MBB: Bourcier's historic performance propels Spartans playoff run
March 4, 2022
CALGARY - Mason Bourcier could not be stopped. The fourth-year guard was sensational for the Trinity Western Spartans as they upset the Calgary Dinos on Friday night, 102-92, from the Jack Simpson Gym.
Bourcier erupted for 41 points to go with 12 rebounds, and 13 assists, recording his second consecutive triple double and sixth of the season. No defensive scheme or matchup could slow Bourcier down. The only hope for teams moving forward - don't be the ones to tell him he isn't a Canada West All-Star.
"Some people are just wired a little bit differently, and I'm one of those guys. When I saw that it was almost a good thing. At the end of the day accolades don't matter," Bourcier said post-game on his all-star snub.
Bourcier and the Spartans jumped out of the gates on fire, starting the game on a 12-2 run. The Kelowna, B.C. product had 19 points of his own as the Spartans connected on over 61 percent of their first-quarter shots to hold a 32-24 lead after one.
Calgary made a nice run in the second in front of the loudest crowd the Jack Simpson Gym has born all season. The Dinos cut the lead to five points with less than two minutes remaining in the half, a run that was upended by the incoming Spartan avalanche.
Two colossal runs to start and end the third quarter quelled the Calgary crowd and any momentum the Dinos generated. Bourcier's dissection of the Dinos defence was clinical, calculated, and crushing.
The grit of the Dinos showed through in the final quarter of action, clawing themselves within four points of the Spartans at the midpoint of the fourth. Second-Team All-Star Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath, whom the Dinos had held in check up to that point, recorded seven-straight points to give the Spartans the final breathing room they needed.
The loss brings a close to Calgary's season and ends a five-year streak of U SPORTS Final 8 appearances. With new faces stepping into prominent roles, and countless injuries and unavailability's resulting from a COVID-19 impacted season, the Dinos resolve and growth will steer the storied program forward for years to come.
"We have a lot of freshman and sophomores and they got a lot of experience this year and that will help us in the future," head coach Dan Vanhooren said post-game. "Between Covid and injuries with all of our bigs, it was difficult. You could see that guys just weren't in good enough physical shape after being out for as long as they've been out and it shows defensively in moments."
The Spartans turn their attention to the Regina Cougars, their sixth different opponent in consecutive games and third game in as many nights. The final hurdle in their run to the Canada West Final Four is daunting, but there may not be a team in the nation playing with as much confidence as the Spartans. Action gets underway Saturday at 8 p.m. MT on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.
Bourcier erupted for 41 points to go with 12 rebounds, and 13 assists, recording his second consecutive triple double and sixth of the season. No defensive scheme or matchup could slow Bourcier down. The only hope for teams moving forward - don't be the ones to tell him he isn't a Canada West All-Star.
"Some people are just wired a little bit differently, and I'm one of those guys. When I saw that it was almost a good thing. At the end of the day accolades don't matter," Bourcier said post-game on his all-star snub.
Bourcier and the Spartans jumped out of the gates on fire, starting the game on a 12-2 run. The Kelowna, B.C. product had 19 points of his own as the Spartans connected on over 61 percent of their first-quarter shots to hold a 32-24 lead after one.
Calgary made a nice run in the second in front of the loudest crowd the Jack Simpson Gym has born all season. The Dinos cut the lead to five points with less than two minutes remaining in the half, a run that was upended by the incoming Spartan avalanche.
Two colossal runs to start and end the third quarter quelled the Calgary crowd and any momentum the Dinos generated. Bourcier's dissection of the Dinos defence was clinical, calculated, and crushing.
The grit of the Dinos showed through in the final quarter of action, clawing themselves within four points of the Spartans at the midpoint of the fourth. Second-Team All-Star Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath, whom the Dinos had held in check up to that point, recorded seven-straight points to give the Spartans the final breathing room they needed.
The loss brings a close to Calgary's season and ends a five-year streak of U SPORTS Final 8 appearances. With new faces stepping into prominent roles, and countless injuries and unavailability's resulting from a COVID-19 impacted season, the Dinos resolve and growth will steer the storied program forward for years to come.
"We have a lot of freshman and sophomores and they got a lot of experience this year and that will help us in the future," head coach Dan Vanhooren said post-game. "Between Covid and injuries with all of our bigs, it was difficult. You could see that guys just weren't in good enough physical shape after being out for as long as they've been out and it shows defensively in moments."
The Spartans turn their attention to the Regina Cougars, their sixth different opponent in consecutive games and third game in as many nights. The final hurdle in their run to the Canada West Final Four is daunting, but there may not be a team in the nation playing with as much confidence as the Spartans. Action gets underway Saturday at 8 p.m. MT on Canada West TV presented by Co-op.