Lethbridge – Entering the final series of the Canada West men’s basketball conference schedule, no team in the Prairie Division has clinched a playoff spot. With six teams battling for four spots, the combination of possible playoff scenarios is mind numbing.
For the Lethbridge Pronghorns (11-9 CW) it’s pretty simple because anything less than two wins this weekend versus their southern Alberta rival Calgary Dinos (12-8 CW) and a loss by the Winnipeg Wesmen versus the Manitoba Bisons leaves the ‘Horns outside the post-season picture.
The ‘Horns and Dinos series kicks off Thursday night in Calgary with the back half of the home-and-home going Friday night at the 1
st Choice Savings Centre in Lethbridge. Both games will tip-off following the women’s game at 8:00pm and will be webcast on
www.canadawest.tv .
Even before Thursday night’s game, the ‘Horns will know if they still have a chance at qualifying for playoffs as the Wesmen and Bisons play their final conference game Wednesday night in Winnipeg.
Set to play in their final conference games of their careers this weekend, Derek Waldner and Julian Spear Chief-Morris have been playing their best basketball and lead the conference’s third ranked offense.
Waldner, who broke the school’s career rebounding record two weeks ago, has recorded double-doubles in 10 consecutive games and leads the ‘Horns in scoring, averaging 17 points per game. He also leads the conference in rebounding, averaging 11.6 boards a game.
Spear-Chief Morris had his best weekend in a ‘Horns jersey last weekend in Regina, leading the team in scoring during both wins and setting a new career game high with 28 points last Friday. He was also named the Canada West male athlete of the week for his efforts.
The situation is a bit more convoluted for the Dinos, who can finish anywhere from second to sixth depending on this weekend’s results throughout the Division.
The Dinos have been one of the hottest teams in Canada West since the calendar turned to 2013; winning eight of their 10 games since the semester break. Their seven game winning streak came to an end last Saturday night in Brandon, with a 74-68 loss.
The bulk of the Dinos offense comes from two players with Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and Thijin Moses being the only two Dinos to average double digits in points this season. Ogungbemi-Jackson sits third on the conference scoring list, averaging 20.4 points per night and Moses sits 12
th at 17.5 points.
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