SHERIDAN FALLS SHORT IN MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL SEMIFINAL

STE. ANNE DE BELLEVUE, Que. - There was a point in the second half - with the score and time against them, staring at an 18-point deficit - when many teams would have folded up shop and thrown in the towel.

It speaks to the ability of the players, the brilliance of the coaches and the character of the entire Sheridan Bruins men's basketball team (32-11, 21-2 OCAA) that over the course of four minutes and 10 seconds that lead had been chopped down to just one, heading into the final frame.

But despite the white-knuckle drama, the gritty tenacity and the tremendous heart, it wasn't meant to be, as VIU executed better - by the most narrow of margins - in the final 90 seconds to hang on for an 80-76 win over the Bruins in the national semi final.

"It's obviously a very disappointing finish in what has been a great season, but we just made too many mental errors at the start of the game and at the end of the game against a very good team," assistant coach Leroy Cassnova said. "When you make errors like that [and] fall down 18, you expend so much energy to get back in the game, then actually take the lead, only to make those mistakes and you just can't do that at this level. You have to play consistent for 40 minutes and we weren't that today."

The Bruins actually got off to a better start then they had in most of their post-season contests, leading for much of the way through the first quarter.

An 8-0 VIU run in a little less than two minutes pushed the Double-Blue into their biggest deficit of the early going, down 16-11, but they were able to crawl back to within two, down 18-16, after one.

VIU was able to take command again early in the second, opening on a 13-4 run in the first 3:13 to give themselves their first double-digit advantage of the game, 31-20.

Over the remaining six and a half minutes of play, every time Sheridan made a run to cut into the deficit, VIU had some kind of response, though the Bruins were at least able to cut it back to single digits, as they trailed 43-35 at the break.

It was a similar story in the third quarter, as VIU was able to limit what Sheridan could get at the offensive end, extending their lead to 18, 60-42, with 5:18 left in the frame.

It didn't happen all at once, but the Double-Blue started slowly chipping away at the margin - feeding off a boisterous crowd that had made the trip down the 401 - closing the period on a 17-0 run over the final 4:10 to pull within one, 60-59, heading to the fourth.

With just over seven minutes to play, the Bruins took their first lead of the game since the first quarter, but VIU answered by connecting on a trio of three-pointers on their next three possessions, while also getting stops at the defensive end, leading 72-65 with just under five minutes remaining.

Sheridan once again battled back, with an 8-0 run giving them a 73-72 edge with 2:11 remaining.

With a pair of free throws and a jumper, VIU pulled back ahead 75-73, and even though the Bruins were able to pull level, they were unable to reclaim the lead.

VIU converted five of their six attempts from the line in the final 48 seconds to seal the win.

Now moving to the bronze medal bracket, the Double-Blue will play the hosts from John Abbott in a bronze semi final in the morning with the winner advancing the bronze medal game later in the evening.

Though the task of bouncing back from being eliminated from title contention and re-focusing efforts on bronze can be a daunting one, Cassanova says the team still has much to play for.

"We told the guys it's a big picture thing, we're trying to win a medal here," he said. "We can increase our overall standing in the CCAA and that can matter for wildcard bids next year, so we've put that out there for our guys. We don't want to come out here this weekend and not come away without something, so that's going to be our motivation."

Blue notes: VIU held a big lead in the free throw department, doubling up the Bruins in attempts 34-17.

Source: Sheridan I.T.