Men's Basketball 2010-11
COURT HOOPS NAIL-BITERS
In their final home games of the 2010-2011 season, your CMU Blazers hosted the top-ranked College Wesmen from the University of Winnipeg and those in attendance were treated to college basketball excitement at its finest! Currently in fourth-place in league standing, your CMU women jumped out to an early lead, only to see it disappear before half-time. Trailing by twelve points, first-year guard Carrera Lamoureux and fourth-year forward Jaime Semchuk led the Blazers back to within 3 points of the Wesmen as the seconds ticked down. Semchuk ended with 9 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocks. Lamoureux and guard Hannah Prowse led the Blazers with 12 points each. The final score was 73-68. Former Blazer Anneke Hildebrand led all College Wesmen scores with 14 points.
Though heart-breaking, the men’s game was equally as exciting. Gaining a first-half lead by as many as 20 points, the MCAC leading Wesmen stormed back on the home team, eventually tying the score with 4.8 seconds remaining when Anwar Ahmed was fouled while hitting a three-point shot. The guard calmly sunk his free throw, sealing the win for Winnipeg. Without the services of injured guard Roger Beals, Spencer Harrison and Nik Kikundule led the way for CMU scoring 20 and 13 points respectively. Date Feb 18, 2011
EXCITING COMMUNITY CHALLENGE ENDS IN A TIE
It was a fitting end to the two-week Community Challenge series between CMU and Providence College on Friday night when the two historic competitors took to the basketball court with equal records of games one. The fun got underway on Wednesday, February 2 when the Blazers took wins in both home volleyball matches, only to see Providence even the series 2-2 when the teams played at Providence two days later. The basketball portion of the challenge began last Wednesday night in Winnipeg where a sell-out crowd saw CMU defeat the Freemen 73-54 in women’s basketball and later see Providence press-out their first MCAC win of the season 86-74 in impressive fashion over the Blazers. First-year guard Carrera Lamoureux was the offensive leader in the women’s game, amassing 19 points, while fellow freshman Roger Beals paced CMU with 29 points in a losing effort for the men. So with the series level at three games each, the table was set for a banquet of entertainment on Friday night in Otterburne.
When the women took the court it was meant more than just the Challenge, it was a game for third place in the standings. With the win on Wednesday night, CMU leaped past Providence into third place. Held to just 10 points in their previous match, Sonia Radi who has led the MCAC in scoring since week one, broke out for 22 points on Friday night including 14 in the first half to help the Freemen out to a 34-23 led at the break. Mallory Shack attempted to bring the Blazers back in the final quarter, but despite outscoring the home team 23-16, Providence held on to win 67-62. The victory pushed the Freemen back into third-place and gave the them a 4-3 lead in the Community Challenge.The CMU men came prepared for full-court pressure on Friday night and rebounded from their home loss with a 78-65 road win. It was a complete team effort by the Blazers and a critical time to get back on winning terms. Beals was once again the top man, dropping 19 points while Wyatt Anders and Spencer Harrison chipped in with 14 a-piece. The win was made more of an impact that simply evening the Community Challenge 4-4. The Blazers mathematically eliminated Providence from the MCAC Final-four championship that the Freemen are due to host in mid-March and solidified their own claim to third-place in the highly-competitive MCAC Men’s Basketball standings.
Date Feb 4, 2011
ANDERS GET IT DONE FOR CMU
In a season in which young posts Blake Griffin and Kevin Love have dominated the NBA headlines, amassing eye-popping statistics in points and rebounds, first-year CMU center Wyatt Anders followed suit on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a weekend MCAC series with the Oak Hills Wolfpack. After leading the Blazers to a 74-55 win on Friday night, dropping 23 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, Anders trumped his statistical outpouring on Saturday with an amazing 47 point, 21 rebound afternoon - a milestone for the 6'7 product of Silver Heights Collegiate in which he surpassed the records of some great CMU alumni. "I have my teammates to thank for giving me the ball so much", said Anders of his benchmark performance.The 47-point record topped the 42-point performance of Jeremy Zehr on a night when the forward he went 11 for 12 from beyond the 3-point line. Other noteworthy Blazer offensive performances were Alex Leaver's 38 and Paul Muns' 35-point output, both of whom graduated from CMU last spring. Anders and the Blazers ended up defeating Oak Hills 95-81 and with the back to back wins, leapfrog the Wolfpack in the MCAC standing and move to 3-4 on the season.
Anders stat-line all but overshadowed the near triple-double from CMU guard Jacob Miller. The first-year product of Westgate Mennonite Collegiate finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. Matt Boyd was the high-man for the Wolfpack, finishing with 30 points.
The next action for the Blazers comes on Sunday, February 6th when they return to home court to tip-off with the second-place Red River Rebels in the Route 90 Showdown at 3:30 pm.
Date January 24, 2011
Blazers Get Back on Track
After dropping their last four, CMU got back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, downing Assiniboine Community College of Brandon, 77-40. Though without a win, the MCAC newcomers are certainly not a team to be taken lightly. The Cougars lost by a narrow three point margin to undefeated University of Winnipeg in mid-November, 66-63.On this day, CMU were wire-to-wire winners leading 17-9 at the first-quarter break, 35-26 at the half, and winning the second half 42-20. Center Wyatt Anders led all scorers with 24, including a 14-point first half. First-year guard Roger Beals added 17 in the win.
The game within the game, was of course the friendly rivalry of the Anders brothers. Like Jacob and Esau, Ward and Wyatt Anders fought on the hard-court for family supremacy. The younger, Wyatt emerged victorious in their first MCAC encounter. Ward Anders scored 11 points to lead the Cougars.
Date December 6, 2010
REBELS BOUNCE BACK ON CMU
The defending MCAC Champions from Red River overcame a 17-point deficit on Friday night to defeat CMU in overtime on Friday night by a score of 72-64 in men’s basketball action. CMU first-year guards Tyler Stewart and Roger Beals were major offensive producers in the up-tempo start. The twin-turbos seemed to score at will, Beals with 7 of his team-high 17 and Stewart scored 9 of his 11 in the opening half. “We knew that to be successful against Red River we needed to keep (Lawrence) Miclash and (Josh) Olaes from finding their rhythm,” stated CMU head coach Darcy Coss. The Blazers led 35-28 at the half.The Rebels found their rhythm in the second half and managed to tie the game in the final minute on a basket from first-year post Ryan Purdy, who finished the night with 15 points. With the game locked at 56-56, on what looked like the final possession, Coss called Jacob Miller’s number and the Westgate product came through, using a screen to score off the glass and leaving a mere 3.8 seconds on the clock. Off the inbound, Rebels fifth-year and reigning MCAC Most Valuable Player, Josh Olaes converted on a buzzer-beating leaner from the corner to send the rivals into overtime.
Four overtime free-throws courtesy of former Blazer Lawrence Miclash helped ice the game for Red River as the champs outscored CMU 14-6 in the final frame to escape with the victory.
Less than 24-hours later, the two teams tipped off again on Red River soil, and once again the Blazers were on the offensive. Wyatt Anders was his dominant self scoring 13 of his team-high 18 points in the first half and helping CMU to what looked like an insurmountable 50-32 lead. The comeback was led again by Miclash and Purdy for the Rebels and first-year guard Denny Lariviere came in off the bench to help calm the Rebels and distribute the ball. He scored a mere 5 points but helped Miclash to a game-high 25 and Purdy to 17. The Rebels took over with three minute remaining and there was no looking back. An animated Head Coach Suhk Singh took the Rebels on his back and won the weekend series with a 76-73 win.
Next action for the Blazers is Thursday, November 25th when they face the first place College Wesmen at the University of Winnipeg at 8 pm.
Mens Basketball Photos Nov 12
Date November 19, 2010
Blazers battle Bearcats
It was a classic battle between the visiting CMU Blazers and the men's basketball team at Columbia Place in Abbotsford on Wednesday night.The Bearcats trailed by as many as 12 points midway through the game, but took their first lead in the fourth quarter. With 14 lead changes and 7 ties, this game came down to capitalizing on your opportunities in the final minutes. In the end, the Blazers won 85-81.
CBC went 26/39 from the free throw line but were only 3/15 from beyond the arc. The Blazers were not much better, going 6/23 from that distance.
"I'm proud with how we battled back and showed some resiliency," commented head coach Mike McLaverty. "Sure it's never easy to lose, but this is a good learning experience for our team and we will grow from it."
Chris Thomspon led CBC with 22 points, the only CBC player to score in double digits. Nik Kikundule led CMU with 19 points.
CMU will play Kwantlen College from Surrey tomorrow evening, Douglas College on Saturday and Capilano College on Sunday morning before returning home on Sunday evening.
Date October 7, 2010 From the Columbia Bearcats Athletics website
CMU HOOPS FILLING ROSTER
The CMU Blazers are pleased to announce five more commitments to the men’s basketball team for 2010.
6’0 combo-guard Jacob Miller, a graduate of Westgate Mennonite Collegiate will add athleticism and energy to the CMU backcourt. Miller received the Garett Lee Sidor Memorial Scholarship in 2010 and among his many basketball awards in his Grade 12 year, was voted AAA Player of the Year. Jacob averaged 10.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4 steals last season with the Wings. “Jacob is a quality individual who will bring more than just his basketball abilities to campus this year,“ says CMU head coach Darcy Coss, “and his basketball ability speaks for itself.”Accompanying Miller is Glenlawn graduate Roger Beals. A 5’10 point guard, Beals possesses the ability to shoot the ball and attack defenses in the open floor. Roger led the Lions in scoring in his final year of high school and was selected a MHSAA graduating All-Star.
6’2 forward Moe Mohammed, a graduate of Kildonan East has previous college basketball experience at Lakeland College in the 2008-09 season. Moe’s greatest strength is his aggressiveness which he uses to attack the basket and rebound. “In the MCAC, Moe will allow us to play small-ball with him moving from the 3 position to a 4 position with ease”, says Coss, “His overall versatility is his strength.”
Closing out the group of recent signings are point guard Caelin Reid and forward Zach McLennan. Reid was a member of Team Manitoba in 2007 and 2008, was a 2010 graduating All-Star and was selected the R.E.C. Athlete of the Year. At 6’6, McLennan adds size and power to the CMU lineup. A graduate of River East Collegiate, Zach’s versatility will be a key for CMU, in that he can play inside with his back to the basket, as well as outside shooting from beyond the three-point line. CMU opens their season on September 24th when they host their annual Alumni Tournament. The 2010 Blazers tip-off at 8 pm.
Date September 22, 2010
BACKCOURT DUO COMMIT TO CMU
AAAA graduating allstar, Tyler Stewart announced his plan to join the CMU Blazers. The 5'10 point guard was also voted team MVP in his final year of high school and will be counted on this year to be a leader on a CMU team loaded with new faces. "Tyler is a knock-down three-point shooter who if left alone will make other teams pay", stated CMU head coach Darcy Coss. "With our young group this year we will need some leadership from the guard position and we know that Tyler can provide that."
Accompanying Stewart is Glenlawn Collegiate product Nicolas Kikundule. In his grade twelve year, Kikundule averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds, was voted the top male athlete, as was recognized for his efforts in the classroom when he received an Athlete-Scholar Award. "Nick loves to play in the open court and can attack the rim", raves Coss. "We are excited to have Nick join us - he has a ton of potential, he plays hard and he is a good young man."
Date August 9, 2010
CMU STEPS FORWARD WITH ANDERS AND WONNECK
| The CMU men’s basketball team would like to announce the commitment of forwards Wyatt Anders and Paul Wonneck to the green and gold for the upcoming season. Anders, a hard-working 6’7 post from nearby Sturgeon Heights Collegiate was recognized by the Manitoba High School Athletics Association as the Most Improved Player in 2009 when he averaged 12 points per game and 15 rebounds in his senior year. “Wyatt is one of the hardest working young players that I’ve ever met,” raves CMU head coach Darcy Coss, “He is a very good on the ball and help defender and he never gives up on a loose ball or rebound. Wyatt will be a presence for us this year and in the years to come.” |  |
| A 6’5 shooter, Wonneck will be a tough guard for any MCAC team. Voted MBCI’s male athlete of the year in his senior year of high school, Wonneck was also selected to as a AAAA Manitoba High School All-Star in 2009. “Paul is great at running the floor in transition,” says Coss. “His athleticism, size and his ability to shoot the ball will be highly-valued for us this year.” |  |