The Vancouver Island University Mariners basketball teams are both in position to claim first-round byes at provincials, so long as they take care of business over their last three games.
The M’s men (14-1) and women (12-3) are coming off back-to-back victories last weekend at home, and sit first and second in their conference standings, respectively.
The Mariner men are ranked No. 2 in the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association behind only Ottawa’s Algonquin Thunder.
“[We’re] right where we want to be at this point of the season – battling for the league title,” said Tony Bryce, M’s coach, in a CCAA press release.
“[We] keep getting better every time out. All you can do is put in the work and do your best to prepare. We’ll have to see if it all pays off in March.”
This Friday (Feb. 11) and Saturday, the Kwantlen Eagles visit the VIU gym. The women’s game tips off at 6 p.m. Friday followed by the men at 8 p.m. On Saturday the women play at 1 p.m. with the men at 3 p.m.
Fifth-year Mariners player Andrew Kaban will be honoured during Friday’s game as he plays his final weekend of college basketball in his home gym. The Nanaimoite is leading the B.C. Colleges’ Athletic Association in scoring this year with 21.8 points per game.