From Wheelchair Basketball Canada website
(Surrey, BC) – After three days of intense wheelchair basketball action at the South Surrey Recreational Centre, Variety Village was crowned the 2011 CWBL Open Division Champions on Sunday, defeating the defending-champion Douglas College Lions by a score of 67-49. The bronze medal went to the Moncton Magic, who defeated the Douglas College Royals 90 - 86 in a high-scoring, physical game that showcased the sport to the fans who came out to watch live or via webcast at www.sportscanada.tv.
The gold medal game featured the same teams as last year: the defending champion Douglas College Lions and Ontario's Variety Village. Unfortunately for the hometown-favourite Lions, however, it didn't have the same outcome. Variety Village -- lead by tournament MVP Dayton Sopha -- started strong and just kept building. The game was intensely physical, with bodies hitting the hardwood during nearly every play and an incredible 38 fouls awarded between the two teams, and both teams struggled to keep their shooting focus through the contact. Variety Village, however, was better able to take care of the basketball. They shot 13 more field goals and 22 more foul shots, which made the crucial difference and allowed them to remain solidly in the lead for the entire game.
Sopha and the Lion’s Ross MacDonald each finished with a game-high 24 points. Jesse McNalley scored another 22 points for Variety Village.
After the game, Variety Village coach Steve Bialowas praised his team's efforts. "Playing as a team was our main focus and goal," he said. "We knew that we had to stick together if we wanted to win and that's what we did."
According to Lions coach Joe Higgins, his team didn't bring it when it counted. "Throughout the whole season and this tournament, our team has played well as a group," he said. "During this one game, however, we all came out with less than our best. In order to win against such a good team, you have to play at your highest level and we didn't do that."
The medals were awarded in a post-game ceremony that featured Gordon Hogg, MLA for Surrey-White Rock, and the Honourable Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government, both of whom praised the athleticism and skill of the athletes. Sopha was named tournament MVP and Variety Village's Abdi Dini, Calgary's Chad Jassman, The Lions' Bo Hedges and Ross MacDonald and Moncton's Robbie Cameron were selected to the all-star team.
For more information visit: www.wheelchairbasketball.ca
THANK YOU to our supporters!!
Hosting BC, City of Surrey, 49Bespoke, Panago Pizza, Subway, Hershey Canada, Save-On Foods, Canadian Springs Water, The Cakerie, MEDIchair Vancouver, Semiahmoo Secondary School, COBS Bread, Tim Hortons
BCWBS would also like to thank all the volunteers for their time and support over the weekend.
photo credit: Gabor Gasztonyi
