University Men’s Basketball

Battling knee issues throughout his career, Langara's fifth-year guard-forward Drake Downer (14) has been an unquestioned leader on a team which includes the likes of (left to right): Tyler Anderson, Tyson Brown and fellow senior Timmie Choi. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Langara’s Drake Downer on his dozen-plus knee injuries and how he found the will to persevere

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — Ask Drake Downer about perhaps the most battle-scarred right knee in recent B.C. high school and university basketball history, and he’s more than happy to give an aural history and guided tour.

Humber's Fowzi Mohamoud (left), who hit a pair of third quarter treys, drives the ball past SAIT's Camille Kamba on Friday at the 2019 CCAA championships. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 2: Paint this one Humber! Hawks attack inside, topple SAIT Trojans in quest for bronze

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — Toronto’s Humber Hawks may be out of the hunt for gold here at the CCAA men’s basketball championships, yet there was more than enough evidence to suggest Friday that the plane ride back east Sunday morning will be a lot more palatable with a cache of bronze medals.

Langara's Grant Galbraith (top) battled for a rebound with Hollaand's Roosevelt Whyley during opening-round action from the CCAA National men's championships held at the Langley Events Centre. (Photo by Wilson Wong 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 1: Langara coach Eberhardt on loss to No. 1-seed Holland: “We just got hit by a Hurricane”

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — Paul Eberhardt didn’t rehearse the line, so when it came time to dissecting what went wrong for his Langara Falcons in the opening round of the CCAA National championships Thursday night, the head coach caught himself chucking just a split second before delivering an unintended pun. “We just got hit by a hurricane,” he […]

Montmorency's Elie Karojo (left) and Sheridan's Nick Campbell battle for a loose ball in Thursday's Elite 8 clash here at the CCAA nationals in Langley. (Photo by Wilson Wong 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA Nationals Day 1: It’s all about empowerment! Senior leadership carries Sheridan’s Bruins into Friday’s Final Four

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — They swept through the OCAA playoffs back in Ontario, winning by an average margin of 20 points.They opened Thursday in the first round of the CCAA national championships at the Langley Events Centre with a 22-points win, 105-83 victory, over Laval’s Nomades de Montmorency. (full updated Friday schedule below)Now, riding a six-game win streak, […]

As an exclamation mark on a game it won with a 36-point swing, VIU Mariners guard Tyus Barfoot puts down a late slam dunk against Calgary's SAIT Trojans. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA nationals Day 1: Another day, another miracle win! Nanaimo’s VIU Mariners rally to stun SAIT and earn Final Four berth

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — Never say die. That’s the mantra of the Vancouver Island Mariners, and boy, is it working.

The host Langara Falcons may be huge underdogs in their CCAA National tournament opener against Charlottetown's No. 1 Holland Hurricanes, but Vancouver's Falcons are embracing their status and ready to come out aggressive. (Photo by Dom Gagne property of Langara Falcons athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

CCAA nationals 2019: Underdog Langara Falcons embracing their offence as they prepare for tournament fave Holland Hurricanes

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — One more sleep until tip-off here at the 2019 CCAA men’s national basketball tournament, and if one thing is certain, the Langara Falcons are not attempting some grand, over-night re-invention of their hoops persona.

Already seven seasons and three CCAA Final Fours into his collegiate coaching career, Vancouver Island head coach Matt Kuzminski has his Mariners in the running for another national title this week at the LEC. (Photo by Howard Tsumura property of VarsityLetters.ca 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

The wisdom of the beginner’s mind: On the road to becoming a veteran CCAA coach, VIU’s Matt Kuzminski has never stopped learning from others

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — His has been a coaching career filled with successes.

Langara's Royce Sargeant has returned to the Falcons' starting lineup this season despite a horrific accident in August. (Photo by Dom Gagne property of Langara Falcons athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
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This Royce rolls with the punches! Langara’s Royce Sargeant majors in comebacks as Falcons host CCAA nationals at LEC

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

LANGLEY — Just call him the Rolls Royce of mid-season roster additions…at any level of college basketball.

Although they have made two Final 8 national tourney appearances since, UBC Thunderbirds' head coach Kevin Hanson has his team at the event's traditional Halifax site for the first time since it lost in the semifinals back in 2011. It's a first-time trip for star guard Jadon Cohee. (Photo by Bob Frid property of UBC athletics 2019. All Rights Reserved)
Feature University Men's Basketball

UBC hoops back in Halifax! On long journey to Final 8 nationals, here’s why you can stamp these underdog ‘Birds as ‘battle-tested’

Howard TsumuraComment(0)

VANCOUVER — Over the course of a 17-game in-conference win streak which defined its Canada West regular season schedule, it was sometimes difficult to wonder if the UBC Thunderbirds were getting the level of competition which would best serve them on the road towards qualifying for the ultimate challenge.