Men's Basketball 2009-10
BLAZERS TAKE HOME SILVER AT WESTERN CANADIANS
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| PHOTO (Courtesy of Ka Ki Chow): CMU’s Dave Isbister dribbles past Olds’ Jay Michaluk in Saturday Night’s Men’s Final |
Saturday’s final saw a match-up between two teams that hadn’t faced each other since CMU met Olds College at the Briercrest College tournament last October, a game the Blazers won 75-65. But home court proved to be the advantage that the Broncos needed defeat CMU. Muns and Quirante finished with a game-high 19 points each. Coach Darcy Coss was satisfied with the performance of his team and excited about the tournament in general.
CMU will host their men’s basketball identification camp on Friday, April 9th from 8-10pm and on April 10th from 2:30-4:30pm. Those interested in attending should inform Coach Coss by email.
Date April 1, 2010
Rebels Claim Second Consecutive Championship
It was a heartbreaking end to a highly successful MCAC season for the CMU men’s basketball team on Saturday night. The top-seeded team entering the championship, CMU watched Red River win the men’s semifinal on Friday night over Providence College to advance to Saturday’s cross-town showdown and it seemed that the extra day off rest didn’t do the Blazers any favour.Without the services of 2010 MCAC Most Valuable Player, Josh Olaes, the Rebels entered Saturday’s final against CMU as decided underdogs. “When important guys are missing from your lineup, it becomes an opportunity for someone else to step up”, commented Rebels Head Coach Sukh Singh, and third-year forward Josh Stolar did just that. The native of Stonewall, was a monster on the glass, racking up 16 rebounds including 6 in the offensive zone. Guard Brad Naron also rose to the occasion for the Rebels. The 6’1 sharp-shooting guard nailed two buzzer-beating threes in the first half: at the end of the first quarter and at the end of the first half, taking the wind completely out of CMU’s sails. Neither team led by more than seven points at any time during the game, and it was only in the final five minutes that the margin grew that large.
It would be those six points on Naron’s buzzer-beater that would become the difference in the end, as the Rebels held on for a 70-65 win and claimed their second consecutive Conference Championship. Fourth-year forward Paul Muns led CMU scorers with 18 points and was select CMU’s player of the game, but the MCAC regular season scoring leader had difficulty all night finding open shots. The Rebels defense also did a great job frustrating CMU point guard Kevin Quirante. The rookie lightning bolt who was selected to the All-Conference team, had few opportunities to get behind Red River for fast-break scoring. Stolar was selected at MVP of the tournament. He scored 18 points in Friday night’s 69-59 win over Providence and 21 in the championship win over CMU.
The Blazers will break for the next two weeks and begin preparation for the Western Canadian Championships, held March 27-28 in Olds, Alberta.
Date March 6, 2010
CMU SWEEPS CONFEDERATION COLLEGE
The Confederation College Thunderhawks from Thunder Bay, Ontario visited CMU on Friday and Saturday night for exhibition basketball games against the Blazers men’s basketball team and found the MCAC leaders to be on top of their game. On Friday night, third-year guard Marc Badiou led CMU to a narrow 72-60 win, topping the Blazers scorers for the first time this season, with 21 points including three second-half 3-pointers.Conference scoring-leader Paul Muns rested an injury to his right leg on Friday night, but returned on Saturday to play in the first half, shooting 4 for 5 from beyond the 3-point line in a 103-71 win. CMU’s Enoch Nazaire led all scorers in the game with 23 points. Adam Seguin and Andrew Gini were the top scorers for Confederation with 18 and 16 points respectively. CMU closes out their women’s and men’s regular season schedules on Friday night when the women host Winnipeg Swoosh at 6:30 and the men play C. U. de St-Boniface at 8 pm.
Date Feb 22th 2010
BLAZERS HOWL IN WIN OVER WOLFPACK
The Blazers didn’t waste any time getting back on track when the beat Oak Hills Christian College on Saturday afternoon 95-29. Once and powerful MCAC opponent, the visitors from Bemidji, Minnesota had showed little athleticism or experience and were out-played in all areas by the Blazers. Paul Muns scored 27 and Kevin Quirante added 21 for CMU in the win. Of note, Dane Cameron made is home debut for CMU, recovering from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since Thanksgiving Weekend. He finished with the game with 13 points, including three 3-pointers. Marc Badiou and Dave Smith rounded out the double-figure Blazers, scoring 15 and 10 points respectively. (Photo by Philip Navoa) Date January 29th, 2010
WINNING STREAK COMES TO AN END
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Photo credit: Philip Navoa |
Date January 29th, 2010
BLAZERS BOUNCE FREEMEN
In Men’s action, fourth-year forward Paul Muns scored a game-high 32 points as the injury-plagued CMU Blazers edged Providence 64-59. Reduced to an active roster of 6 players, first-year head coach Darcy Coss put the ball in the hands of a less-experienced starting lineup that included second-year guard Steve Cameron and first-year post Dave Smith. While Providence guard and current MCAC leading scorer Chris Funk struggled to find his shooting accuracy, Muns couldn’t miss, starting 4 for 4 from three-point range and scoring 24 first half points. The Blazers led 37-23 at the break.An inspired Joel Coursey led a second half Providence rally that nearly sunk the home team. The 6’6” product of Steinbach Regional dominated the offensive glass and showed a delicate scorers’ touch for 17 points in the half, for a team-high 22. With seconds left in the game and CMU ahead by 3, Providence sent Muns to the free throw line where he went 2 for 2 to put the game out of reach. Camren Friesen added 12 points for Providence in a losing effort and Kevin Quirante finished with 13 for the Blazers. The undefeated Blazers will put their 7-0 record to the test when they host Red River (4-2) on Friday night at 8 pm.
Date January 22, 2010
LANDMARK VICTORY FOR CMU – 82-72 OVER DAKOTA COLLEGE AT BOTTINEAU
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Photo credit: Philip Navoa |
“This was a huge win for our program,” said a smiling head coach Darcy Coss. The Blazers jumped out to an enormous 18-point first-quarter on 13 points for US Junior College transfer Enoch Nazaire. The 6’0 guard from Orlando, Florida combined with local Silver Heights product Kevin Quirante to surprise the Lumberjacks with their defensive pressure, leading CMU to quick transition scoring. Nazaire finished the quarter with a team high 13 points and 3 steals and Quirante added 10 points and 2 steals for a 29-11 CMU lead.
For the most part, the teams traded baskets in the second quarter. Substitute Mike Foerster sparked Bottineau when he was introduced by coach Ken Keysor and seemed to wake up the opposition, but no sooner had the Lumberjacks found a way to score, CMU would respond with a quick transition game resulting in a basket or a trip to the free-throw line. The Blazers took a 50-28 lead into the dressing room at the half.
The spectators witnessed two entirely different basketball teams in the second half. Standing 6’8, Bottineau’s Shawn Storseth imposed his strength on the offensive glass and showed an ability to finish, scoring 6-points in the quarter and going 3 for 4 from the line. The sheer size and athleticism of the Lumberjacks left CMU clinging to a 7-point lead with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game. Fourth-year forward Paul Muns iced the game for CMU with 1:27 left in the fourth quarter. On a catch and shoot with the shot clock about the expire, Muns fired a three-pointer from right baseline, steps from the Blazer bench and was fouled in the act. Mun’s completed the 4-point play, relieving the home fans and restoring a double-digit lead. “I was proud of the way were able to stop their final run and close out the game”, added Coss.
The Blazers continued their confident play into Sunday’s MCAC contest at College Universitaire de St-Boniface where they destroyed the Voyageurs by a final margin of 42 points – 101-59. Muns scored 32 points to lead CMU while Nazaire poured in 29 in the win.
Date January 18, 2010
2010 CMU Alumni Challenge
The new year will kick-off with a bang on January 8th and 9th in the annual CMU Alumni Challenge Basketball Tournament. Yes, it is time to dust off the old Chuck Taylor’s and hit the hardwood against the 2010 edition of the CMU Blazers. The tournament will tip-off on Friday evening with men’s games at 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm. Saturday morning will feature a men’s consolation semi-final at 11:30 am, the women’s game at 1 pm and the men’s final at 2:30 pm.We are hoping to have a great turnout of players and supporters as we build enthusiasm for the upcoming 2010 MCAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships that CMU will host on March 6 - 7. For more information on how you can get involved as a player in the Alumni Challenge basketball tournament, contact Russell at rwillms@cmu.ca
DESPITE INJURIES, THE BLAZERS KEEP ROLLING
Without the services of starting forward Dave Isbister and first-year guard Dane Cameron, both out with injury, the undefeated CMU men’s basketball team tore into Providence College on Saturday night and emerged with an 83-51 victory. It was the second game back for the Freemen, after leaving the Manitoba conference to explore US opportunity. On Friday night, the Freemen had a successful return to provincial competition winning 67-37 over lowly St-Boniface. Chris Funk led Providence with 24 points in the win. In this, their second game back, CMU showed superior depth and experience. Point guard Kevin Quirante was the high scorer for the Blazers with 14 points on a night when each team member recorded at least 4 points. CMU jumped out to a 53-31 halftime lead on balanced scoring. Spencer Harrison and Enoch Nazaire each tallied 8 points in the opening half and Alex Leaver chipped in with 7 points off the bench.
The Blazers look to bring title of Prairie Cup Challenge Champions this weekend when they compete at Providence and Red River College against local opposition. CMU begins at Providence College on Thursday night and finish the tournament with game on Saturday and Sunday at Red River College.
Date November 24th, 2009
Sixth-Man Paces Blazers to Important Win
The CMU Blazers men’s basketball team continued their winning ways on Saturday night, moving to 2-0 in conference play with a 85-73 win over Red River College. Sixth-man Alex Leaver led the way for CMU scoring 18 second half points to push the Blazers on to victory. The Rebels jumped out to a six point first quarter lead built by 2009 MCAC all-conference selection Josh Olaes. The fourth-year guard scored 8 of his 14 points in the opening ten minutes and finding a way to slow down Olaes was a key to the Blazer comeback. First-year guard Enoch Nazaire ignited CMU and the home fans in the second quarter when he intercepted Jason Malcolm’s pass and slammed home an unopposed dunk for two what would be 15 points on the night. CMU outscored the Rebels 23-13 in the second quarter, led by Nazaire and Kevin Quirante, who scored 10 second-quarter points.
Rebels forwards Matt Loewen and Brad Naron would do their best to close the gap in the second half – Loewen in the paint and Naron from the perimeter. Loewen scored all of his 15 points in the second half and showed consistency with his jump-shot from the foul-line and dominated the glass for Red River. Naron hit 3 of his 4 three-pointers in the final period and led all scorers with 20 points on the night.
It was fourth-year guard Alex Leaver who’s passion shone brightest. Leaver scored 13 fourth quarter points for CMU and pushed coach Darcy Coss and the Blazers onto victory. CMU will look to keep their perfect conference record in check over their two remaining first-half games against Providence and St-Boniface before breaking for exams and the Christmas holidays.
Date November 17, 2009
BLAZERS FIND REDEMPTION AT RED RIVER
After suffering a lopsided defeat at the hands of the Red River Rebels last March in the 2009 MCAC Championships, the CMU Blazers found retribution on Saturday afternoon in their first conference meeting since surrendering the trophy. Fourth-year forward Paul Muns led the way for CMU scoring 22 points, while first-year guard Kevin Quirante added 18 in a 79-63 victory. Fourth-year guard Josh Olaes responded with 27 points for the Rebels in defeat. The wire-to-wire victory moves CMU to 2-0 on the season, as they recorded a massive 89-35 victory over C.U. St-Boniface the previous night for their first win. The Rebels fall to 0-1 on the season and like CMU will seek a response when the two rivals meet again on November 14th, this time at CMU.Red River and CMU travel to Bottineau, North Dakota this weekend for an exhibition series at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Men's Basketball Photos
Date November 4, 2009
BLAZERS SPLIT GAMES IN SASKATCHEWAN
An exhibition win and loss was the score line for CMU’s men’s basketball team during Thanksgiving weekend when they opened their non-conference schedule at Caronport, Saskatchewan against Briercrest and Olds College.The host Briercrest Clippers were clearly a different team than the Blazers dismantled at home last September. Bolstered by a lineup laden with CIS transfers, Clippers coach Gene Wolverton took it to the Blazers with a formidable up-beat defense, pressuring CMU to multiple 1st quarter turnovers and a deficit of 17 points. CMU clawed their way back to a respectable 33-49 score by the time the horn sound to end the half.
Briercrest emerged from the locker room recommitted to their game plan, scoring 31 points in the quarter and going on to beat CMU 97-54. “This was a great first game for us as it showed some of the guys the intensity that we need to compete at the CCAA level,” explained Blazers head coach Darcy Coss. “Their run and jump is known for forcing teams to play out of their style. We learned a lot in this game.”
The young Blazers, (featuring a roster that includes 7 freshmen), left Caronport on a positive note defeating the Olds College Broncos 75-65 on Saturday afternoon. Led by 4th year forward Paul Muns double-double, including 22 points and 12 rebounds, CMU found success offensively against the Broncos zone defense, ending the first half with a 45-32 lead.
Olds countered the Blazers shooters n the second half by introducing full-court press and switching to a man-to-man defensive system. However, the tactical change did little to stop Coach Coss’ Blazers. 1st years forwards Spencer Harrison (20 pts.) and Enoch Nazaire (17 pts.) proved a formidable one-two punch for CMU, pounding the Broncos on the glass for their first win of the season beating Olds College by ten.
CMU will travel west on Friday afternoon to participate in their second exhibition tournament of 2009 in Brandon where they will face Brandon University, Red River College and Lakehead University.
Date Oct 13, 2009
Blazers sign US Junior College tranfser, Enoch Nazaire
The CMU Blazers men’s basketball team is happy to announce the commitment of US Junior College transfer, Enoch Nazaire for the 2009-2010 season. The Orlando, Florida product spent last season at Rainy River Community College in Minnesota and is looking forward to a fresh start this September at CMU. “I am excited to be up here and the whole team seems to be focused on winning a Championship this year,” says the 6’1, 20 year-old, shooting guard. New Blazer boss, Darcy Coss, is also looking forward to the season and believes that Nazaire will be a valuable piece of the Blazer puzzle. “Enoch is an athletic player who plays with tenacity and effort on both sides of the court. His abilities in the open court as well as finishing around the basket will give us a dynamic attack next year. We are very excited and are looking forward to seeing Enoch in a CMU jersey”Nazaire and the Blazers will begin their season on October 9th when they travel to Saskatchewan to take part in the Briercrest College Thanksgiving Tournament.
Coss Will Coach Blazers
Canadian Mennonite University is pleased to announce the hiring of Darcy Coss as the new head coach of the Blazers men’s basketball team.Coss, 26, was a standout athlete in Canadian Interuniversity Sports (the CIS) at the University of Manitoba from 2005 – 2008, being named MVP of the Bisons men’s basketball team in 2007.
This fall, Coss will get his first taste of coaching at the intercollegiate level in the MCAC (Manitoba Colleges Athletics Association). His previous coaching experience has taken place at Glenlawn Collegiate and most recently at Gordon Bell High School. While at U of M, Coss was also involved in developmental coaching with the Junior Bisons Basketball Program.
June 23, 2009
Blazers add Harrison
Canadian Mennonite University is pleased to announce the commitment of forward Spencer Harrison for 2009-2010. Spencer will be joining the Blazers after having played two seasons of varsity basketball at Glenlawn Collegiate under head coach Minich Nowrang.
“Spencer scores from all over the place. He is a great finisher around the basket and he can shoot the three” says Wolfe. “He works hard, has good instincts and has a great love for the game of basketball. That combined with the good coaching he has received the last couple of seasons in high school, sets him up well for having success with our Blazers program”
This past season the 6’3” forward averaged 17 points per game, 13 rebounds per game and 4 assists per game. Harrison was the Captain of the 17-6 Glenlawn Lions and was an all-star at the Wesmen Classic.
May 15, 2009