Menâs basketball honours their captain
By Davie Wong, Sports Editor
Going into this weekend, the Royals still didnât have the time off that they needed or deserved. Normally, the last week of the season either means nothing, or it means everything. For the Royals this year, it meant everything. Still, the men took time, Malcolm Mensah, their captain, who after five years of service to the team would be playing his last home game over the weekend.
However, waiting for the squad to arrive was a desperate Quest Kermodes team. This too was their last chance to solidify their playoff position, and they needed to win against the Royals. But the Royals needed the win too, and a battle ensued. It was a tight match overall. The Royals only managed to grab a solid lead in the fourth quarter. They would go on to protect that lead, just barely, to win 76â68. It wasnât their best night out, but a win is a win.
The team went home, eager to close out the season. For their last dance, they faced the Langara Falcons, who were looking to solidify their playoff position as well. Before the game, a small ceremony was conducted to congratulate Malcolm on his time at Douglas as a Royal.
Malcolm Mensah has been a dominant force for the Royals for so many years. âIt was like watching a man playing against boys. Maybe it was because he was 30,â Coach Enevoldson said jokingly in his congratulatory speech. But there was truth behind the joke. Malcolm Mensah came into the PACWEST, and made more than his fair share of teams looking like double A high school teams. Itâs truly going to be difficult to replace the giant on the court, and even more difficult to fill the hole in the locker room when he leaves. The Royals truly had a star in Malcolm Mensah, both on and off the court. Gifts were given, words exchanged, and pictures taken. Then it was right back to business.
Right from the start, you could tell it was going to be a close game. Both sides traded leads rapidly through the game, and throughout the quarters. Going into the fourth quarter, the Royals trailed the Falcons by a single point. That lead skyrocketed for the Falcons, as the Royals missed opportunities and gave up more than a couple themselves. However, the Royals werenât done. They stunned the Falcons with consecutive point scoring drives while playing some solid defence of their own to finish off the quarter.
With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, the Royals managed to tie the game and force overtime for the first time this season. After giving the Royals the chance to comeback, the Falcons just fell apart. The Royals dominated the overtime quarter in every aspect. They would win the game respectably with a final score of 96â88. All in all, it was a very good finish to the season for the men. Hopefully, things are looking up for the guys as they begin to prep for the playoffs, which begin in just a week at Quest.
