Scheduled Game: Calgary -CW Final Four@UBC

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GAME RESULTS 1 2 3 4 T Trinity Western 9 22 19 15 65 Calgary 26 19 32 19 96 « FINAL

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Game Recap

Men's Basketball (Canada West Final Four)
Friday, February 27, 2009
TWU Spartans (65) vs. the University of Calgary Dinos (96)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS FALL
-Play for Bronze tomorrow

VANCOUVER-Henry Bekkering fell just short of a triple-double on Friday night as he combined with Robbie Sihota for 57 points to lead the No. 5 Calgary Dinos to a 96-65 win over the No. 10 Trinity Western Spartans in the first Canada West semifinal at War Memorial Gym.

"Calgary executed well. We had our hands down and they hit some easy shots and some tough shots," commented TWU head coach Scott Allen. I think they learned from last year when they made the Canada West and lost and found out what it feels like not to make the nationals."

It was no secret heading into Friday's tilt that the battle of the bigs would be an important one, as Calgary's fifth-year second-team conference all-star Henry Bekkering was matched up against Trinity Western's Jacob Doerksen (Abbotsford, B.C.), the MVP of Canada West. But while Bekkering flirted with a triple-double and energized his side by making plays all over the court, Doerksen, along with the rest of the Spartans, were held in check by Calgary's defence, and after outscoring Trinity Western 26-9 in the first quarter, the Dinos' lead was never really threatened all night.

Bekkering finished with a game-high 29 points to go along with nine rebounds, seven assists, and 35 minutes of tireless effort. He helped to cement the Dinos' lead in the first quarter when, after driving to the hoop and finishing with an authoritative dunk, he picked up a steal on the ensuing Spartans possession, carried the ball up court, and made a nice pass to find Sihota for an open three-pointer, putting Calgary up 22-5.

"Henry was on. He is a fifth year guy who took the team on his back and decided what he wanted the game to be like. He did what he needed to do and we didn't respond the right way," Allen commented on Henry Bekkering's performance.

Sihota had a strong showing for the Dinos as well, picking up 28 points and six assists while shooting five-of-six from beyond the arc.

Doerksen picked up nine points in the second quarter for Trinity Western, as the Spartans put together some scoring runs and managed to cut into Calgary's lead in the second frame, but he was held to just four points in the first quarter and was held off the scoreboard entirely in the second half.

Doerksen's six rebounds led the Spartans on Friday, as they were out-rebounded by Calgary 45-30 in the contest. Jason Keegstra (Kelowna, B.C.) led the offence with 18 points.

Trinity Western will play for bronze on Saturday at 5:00 p.m., while Calgary will square off against either the Bobcats or the ‘Birds at 7:00 p.m. for the conference crown. Both games are at War Memorial Gym.

Allen commented on his team's now having to play for a Canada West bronze medal. "It's hard to get up for right now. The guys are obviously down. We have to play with integrity and have character showing forth to win that game."

Game Notes: the Spartans beat the Dinos earlier this season 83-79 in Calgary...Trinity Western shot 38 percent (25-66) from the field, 28.6 percent (8-28) from the three point line and 70 percent (7-10) from the foul line, while Calgary shot 52 percent (34-65), 52 percent (9-17) and 70 percent (19-27) respectively...

-TW-

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