Photo of Royals via VIU Mariners Flickr
Women’s basketball team earns bronze
By Jake Wray, News Editor
The Douglas College Royals men’s basketball team are provincial champions after coming first in the PACWEST provincial tournament.
The gold-medal match saw the Royals best the Vancouver Island University Mariners by a score of 76 – 59. The Mariners, who were playing in their home territory as the tournament was held in Nanaimo March 1 – 3, were the top team in the league at the end of the regular season with 17 wins, compared to the third-seeded Royals who had 11 wins.
Royals’ guard Grant Campbell scored 24 points in the final match and was named player of the game. He was also named tournament MVP.
In order to reach the final match against the Mariners, the Royals bested the Quest Kermodes in the quarter-finals by a score of 79 – 65. Campbell lead the team offensively in that game as well, scoring 20 points. In the semi-finals, the Royals beat the Langara Falcons by a score of 96 – 85. Forward Reese Morris lead the Royals offensively in the semi-finals with 19 points.
This is the first championship title for the Royals men’s basketball team since the 2007/2008 season, when they beat Camosun College in the final round. The Royals were also the provincial champions in the 2006/2007 season. Prior to that, their last championship title came in 1994.
With the PACWEST gold medal under their belt, the Royals have won the opportunity to represent BC at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national basketball championship, which will be held in Quebec from March 13 – 17.
Meanwhile, the Royals women’s basketball team took bronze in the PACWEST provincial championship. They beat the Vancouver Island University mariners by a score of 77 – 67. Royals forward Sarah Jorgenson lead the team offensively and was named player of the game.
