so remaining until UFV takes the court, the talk around campus is still the miracle buzzer beater three- pointer that thirdyear guard Joel Friesen hit in the third and decisive game of the Canada West quarter- final against the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns.
“It’s the big cliché, but time seemed to slow a little bit,” said fifth- year forward Mike James. “I just remember looking up at the clock and seeing three, four seconds left and thinking ‘ you’ve got to get the shot off.’ You’ve got to have faith at the same time.”
The bucket gave the Cascades a 69- 68 win and secured their first trip to the final four, after joining the CIS conference in 2006.
“It was a shot that’s going to be remembered forever out here at UFV and the Fraser Valley. It doesn’t get any more dramatic than that,” said Cascades head coach Barnaby Craddock, who led his team to a 13- 5 regularseason record and secondplace finish in the Canada West Pacific Division.
“There was no time left on the clock, you’ve got to take that shot. We wanted the ball in Joel’s hands. We didn’t draw it up exactly like that, but in the end he pump- faked and got off a tough look and he hit it.
“The guys have worked on the track and in the weight room all summer with the goal of getting to this point and playing in this conference championship. We’re thrilled and energized and can’t wait for the weekend to start.”
Now the Cascades must get beyond that emotional high and focus on their pending tilt with the Vikes, who finished first in the Pacific Division with a 14- 4 record and swept the University of Calgary Dinos in the quarter- finals.
The Cascades and Vikes played each other twice during the regular season — a twogame weekend series in Victoria. The two teams split the series, with UFV winning the first game 79- 70, and the Victoria overwhelming their Fraser Valley opponents the following night by a score of 91- 67.
However, there’s far more on the line Friday.
The winner moves on to the Canada West gold- medal game on Saturday, while the loser plays for bronze and will need a victory just to have the possibility of qualifying for the national championships as a wild card. Travel Notes The UFV Cascades are taking the road less travelled to Saskatoon, literally, although not by choice.
Because of the Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men’s curling championship, there are, according to Craddock, no flights available to Saskatoon, which will force the Cascades to fly to Calgary, spend the night there, and then fly to Regina and take a bus to Saskatoon.
“Looks like we’ll be able to get there for our game, but our travel plans are all over … It’s not the optimal situation,” said Craddock.